49 degrees north and scents

[fishermanjoe]

So I am going to be hunting near the town of Elk for whitetail, and i am thinking about using some attractant scent. I have never used them and never have had the urge to use them, but this year I am thinking about it. I just recently had knee surgery so i will have to sit all day on some game trails. I was asking around and apparently this general season is supposed to be the closest to the rut than any other season. So my question is should i use scents or is it to early in the game for that. And if i should use them what should i use, estrus, doe p, buck urine? 

[jackelope]

scents are illegal in WA.

[fishermanjoe]

what page in the regs does it state that?

[270Shooter]

scents are illegal in WA.

I think that is only for bears. Because a scent would be considered an attractant. You can use attractants for deer and elk in WA.

[jackelope]

scents are illegal in WA.

I think that is only for bears. Because a scent would be considered an attractant. You can use attractants for deer and elk in WA.

I think you're right. i typed too fast.
i retract my incorrect statement.
sorry....carry on.

[Austrian Hunter]

I thought the rut up there does not even start until the end of November

[huntnphool]

How close to the town of Elk? Lots of deer around there but its mostly private, you hunting someones property?

[fishermanjoe]

thankyou! because i have talked with a game officer about legality of bear bombs, he stated that they are illegal, but you can bait deer. So i was thinking if you can bait deer why cant you use scents for deer. Right after that quick post from jackelope I have been flipping the regs and cant find where is states scents are illegal for deer.

and yes i am hunting a private ranch

[fishermanjoe]

so it would be to early?

[tazz]

yes definitely it wont start till about 2nd week in nov as a rule. good luck there are some nice whitelails in that area

[Austrian Hunter]

so it would be to early?

I hunted that area last year late November and they had not started the rut, but overall last year they were really late and they did not had snow on the ground until Dec 12, the snow helps allot. 

Austrian

[jackelope]

the timing of the rut is entirely weather dependent. i don't think you'll do any harm using scents but not sure it would be a big benefit during the timing of the general season.
 

[Austrian Hunter]

the timing of the rut is entirely weather dependent. i don't think you'll do any harm using scents but not sure it would be a big benefit during the timing of the general season.
 

 

[Buckmark]

Every year there are some items in the regs that i question or dont have clear understanding of, in those case's i email the WDFW and ask my question, i then print out the answer and carry them on me or in the truck and have some in camp to help defuse arguments from other members of my hunting parties or if im ever stopped and questioned i have a printed response.
Here is one on the use of scents, asked at the start of this season.
*
Dear Frank,

 

Thank you for contacting the Wildlife Program regarding deer scents.  Deer scents, and in fact all baits, are legal for deer and elk.

 

If you have any further questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to contact the Wildlife Program at (360) 902-2515.

 

Sincerely,

 

Wildlife Program Customer Service

 

(360) 902-2515

TTY: (800) 833-6388

Fax: (360) 902-2162

http://wdfw.wa.gov

[boneaddict]

I think its a waste of money, just like scent lock clothing and several other gimics.  Thats coming from a guy that sees an average of 100 whitetail bucks or more everyfall for the last 20+ years.   Just an opinion though.  It won't hurt other than money loss and the possibility of scaring an animal I suppose.  The only scent I absolutely discouraged was some guy that was going to put moose in heat on himself as a coverscent.

[bobcat]

I didn't see where you said WHEN you are hunting? Are you hunting the late general season, which is Nov 7-19?  If so they should be rutting then. I sure wouldn't say the rut is dependent on the weather. It's based on the length of the days. So they should go into the rut about the same time every year, doesn't matter what the weather is doing. Sure the weather can affect how active they are during the daylight hours while people are in the woods hunting. I don't have much experience with whitetails but I don't see how it could hurt to use some doe in heat scent if you are hunting in mid-November. I know I would try it if I were hunting from a stand.

[SHANE(WA)]

WEATHER is NOT a factor for rut starting ever, never ceases to amaze me when people say this. The have a window to breed, for optimal time to drop fawns in early summer, born too early they can freeze to death, too late and not be healthy enough for the upcoming winter.A healthy doe will carry a fawn for 200 days. It doesnt matter if its 60 degrees in late Nov or 15 degrees in early Nov the rut doesnt start cause it cold.They will still breed the same time everyyear, if its hot, yeah they arent going to be up running around, lots of activity at night.You get the people saying the rut never happend, but yet they are hunting a area that has 1 buck for every 10 does, dang right its not going to seem like it happens.I will be in the woods every year Nov 16-25th always good

[alwinearcher]

I think its a waste of money, just like scent lock clothing and several other gimics.  Thats coming from a guy that sees an average of 100 whitetail bucks or more everyfall for the last 20+ years.   Just an opinion though.  It won't hurt other than money loss and the possibility of scaring an animal I suppose.  The only scent I absolutely discouraged was some guy that was going to put moose in heat on himself as a coverscent.

Was this guy going to use it for a cover scent or to attract a bull for his buddy Shane to shoot on camera? because i heard about a guy talking about doing that

[bearpaw]

I think its a waste of money, just like scent lock clothing and several other gimics.  Thats coming from a guy that sees an average of 100 whitetail bucks or more everyfall for the last 20+ years.   Just an opinion though.  It won't hurt other than money loss and the possibility of scaring an animal I suppose.  The only scent I absolutely discouraged was some guy that was going to put moose in heat on himself as a coverscent.

 

[bearpaw]

Seems to me when it gets cold early the deer go into a harder rut....

I am basing that statement on a fair amount of experience....

Typically right around Oct 18-20 is peak of the rut, but the week or two before that is pre-rut which has been very good for us about every year.....

If you hunt for does in the late season, you will kill bucks......

[SHANE(WA)]

Thats funny Matt 
Oct 18-20 for rut?? u mean Nov 18-20 th?

[bearpaw]

miles I am laughing my a$$ off at you......your link is about minnesota.....

Sorry I made a typo with October, I meant to say November....too early in the morning I guess.....One of our local WDFW bio's told me the rut peaks about Nov 20th and a fair amount of experience tells me the same. But I have seen the same peak of rutting occur a little earlier some years.

miles....we are killing about 30-50 whitetails most years....how many are you involved with each year?  

Last year the bucks were totally stupid and chasing does on Nov 18th and 19th....could have killed multiple stupid bucks either day....everyone who shot straight filled their tags that week.

[bearpaw]

shane I made a typo in an earlier post and accidentally said Oct instead of Nov.

[SHANE(WA)]

i thought so 

[bearpaw]

ya I know it was a bad typo....

[jollyskwala]

when is the rut...age old argument....the confusion comes into when run vs. pre-rut begins but really when are bucks the most vulnerable.......that is a thread in itself.

Back to scents.....I was a skeptic for awhile, until a good buddy of mine shot a really nice 4X5 whitey, while using scents. He had dropped some doe in estrus on his boot bottoms and started to walk. Well a 1/4 mile later here is this buck all fired up jumping up and down( serioulsy) looking at my buddy..... down he goes. Anyhow, I was having a slow season  that yer and thought I would give it a try. I did the same but walked in a mile and then circled back on the side of a mountain and had a seat. 5 minutes later here comes this 2 point buck with his head glued to the trail i walked in on....let him go....here comes another buck 3 point 15 minutes later same deal....head down on the scent trail....tried to shoot him....gun jams. Anyhow, i've used scents on and off for severla years(depending on what i was seeing) and can tell you they bring deer to you, if used right. Hope it helps and good luck.

[Wyoming08]

Here's a link with some information about whitetail breeding activities.   I'm not posting this up here to say everything in it is right/wrong, just posting it because I'm sure some people might find the info interesting, or learn something they didn't know.

http://www.trmichels.com/RutDates.htm

Great link Miles   It shows that the PEAK BREEDING DATES for WA are from NOV 10-18.  SO I should kill a nice buck if I hunt during this time over in the Palouse?  Thanks for the Link!!!

[jackelope]

back east i have had bucks come on a string nose to the ground when i used one of those scent drag things dragging behind me when i walked to my stand. i have no problem believing scents work and are not a scam...but the time has to be right.

hunting during the rut doesn't guarantee you you'll kill a big buck. do you have access to land and which tag do you have?

[KimberRich]

In my experience I've found the pre-rut to be the best time to use the scents.  I would say from roughly Nov. 7th-20th.. I usually only use them when I'm on a stand and the wind is swirling or I set cotton balls with scent on them in a bush 100 yards from where I plan to sit or near a scrape or well used trail.  I've got videos and pictures of bucks walking right up to them and sniffing them.   

[SHANE(WA)]

I get tarsal glands off bucks people have killed and use them with calling, works great

[jackelope]

I get tarsal glands off bucks people have killed and use them with calling, works great

done that too back east.
good stuff.

[boneaddict]

Peak rut in Washington for whitetails is November 19th.  No need to have a range. 

[SHANE(WA)]

yep, one of the best and free scents u can use! its real!! still amazes me that people dont use them more often. Say your in a stand and grunt calling blindly, a mature buck heres the call comes to investigate, see's no movement, smells no buck he leaves with you never knowing he was there. Insert tarsal gland buck circles down wind, heres grunt smells buck you have just fooled 2 of his senses, hopefully he passes by for a shot, another trick get a large white feather and hang from a limb, it will twirl and flicker in the lightest of breezes, it will catch a deers eye, as the flicker of a calm whitetail. u have no fooled eyes,nose and hearing

[Buckmark]

I get tarsal glands off bucks people have killed and use them with calling, works great

Used to tie them to our boots..

[KimberRich]

I get tarsal glands off bucks people have killed and use them with calling, works great

My Dad used to cut them off and put them on his hat. Smelled great.