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I’ve been hearing from some bow hunters and those scouting for the firearm deer hunting season that they are just now seeing signs of rutting by bucks. It’s a sign that we may just be hitting the peak as gun season opens in 11 days.

I was given a reminder of the intricacies of what goes on during the rut as I road in a truck while going on site of a deer habitat project last week as a bag of “doe-in-heat” scent sticks was partially opened and allowed some sinus clearing in the cab.

Scents made by the whitetail buck and doe have been replicated for decades. In fact mask scents have been produced prior to and along side those made by deer to a point it has become a huge part of the hunting industry.

(At this point I’d suggest you not be eating lunch while reading the rest of this column as its content might put you off your appetite.)

The whitetail bucks and does communicate with each other during the mating season by producing unique odors deposited on the ground and on trees or shrubs. Scent glands between their toes (Interdigital), are the signature scent of each deer. They distinguish one from another so when bucks are chasing they can figure out which is which.

Those on the back legs (Tarsal & Metatarsal), are used to distinguish the “mood” of being receptive to breeding. Bucks will create ground scrapes in their area to mark territory and present a sign to does that they are looking for a mate. Does produce pheromones in their urine that indicate they are ready for breeding. Both genders will urinate down their hinds, picking up the scent and depositing it into the ground.

On those scrapes used as rut markers, another scent or combination of scents will be deposited on overhead branches of the scrape by bucks as an additional identity indicator. Those glands are found in the area of the eyes to base of the antlers (Pre-orbital), and the branches will sometimes be chewed to help absorb the scent making it a licking branch,

(Say how’s that sandwich taste?)

Artificial and/or collected genuine scents are also used to mask human odor.

Fox and skunk scent sometimes used are supposed to hide human odor but it is now believed they may do more harm than good for a hunt. Fox are not friends to some wildlife as connivers and skunks don’t usually spray unless they use it as a defense mechanism. Putting it on your boot will also create an offensive mood once you return to camp.

Pine and cedar extract have been used to cover human scent and there are other scents produced, including detergents, body soaps and paintballs filled with the odor of those already mentioned plus that of apples and acorns that are shot against trees in a hunting site to lure in deer.

There are also ample devices to apply the varying scent that include wick bottles, drip bags, felt pads (attached to the base of boots) and drag pads (attached to a string and dragged behind the hunter as he/she walks to the hunting site.)

I’ve researched all of the theories behind scent marking and mask scents ever since I started hunting. It was believed that any odor picked up from humans would scar deer away. They do react to the human smell and often times will circle in an attempt to find the source when on alert that something is up. They’re also very curious to varying foreign smells and often times that could be their downfall.

(Again, time to put down the sandwich or drink.)

In 1987 the late Fred Trost, who at the time was host/producer of the television show “Practical Sportsman”, had taken his examination of scents to the field. (The two part episode can still be found on You Tube.)

At one point he took a bottle of liquid aftershave and poured on the ground. A short distance away he poured our a quart bottle of ammonia cleaner and another short distance from that poured our a bottle of his own urine collected the night before (and after he had eaten a steak dinner).

Amazingly, bucks came into examine the odors and reacted in an amorous way to both the urine and ammonia.

(Hold off on that desert here as we’re almost done.)

Urine breaks down into ammonia and just like the doe-in-heat, rutting buck and other deer attractants, the two chemicals deposited on the ground by Trost triggered true buck rutting behavior. The timing has to be right but each and every type of product used, given the right scenario, can produce results.

In my years afield I’ve even gone so far as to collect cow urine to make my own concoction of scent, had limited success with ammonia and one year collected tarsal glands off road-killed and harvested does during November, for use the following year. They to worked except for one significant problem.

First, to keep them for the next season, I recommend wrapping them twice in freezer paper. Correctly label each package and then for safety (infiltration precautions), double bag them in zip-lock plastic bags. Most importantly, do not under any circumstances put them in the freezer next to other packages of venison or wild game as the wife just may take them out to thaw for cooking and the surprise she’ll have once they reach room temperature will be shared with you.

My ears are still wringing.