So, how do you lure that big buck close enough to your stand to make that perfect shot? Well, the answer to that question is to use one the many different types and brands of deer scents available today. In fact, if you visit any sporting goods store just prior to the opening day of deer season you will undoubtedly see a large selection of various types of deer scents on their shelves. However, the selection in some stores can be so overwhelming that you find yourself unable to make a choice due to information overload! Therefore, in order to prevent this state of debilitating indecision, it is helpful to know what type of deer scent you need before you ever enter the store.

The Four Different Types of Natural Deer Scents -

Also, you should be aware that both glandular and estrous deer scents are scents that are harvested from living, captive, deer populations and they consist of four different types:

• Interdigital Gland Deer Scents - A deer’s Interdigital Glands are located between their hooves on all four legs and they are small, sparsely haired, sacs that open between the toes via a short, wide, duct inside of which you will usually find a yellowish, cheesy looking, material that often has a foul, rancid odor. Because of its position, a minute amount of this material in left in a deer’s track every time it takes a step and, because the molecules that make up this substance evaporate at different rates, this could cause the odor of the track to change over time which may enable a deer (or a predator) to tell how old the track is. Furthermore, each deer’s interdigital glands produce a scent that is unique to each individual animal and which is meant to announce their presence to other deer in the area by depositing a scent trail as the deer travels. Last, a readily available Interdigital scent for this purpose is Tink’s Fresh Tracks.

• Preorbital Gland Deer Scents - A deer’s “Preorbital” or, Lacrymal Glands are small pockets located in front of a deer’s eyes that are under muscular control and thus they are held closed the majority of the time. However, rutting bucks may open this gland when marking scrapes by rubbing these glands against overhanging branches or when signaling their aggressive intentions to other bucks and, does often open this gland when they are tending their fawns. Also, an excellent Preorbital Glad scent is Code Blue’s Rack Rub.

• Tarsal Gland Deer Scents - Tarsal Glands are without a doubt the single most important gland to Whitetails and a deer’s Tarsal Glands are located on the insides of both hind legs. Also, they consist of a tuft of elongated hairs on the inside of the deer’s legs and each of these hairs is associated with an enlarged secretory structure called a Sebaceous Gland which secretes a fatty material called a “lipid” that completely coats the hairs. Also, the hairs themselves have specially modified scales to provide greater surface area for holding this fatty material. However, according to research, it is not the lipid that gives the gland its strong musky odor but instead, the smell comes from urine that is deposited on the tarsal gland during a behavior called “rub-urination”.

• Doe-in-Estrous Deer Scents - Estrous is the short period immediately after the rut during which the does are actually receptive to breeding and thus, doe-in-estrous deer scents are doe urine scents that are collected from live, captive, does during the height of their estrous period and are used to draw a mature buck to a desired location. However, they are best deployed during the rut when the bucks are concentrating on breeding as many does as possible by either laying down a false scent trail using a drag rag or by dispersing the scent on the breeze using a scent dispenser. Naturally, doe-in-estrous scents are available from Tink’s as their #69 Doe-in-Rut lure which contains a natural doe-in-estrous urine combined with their “secret ingredient” to make it irresistible to the bucks and from Code Blue as Code Blue Whitetail Doe Estrous. However, they are also available as a solid scent wafer from Hunter’s Specialties as their Doe Estrus solid scent wafers.

Therefore, retaining the odor requires daily “recharging” of the gland with urine. Consequently, buck tarsal glands can be used either by themselves or in conjunction with a dominate buck urine scent by dowsing the dried tarsal gland with urine and then dragging it behind you as you walk or, to create a false scent trail or, to make one or more mock scrapes since either method will signal a challenge to any dominate buck in the area. However, the timing for use of this gland is critical and thus it should be noted that they are most effective during the 2 to 3 week period preceding the peak of the rut when scraping activity is also at its peak.However, they may actually be less effective during the peak of the rut when most bucks will be tending does because a buck tending a doe will be less likely to investigate the scent of a possible unknown intruder. Last, Tarsal Glands are available from Tink’s in the form of their Trophy Buck w/Intruder Tarsal Gland package and from Code Blue as the Code Blue Whitetail Tarsal Gland.