How effective is deer urine as a scent lure in Vermont?

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Choosing the Right Scent When selecting a deer urine scent for use in Vermont’s big woods, hunters should look for products that contain the urine of a doe in estrus. This pheromone is more attractive to male deer and can trigger a strong response from them. A good quality urine scent should be made from the urine of a white-tailed deer and contain a mix of 60-80% doe urine, 20-40% buck urine, and a small percentage of other scents.
Applying the Scent Correctly Applying the scent correctly is crucial to its effectiveness. Hunters should apply the scent to their clothing, boots, and equipment at least 24 hours before hunting. This allows the scent to dry and become less volatile, reducing the risk of wind blowing the scent away from the hunter. A good rule of thumb is to apply 2-3 sprays of scent to clothing and 1-2 sprays to equipment. Hunters should also consider applying scent to the base of trees or other objects in the area to create a scent trail that can lead the deer to their location.
Factors Affecting Scent Effectiveness Several factors can affect the effectiveness of deer urine scent in the big woods of Vermont. Wind direction is a major factor, as a strong wind can blow the scent away from the hunter and reduce its effectiveness. Hunters should always check wind direction before applying scent and position themselves upwind of their stand or blind. Scent concentration is also important, as a highly concentrated scent can be overwhelming to the deer and cause them to avoid the area. Finally, deer habituation can also reduce the effectiveness of scent, as deer that are frequently exposed to scent can become desensitized to it over time.