Last Minute Tips

[Pulleye16]

I'm packed and ready to go...well, after the clock hits 1:30 and work releases me.

This weekend begins one of my favorite times spent in the woods here in MN. I'd thought I'd share a couple pointers which hopefully helps someone have a successful weekend.

I'm not big into sprays, scent blockers, doe pee, etc,...but one thing I love during MN rut opener, is mock scrapes! If you are hunting scrapes or have a high open ridge nearby (better if it's oak), throw out three to four mock scrapes up on the top side of the ridge. If you can use fake urine, go for it. But if not, your own pee will work great!

Rattle Rattle Rattle! Don't worry about how, just make some noise and make it loud.

Stay in your stand until noon or later if you can on Sat or Sun...this is a great time to get a pushed buck. If you have to pee, like myself, just let it go off the side of the stand. Deer don't care and it'll keep you in the stand longer.

Good Luck all.

[deadeye]

Pulleye16,
Good points for sure.  I'm not much into mock scrapes because there's usually plenty real ones around. I'm not entirely convinced about rattling, grunting or other activity that alerts deer of your presents.  I do use grunts or grunt snort wheeze to stop or bring a buck closer.
You are right about human urine. I have never seen it to have a negative effect on deer and more likely somewhat attracts them.
Good Luck to you.

[snow1]

Always was told years ago by old timers don't piss around your stand whilst deer hunting so this is new info for me iffin I still hunted deer.

years back bow hunting in western minn along the minnesota river bottoms,my setup was along a picked soy bean field,had a tree stand in a old cedar tree along the edge of said field,in order to climb the tree I left my small backpack hanging on the a nail on my tree,forgot I had a small sample of mens cologne break in this pack on another trip,still stunk to high heaven tho.

dozed off in my stand but woke up to a sound,then noticed movement below me,big old doe was sniffin my pack,she was digging my mens toilet water I guess,arrowed the b---ch ,tried several years after that with the same scent,no go,maybe human piss next time.

[tangle tooth]

I'm not a deer hunter these days. Above all else, you folks stay safe. I'll stay out of your way.

[Boar]

Deer cant tell 1 piss from another. Its piss, what they do is associate the scent around the piss as freind or foe. You stand in a spot and piss, later deer xomes along, sniffs and bolts, they caught yur grounds scent from yur boots or yur paints, not the piss. Piss in a bottle if one is reluctant. Hell, in rifle aeason, what dose it matter once shooting starts

[snow1]

Thanx Boar....good advice.

[Yellowstone]

The one thing I do different the day or two before gun opener is to spray by boots down good and then walk near the main deer trails with a drag rag, stopping so often to wet the rag with more doe in heat pee. I can't say for sure it helps but I don't think it hurts as I've never seen deer alarmed. I don't swear by it.

The only thing I make sure of after last year is to have bleat can and grunt call handy as we called in a buck that was passing on the perimiter and kept him around long enough for a successful shot. I couldn't believe it. I think he saw us a few times but he was looking for that doe and the buck tending her.

The other thing I've learned over the past few years is if you are gonna grunt or whistle to make a deer stop for a shot, don't do it until you're ready to pull the trigger. I see deer stop and I see deer bolt when you do that!

[Leech~~]

Over the years I have tried all kinds of Deer scents and stinks stuff. I stopped wasting may money since I never see any of it really works. One thing I do now is if you are going to have to pee or take a dump by your stand during hunting. Which some times you cant help. I try to take a pee or two when scouting or setting up my stand a few weeks before. I think it gets the Deer in the area used to the smell and since nothing bad happened to them. They dont associate it with danger.
I've literally had Deer eating acorns under may stand and never alerted. 👍