Here is a strategy I've used with excellent results:* Note - I know there are people that are vehemently opposed to using scents. I get it. If you're open to trying this technique, please post your results. It only needs about 5 min - 3 days to be effective. It works!
When To Use: The chasing phase about October 20th - November 7th. If you use this technique before Nov 20th (about) it has little to no effect in my experience. During the rut - not so much either. Chasing phase is best.
- Purchase two bottles of doe-in-heat urine attractant like Tinks #69 and Code Blue (I like one of each).
- Obtain a gallon jug and fill it 3/4 with the hottest water possible.
- Empty both bottles of doe-in-heat urine into the hot gallon jug and mix well. The hot water and steam helps with disseminating the urine scent.
- 1 Rope (drag rag) and 2 100% cotton rags. Thread the rope through the rags and then Drench the rags in the hot scent water. (Anything other than cotton doesn't work as well... I've tried it all.)
- When near your hunting spot, drag the rags in a star pattern from 75 yards away from your stand to the optimal shooting spot about 20-30 meters from your stand.
- Dump the rest of the urine on the leaves of a bush and onto the rags. Then place the rags approximately waist-high preferably in a bush where wind can pass through the rags to carry scent through the woods or hunting area. In other words, you do not want to let your "drag rags" get stuck on the side of a tree trunk, just hanging from a branch or laying on the ground.
The wind will carry the scent for 200-400 meters and any passing deer will smell the scent you left on the trails.
You do not want to lead deer to your stand or blind... lead them to your shooting lane.
This strategy does not mean that a deer will immediately walk up on your drag rag, though I have had that happen and shot a 10 pointer.... but there will be deer coming in within 24 hours.
Some people do this on the Friday afternoon before their Saturday Hunt. I put this up in Minnesota on Nov 3rd and the 5th my buddies dad shot a 6.5 year old 8 pointer... the only deer big enough for him to mount. and he's shot well over 200 deer. It was HUGE!!!
Personally, I have used this method with great success, including my first buck taken with a bow, personal records shot by friends in 3 different states.
Personally, I
only have confidence in Tinks69 and Code Blue Doe-in-Heat. But to each his own.
Total Cost: $15.00I would love a few people to use this technique and report what happened. October 20th - November 7th... with 3 days of hunting in a row after putting these rags up.
