Deer huntin' idea... Discussion...

**hogdogs** · September 27, 2009, 10:27 AM

Hey what do ya'll think of this thought I had to trick them deer.

I got to thinking about human scent and deer habit.
so what if I take a spare shirt as I scout my spots... I would then take off my worn one and tie it in a tree limb and swap it out each trip in. I can go in almost daily. Think a couple weeks of my shirt being there pre season would take some of the spookiness off the deer?
Less chance of deer blowing my cover and snortin' at me just out of sight the last hour and a half of shooting light?
Brent

treg · September 27, 2009, 02:02 PM

On a similar note, I have thought of putting a dummy in some of my stands. When season comes they won't realize that there's a different dummy there.

You can mess with their brains, but a deers nose is tough to trick.

fisherman66 · September 27, 2009, 04:22 PM

Might work, but I suspect it would be more likely to keep all deer out of the area during daylight.

bswiv · September 27, 2009, 06:37 PM

It may not be as crazy a idea as it appears on the surface. Deer do get used to houses and you know for sure they can smell people there all the time but then as soon as they see you.......

But I'll let you try it first.........

FrontSight · September 27, 2009, 08:43 PM

You might be onto something really good. Especially if you put lots of bait there...they might start to associate human scent with food...then when they smell you somewhere else, they will think there is food there to & come running?

BlackFeather · September 27, 2009, 11:30 PM

I have known an ex Army Ranger to do the same thing, he always got a deer, but then again he was VERY sneaky too...

shortwave · September 28, 2009, 04:06 PM

Quote:

On a similar note, I have thought about putting a dummy in some of my stands...

Treg, you`ll find the dummy in the stand works. Designing one that moves with the wind(arms,head etc.) is very effective for getting them used to movement. An old farmer I knew hunted for years from a tractor seat nailed to a tree stump. Stump was in the middle of a mature woods with a thick canopy and very little undergrowth, no cover. He would place a dummy in seat right after every shotgun season. Seemed to be a ritual, opening morning of shotgun season, right after daylight, you`d hear Mr. Clarks shotgun bark. I learned alot from that guy. As far as smell goes, deer, especially doe`s and the young are very curious. They would probably be able to be fooled after awhile of leaving worn clothes in an area but I don`t know about that trophy buck. May force him out of the area all-together

.

davlandrum · September 28, 2009, 04:11 PM

Brent,

Added benefit is saving on running the washer - few days in the fresh air makes them just like new...

Fremmer · September 28, 2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

I would then take off my worn one and tie it in a tree limb and swap it out each trip in. I can go in almost daily. Think a couple weeks of my shirt being there pre season would take some of the spookiness off the deer?

Interesting idea. I don't think that it would do much, though. If anything, you'll spook the deer during preseason and they won't be around when you really want them to be during the season. You'd probably do better by slowly, silently, and very quietly scouting that area a couple of weeks before the season, and then let it settle down until the season comes. At least then you'll (hopefully) figure out where they bed, what paths they take, where they like to eat, etc.

But I like the idea, at least you're thinking about things!

And I like the story about the farmer and the stump, too.

treg · September 28, 2009, 09:38 PM

Thanks for the story and the encouragement shortwave. Gotta find time to get out there and git-r-done.

**Brian Pfleuger** · September 28, 2009, 10:07 PM

I've heard of the dummy thing working. On the shirt idea, there's no reason to believe that the deer would not get used to the scent and ignore it. It happens all the time when people build new cabins or do some logging. If it goes on for awhile the deer get used to it. A new cabin will have deer standing 30 yards from it in a couple of months.

I'd give it a lot more than a couple weeks though.

trooper3385 · September 28, 2009, 11:29 PM

The dummy thing isn't a bad idea. I've seen that work before. As far as the shirt, it might work and it might spook the deer. It's a pretty good idea, but I've never heard anyone doing it before. I would suggest trying it right after deer season first and see if it works. I wouldn't want to find out that it's not going to work after the season starts and the deer are spooked by it now.

Gbro · September 28, 2009, 11:39 PM

I have used the switch shirt trick(tee shirt) before and have told bear hunters about it before and they had good results. I also like essence of skunk. both natural and the 2 part kits.
But the trick I used most was to never, NEVER bring hunting garments into the camp. all overclothes would be hung in the lower branches of a balsam or cedar tree, Every night, and every return to camp.

camper4lyfe · September 30, 2009, 09:09 AM

I've often thought of doing the dummy trick. I just need to actually DO it.

Longun · September 30, 2009, 01:50 PM

Works for Bear I have my hunters send a dirty shirt to me & hang it two weeks before the hunt. Here is the rub bear get use to human scent vary easy deer not so much. I would keep one shirt Out & let the scent dissipate then employ a cover scent on the hunt.

longun

jammin1237 · September 30, 2009, 08:36 PM

not quite sure what totally makes them tick just yet...i just try to use whatever their senses perceive as being "normal" and non threatening...here is a couple of observations i have seen over the years...

1 -- up in the north woods of Wisconsin there is a lot of logging activity in certain areas during the non frozen tundra season, the deer will hover around these areas to feed on the buds and or fallen seeds of freshly cut trees, its an easy meal... a running chain saw can actually bring deer into an area rather than scare them away, its almost like a dinner bell...

2 -- i have seen more deer within 50 yards of me while i was smoking a Marlboro light cigarette than any of the other times i was hunting(crap, i dont smoke anymore)...whats up with that? maybe them lumber jack dudes are smokin the marlboro while workin

3 -- use squirrel or bird call noises -- turkey, crow, grouse, dove, duck, and or whatever simulates the sound of undisturbed nature in your neck of the woods...

4 -- relax and wait for it... i swear they can sense what you are there for...

if it takes your dirty clothes to get them used to your smell without them feeling threatened? that could easily work... they will check it out at night(75% of deer are nocturnal, the other 25% end up in your freezer)...at least they wont freak out if they smell you during the day...

Swampghost · September 30, 2009, 09:07 PM

Most of my life I've had the privilege of hunting working cattle ranches and groves.

I suggest that these animals are acclimated to a certain level of human contact. All of the information that I've gathered on the cattle ranch that I've hunted for the past 3 yrs. indicates that schedule changes have the most influance in behavior.

September 27, 2009, 10:27 AM	#1
hogdogs Staff Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 10,720	Deer huntin' idea... Discussion... Hey what do ya'll think of this thought I had to trick them deer. I got to thinking about human scent and deer habit. so what if I take a spare shirt as I scout my spots... I would then take off my worn one and tie it in a tree limb and swap it out each trip in. I can go in almost daily. Think a couple weeks of my shirt being there pre season would take some of the spookiness off the deer? Less chance of deer blowing my cover and snortin' at me just out of sight the last hour and a half of shooting light? Brent __________________ Finally have designs going up in the Hogdogs Outdoor Apparel online store. http://www.cafepress.com/hogdogsoutdoorapparel Thanks for lookin'...

September 27, 2009, 02:02 PM	#2
treg Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2006 Posts: 938	On a similar note, I have thought of putting a dummy in some of my stands. When season comes they won't realize that there's a different dummy there. You can mess with their brains, but a deers nose is tough to trick. __________________ "Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." - John Wayne .44 Special: For those who get it, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, no explanation is possible.

September 27, 2009, 04:22 PM	#3
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: Rhome, TX Posts: 4,630	Might work, but I suspect it would be more likely to keep all deer out of the area during daylight. __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

September 27, 2009, 08:43 PM	#5
FrontSight Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 1,711	You might be onto something really good. Especially if you put lots of bait there...they might start to associate human scent with food...then when they smell you somewhere else, they will think there is food there to & come running? __________________ To kill something as great as a duck just to smell the gunpowder is a crime against nature. - Alan Liere Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. - George Bernard Shaw

September 27, 2009, 11:30 PM	#6
BlackFeather Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2009 Location: West Coast Posts: 441	I have known an ex Army Ranger to do the same thing, he always got a deer, but then again he was VERY sneaky too... __________________ "Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men." - Miyamoto Musashi [Insert random irrelevant religious quote here]

September 27, 2009, 06:37 PM	#4
bswiv Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Posts: 1,037	It may not be as crazy a idea as it appears on the surface. Deer do get used to houses and you know for sure they can smell people there all the time but then as soon as they see you....... But I'll let you try it first.........

September 28, 2009, 04:11 PM	#8
davlandrum Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: Lane County Oregon Posts: 2,546	Brent, Added benefit is saving on running the washer - few days in the fresh air makes them just like new... __________________ U.S Army, Retired Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do. -Potter Stewart

September 28, 2009, 09:38 PM	#10
treg Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2006 Posts: 938	Thanks for the story and the encouragement shortwave. Gotta find time to get out there and git-r-done. __________________ "Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." - John Wayne .44 Special: For those who get it, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, no explanation is possible.

September 28, 2009, 10:07 PM	#11
Brian Pfleuger Staff Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Central, Southern NY, USA Posts: 14,670	I've heard of the dummy thing working. On the shirt idea, there's no reason to believe that the deer would not get used to the scent and ignore it. It happens all the time when people build new cabins or do some logging. If it goes on for awhile the deer get used to it. A new cabin will have deer standing 30 yards from it in a couple of months. I'd give it a lot more than a couple weeks though. __________________ Still happily answering to the call-sign Peetza. --- You do not HAVE a soul. You ARE a soul. You HAVE a body. ----- He is no fool who gives what he can not keep to gain what he can not lose. -Jim Eliott, paraphrasing Philip Henry.

September 28, 2009, 11:29 PM	#12
trooper3385 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2005 Location: South Texas Posts: 793	The dummy thing isn't a bad idea. I've seen that work before. As far as the shirt, it might work and it might spook the deer. It's a pretty good idea, but I've never heard anyone doing it before. I would suggest trying it right after deer season first and see if it works. I wouldn't want to find out that it's not going to work after the season starts and the deer are spooked by it now.

September 28, 2009, 11:39 PM	#13
Gbro Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,022	I have used the switch shirt trick(tee shirt) before and have told bear hunters about it before and they had good results. I also like essence of skunk. both natural and the 2 part kits. But the trick I used most was to never, NEVER bring hunting garments into the camp. all overclothes would be hung in the lower branches of a balsam or cedar tree, Every night, and every return to camp. __________________ Gbro CGVS For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, But to us who are being saved, It Is The Power Of God. 1Corinthians 1-18

September 30, 2009, 09:09 AM	#14
camper4lyfe Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2008 Location: Fairport, NY Posts: 148	I've often thought of doing the dummy trick. I just need to actually DO it.

September 30, 2009, 01:50 PM	#15
Longun Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Posts: 55	Works for Bear I have my hunters send a dirty shirt to me & hang it two weeks before the hunt. Here is the rub bear get use to human scent vary easy deer not so much. I would keep one shirt Out & let the scent dissipate then employ a cover scent on the hunt. longun

September 30, 2009, 08:36 PM	#16
jammin1237 Senior Member Join Date: July 16, 2008 Location: Wisonsin Posts: 269	not quite sure what totally makes them tick just yet...i just try to use whatever their senses perceive as being "normal" and non threatening...here is a couple of observations i have seen over the years... 1 -- up in the north woods of Wisconsin there is a lot of logging activity in certain areas during the non frozen tundra season, the deer will hover around these areas to feed on the buds and or fallen seeds of freshly cut trees, its an easy meal... a running chain saw can actually bring deer into an area rather than scare them away, its almost like a dinner bell... 2 -- i have seen more deer within 50 yards of me while i was smoking a Marlboro light cigarette than any of the other times i was hunting(crap, i dont smoke anymore)...whats up with that? maybe them lumber jack dudes are smokin the marlboro while workin 3 -- use squirrel or bird call noises -- turkey, crow, grouse, dove, duck, and or whatever simulates the sound of undisturbed nature in your neck of the woods... 4 -- relax and wait for it... i swear they can sense what you are there for... if it takes your dirty clothes to get them used to your smell without them feeling threatened? that could easily work... they will check it out at night(75% of deer are nocturnal, the other 25% end up in your freezer)...at least they wont freak out if they smell you during the day...

September 30, 2009, 09:07 PM	#17
Swampghost Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: Florida, east coast Posts: 2,106	Most of my life I've had the privilege of hunting working cattle ranches and groves. I suggest that these animals are acclimated to a certain level of human contact. All of the information that I've gathered on the cattle ranch that I've hunted for the past 3 yrs. indicates that schedule changes have the most influance in behavior. __________________ NRA Patron Member