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Marcel asks a great question

Does it matter if a person walk in a deer trail if yes if a person walk in it and put a few drop of buck scent in the trail after walking in it

thank you

Marcel


Marcel,

I have tested this many times. I have not seen an adverse reaction by walking on a deer trail. I have walked on trails with my tennis shoes, work boots, snow pacs and all rubber hunting boots. Regardless of what I was wearing the deer still seemed to walk the trail.

Here is a possible exception. If the area you hunt has no humans walking around in it in the off season, then the scent left behind may cause the deer to not travel that trail as much.

When ever I hunt I always wear all rubber boots that I have purchased specifically for hunting. An all rubber boot will not leave as much scent as say a leather boot. One neat way to help cover human odor is to make a scent drag. It is very simple to make.

1.) Buy a package of scent wicks from your local sporting goods store and a bottle of deer scent. If deer are in the rutting phase, I will use doe estrous scent. If they are not in a rut phase, I will use plain buck urine.
2.) Get a shoestring approximately 24 inches long. Tie one end to a scent wick.
3.) Soak the scent wick with your chosen scent.
4.) Then tie the other end of the shoelace around your ankle leaving enough extra string hanging to allow the wick to drag on the ground. Make sure you can walk safely without tripping on the scent drag.

I use this method every time I walk out to my stand. As you walk, you are leaving a scent trail. I have had bucks follow me right to my stand head down sniffing the trail I had just left behind me.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

Update 11/03/06

Marty,

you said you do that when you walk out to your stand ok but where i go i drive to a dead end road than a big cutting it`s about 10 min walk than i go in to the standing wood for 5 min to my stand. is it better to start that as soon i get to the standing wood or right from the truck. If it is from the truck I`m scare that if the deer start sniffing from my truck other hunters might drive in and shoot my buck . and if I`m right and start from the standing wood it`s only 5 min walk i don`t know if it would still work?

thank`s
Marcel

Marcel,

I must also add to my last comment for you to clarify. I have tested walking on deer trails here on my personal land. As I had stated, the deer seem pretty used to my scent and will walk their trails even after I have been walking on them. In fact I had a doe just yesterday follow not 20 feet behind me. But keep in mind I walk my hunting land nearly year round. If you hunt the same land each year, you may decide to do the same. At least once a week, more if you can, during the off season get out and hike through your hunting area.

This will do a couple things for you. You will familiarize yourself even more with the woods you hunt and it could help the local deer get more accustomed to your scent come hunting season.

I can understand your concern about a buck following your scent trail from the truck and someone pulling up on the road and shooting the deer. It is unfortunate that some hunters would choose to hunt from the road.

You can indeed start the scent trail at the wood line. This will give you a scent trail from the wood edge to your stand. Chances are you are also crossing other deer trails as you head to your stand. Any deer walking on the trails that would cross the ones you are walking on could decide to investigate the scent and virtually follow you to your stand.

Good Luck and Great Hunting!
Marty
www.free-deer-hunting-tips.com

Posted by Marty Prokop

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