What am I doing wrong?

[hartman886]

OK - I got a new spot on public land. It's the standard row of pines, I'm on the edge along some hardwoods and some open field areas. I'm in about 350 yards off the road.

Been the past three nights:

Night one: 5:30 I see a doe jump a ditch and then snort. Not more deer that night. it was about 40 yards away.
Night two: 5:15 I hear three deer crunching in the leaves - they're behind a lot of trees 40 yards away so I could only see them off and on. Then at 5:30, one jumped in the same place as the night before and snorted. Then 10 mins later the other two ran off in a different direction. 10 mins later I see one about 100 yards away and it starts coming back slowly. 5 mins later I hear it snort three times from about 50 yards, then leave.
Tonight: 6:10 a snort, but I didn't hear any leaves crunching, or it bounding off.

There have been bird hunters in the area - sometimes really close sometimes across the road (1/2 mile maybe?). Saturday night and Sunday night they (deer) ate all the bait, but last night they hardly touched it.

Are they smelling me, or is it the other hunters or what else could it be? I use all the scent techniques - keep the clothes in a bag, use the scent free soap, and spray, etc. Can they smell me from 40 yards away in no wind? I do not move in that stand - why do they snort so much and is it my fault?

Thanks,
Robin

[mich buckmaster]

The only thing I can think of is that even though you CANT detect the wind, it is there. There are things on the market that will float like a feather and let you know the thermals, and you can use a baby powder substance that doesnt smell and it will also show you the thermals.

As for the deer snorting, I would have to say they are getting your wind or your setup smell in some way. I would either move closer to that ditch, or hunt it in a different wind.

Kind of hard to say, but from what you say that is my 02

[trout]

I think it's time to move.
Look for a little tiny bottleneck with good cover for you.
Maybe a brushy line that they cross thru and stop to survey their next move.

[7MM Magnum]

Yep,... I agree with mich buckmaster. They are winding you!:( Have you been using any cover scents to mask your human odor??


I use those H.S. "Earth scent " Wafers and the pump spray earth scent on everything that I wear. Take your hunting clothes and put them all in a large plastic bag after you cover everything with some spray. Also toss in a couple of those wafers. Take the bag with all your clothes in it, push it down and try to remove as much excess air as possible. Use one of those twister ties and secure the bag closed.

Leave everything like that until your ready to put them on to hunt in. Do this every time when your done with your hunt. Also remember to use some of that spray on the neck area of yourself,... this is the place that the human odor escapes from when your all suited up to go hunt. Take a couple of those wafers and pin them to your jacket collar and one on your hat. This will help mask your scent when the air passes you by distributing the smell of the wafers and not you. I have been using this method for years and have deer walk within an arms reach and I have not been detected by them.

I know if you use this method you will not be detected. :D

[hartman886]

How the heck can they be winding me that far away?

yes, I do all that scent stuff. I shower with it, I keep my clothes in a plastic tote outside after they were washed with the scent stuff, but I keep a few pine branches in there versus the scent wafers. I spray my watch, release, my shoes, my socks, my body and then put my clothes on - tonight I even chewed on a pine needle -
I guess the wind has to be swirling out there - when I've noticed it it was coming from them to me, but for the most part it's been dead silent. but who knows....it sucks becuase I haven't seen anything except other hunters at my other spots!

I guess that's the way it goes. But like you all keep telling me, the best hunting is coming in a few weeks! :)

Thanks again,
Robin

[Jacob Huffman]

Sounds like they are smelling you alright.Another thought you may think of is maybe, just maybe, someone has put something on or near your bait-hair,soap,fabric softener.All these things may not be seen by you but can definitly scare deer off from a distance due to the smell.I would check around your bait area and around the stand.Someone may not want you to be there and are hoping to get you flustered about the deer to get you to leave.Just me being to untrusting at times I guess.

[Moron]

Like mich buckmaster suggests, you might want to move closer. When you're elevated your scent may be traveling a ways before settling down to their level. A lot of times once they get close scent becomes less of an issue to an elevated hunter, they are beneath the draft carrying your scent. :)

[hartman886]

Thanks MORON! (I always wanted to say that :evil: )


as for moving closer, I can't. I'd be on private land....

do you think if I left it for a few days and went back it'd be ok?

[7MM Magnum]

Maybe if you shifted your location to the opposite side from where you are now.:confused:

At this point you should try something a little different,... then see if there's any change in their reaction one way or the other. I can't get any worse from the sound of it. :rolleyes:

[Thunderhead]

How the heck can they be winding me that far away?

tonight I even chewed on a pine needle -



LMAO :) Thats determination !
You have the right idea tho. Keep at it and don't give up. That's all you have to do. Keep trying different things and set ups till it all clicks. And trust me, it will.
By reading your post, I can see you have grit and are not one to get easily discouraged.

If I were you, I'd go to where I first see the deer and figure out where they're comming from and where they're headed to. Find a couple of different ambush points along their trail that will work with different wind directions.

One more thing..........I called in a big doe 3 times last Thursday nite using a fawn blat. Before using the blat, all the deer I saw, I used a doe grunt on, they looked, but never made a move toward me. Finally I adjusted my call to a fawn in distress, and she came on a dead run. So don't be afraid to use that deer call. 95% of the deer I've killed came in to a call.

Anyway, I missed 2 times at 10 yards ( the sun was in my eyes ;) ) and finally dropped her with the 3rd arrow. She spooked both times, but came right back when I let loose with that pathetic distress call.
Sheeeeesh Either I really suck, or I'm really good...lol :)

Point being, if one thing doesn't work, something else will.
That's what makes bowhunting so fun.......finally outsmarting'em.
You'll make a thousand mistakes and learn a thousand lessons in this game, but, in the end, you'll be that much wiser.

Good Luck.

[Moron]

If the deer are consistent in their route and you are limited in possible setups, might want to let that stand be until the wind is in your favor. ;)

[wolfgang510]

The whitetail nose is amazing and I think they can smell you at 40yds, actually more, no matter what type of scent control you use. The very clothing we wear has an odor too it no matter what you spray on it. These deer may be extra spooky and most deer I've found are more spooky around bait. I think scent control can help reduce odor and may allow deer to get closer without spooking but when coming in to bait you better have the wind right or else all that will come in is fawns. I have not tried fall cover scent because it seems odd to me to add scent to clothes while treating clothes with a scent killer spray.

[Fred Bear]

they are winding you no doubt about it. That is why they snort. You have to find a way to get downwind of them.

[Whit1]

OK - I got a new spot on public land. It's the standard row of pines, I'm on the edge along some hardwoods and some open field areas. I'm in about 350 yards off the road.
Pine rows are notorious wind deflectors. I have an article in the Nov. issue of Woods n' Waters News about the importance of wind in deer hunting that mentions this. It is amazing how, even in flat terrain, rows of pine and other evergreen trees will deflect the wind, pushing it back towards the deer and funneling your scent to the left and right as well.

[Liver and Onions]

I agree with Whit about pine plantations. I would suggest setting up at least 50 yds. from the edge. It is more than just deflecting the wind. When you step into a pine planation you imediately notice a temperature change. As you might remember from your Jr. High Science class, changes in air temperature between two areas is one of two reasons for wind. Even small areas of cooler air can set into motion air currents that will carry your scent in a direction that you would not expect.

L & O

[Virgil]

In my experience deer that smell me seldom snort they just leave in a hurry or sneak off. On the other hand if they see me move or hear my knees knocking or hear my arrow fall off the rest or hear my tree stand creak thats when they start stomping and snorting trying to figure out what in the world I am. One thing that I have noticed is on clear/sunny days I have been busted without doing anything and I think it has be reflections of the sky/sun off my glasses or arrows. A buddy of mine told me could see my glasses flashing in the sun from a 100yds away through the brush during one evening hunt. If you wear glasses try to keep them shaded from the sun or a bright sky. Head nets might work but I don't like the limited visibility and even a net will make your glasses fog up in cooler weather. Make sure your jewelery and watch are covered and check for things that may be shiny on your bow. Just a couple more things to consider.

Good Luck,

Virgil

[wecker20]

A deer can smell you 1/2 mile away if the wind is right. I am limited to stand set-ups because of the neighbors pines holding deer and being downwind from where I would like to hang a stand. Those are 400 yds away and last year I had them sniff me from that distance. They can also see movement over 1/2 mile. From my house to the back of my 80 is all open. If I'm watching from the house and walking around too much, they spot me and get nervous. Normally they stay put but I have had them take off.