Best Deer Scent Options of 2021 – Rated & Reviewed

| Last Updated June 4, 2021

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Experienced hunters agree that if the wind is not in their favor, deer will be able to smell them long before hunters will be able to see them.

Deer have an amazing sense of smell, which makes it highly possible for hunters that smell like human predators to go home without spotting even one animal.

To avoid this unfortunate outcome, we recommend the use of a deer scent to mask any odors that might alert prey to your presence.

Comparison Chart of the Best Deer Scents

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Convenient bottle design makes it very simple to use.
  • Natural smell of doe urine helps to attract deer easily.
  • Wider application and perfect for all seasons make it the best overall product.
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  • Wax stick formula ensures no spills, mess, or leaks.
  • Made from natural elements and contains no preservatives.
  • Runner-up product which contains two types of effective scents.
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  • Amber glass bottle ensures potency and freshness.
  • Each bottle contains urine from one individual deer.
  • Potent estrous urine to use during the whitetail rut available at economical prices makes it best for the money.
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  • Safe to use as it is ammonia-free.
  • Oxygen-free formula from collection to bottle.
  • Finest doe estrous urine ever collected makes this product the best from Top Secret.
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  • High quality, all-natural ingredients.
  • Editor’s pick as it helps you harvest deer all season long.
  • Combination of three scents: doe urine, doe estrous, buck urine.
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What is Deer Scent?

Luring a buck into range for a clean shot is the toughest job for a hunter. However, this task can be pretty straightforward with a good quality deer scent in your hunting arsenal. Deer scents are urine-based solutions that help hunters achieve a successful hunting season by luring in prey. Different types of deer scents include doe urine, buck urine, and doe estrous.

How Does Deer Scent Work?

The purpose of a deer scent is to attract deer from a reasonable distance to a dripper, scrape, or mock scrape; with careful planning and application, a savvy hunter can entice deer to follow a scent trail laid in advance. It is vital that the deer scent is applied properly so that the hunter can place a clean shot.

Conquest Scents Hunters Pack Vs-1 And Ever Calm Stick

However, it is not guaranteed that just because you are using a deer scent, you will be able to attract the buck of a lifetime. He has to be present in your hunting area in order for you to harvest him.

How to Choose Deer Scent

Although having fresh, good quality deer urine can help capture an 8 point, it is also vital to use different types of deer scents throughout the season to coordinate with natural deer behavior patterns:

Early Season: Pre-rut

It is important to be careful with your deer scents in the early whitetail hunting season. During the early season, you do not want to spook the deer with something unnatural; that is why you should use ordinary doe urine. Avoid using estrous scent before the natural breeding time of deer.

Mid-Season: Peak rut

During this season you should use generous amounts of estrus urine to lure in bucks. Estrous doe urine contains peak estrogen levels, which replicate a doe in heat and helps to attract bucks more easily. You can also mix it with simple doe urine or some glands.

Late Season: Post-rut

During the late season, you can perfect your whitetail deer hunting tactics and start preparing for the next year. After the rut season, deer are mostly focused on food; therefore, you can go back to using the simple doe urine. Although a second rut kicks in a month after the peak rut season, it will not be as wild as the first one.

Tink's #1 Doe-P Deer Lure

Review of the Best Deer Scents

In order to have a successful hunting season, you should invest in a high quality deer scent. Before buying, it is better to know the different features of the main varieties available on the market. In this article, we have picked the top five deer scents and reviewed them for you so that you can decide which product is perfect for you: 

Best Overall:
Tink's #1 Doe-P Deer Lure

TINK'S #1 Doe-P 1 oz.,Brown

PROS

  • Helps to calm spooky deer
  • Distinctive, non-estrous smell makes deer curious
  • Particularly effective during post-rut and bow season
  • Wonderful all-season lure helps to attract both does and bucks
  • 100% natural urine smell stimulates the smell of a new doe in the area

CONS

  • Some people claim that the smell has a chemical odor

What Recent Buyers Report

Many buyers report that with the help of this deer scent, they were able to lure in prey for a clean, killing shot. Deer are attracted to the smell of this product and will come to you smelling the trail without suspecting a thing. Buyers are also happy with the fact that it is a nice all-season scent and keeps the deer calm.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This product is not only effective but is also very easy to use. You can easily dab the wick with the easy to squirt top. With the help of this product, hunters have been able to spot multiple deer on every hunt, which we think is the best feature of this product.

Who Will Use This Most

This product is perfect for hunters who are inexperienced, as well as those who have been hanging their buck tags on bucks for many years. Its smell makes the deer curious and keeps them around the whole day. It effectively masks the human smell, and hunters can easily get their prey.

What Could Be Improved and Why

This is an effective product with not much that could be improved. However, some hunters have complained that the smell of this product has a chemical odor. Therefore, we think a slight change in the formula would easily take care of the problem.

Bottom Line

The #1 Doe-P deer lure from Tink’s is a versatile product that attracts both bucks and does and is effective in every season. It is a 100% natural doe urine which is available in a convenient bottle. So if you want to shoot a nice 8 point, then this product is perfect for you.

Runner-up:
Conquest Scents Hunters Pack Vs-1 and Ever Calm Stick

Conquest Scents Hunters Pack Vs-1 And Ever Calm Stick

PROS

  • Powerful deer estrus scent that attracts bucks
  • Easy application due to the wax stick formula
  • Calming scent that helps to soothe even a mature deer
  • Makes your hunting area smell like bedding area of a deer
  • Equally effective in all seasons, be it a rut, pre-rut, or post-rut

CONS

  • Not very effective for long distances

What Recent Buyers Report

Whenever buyers have used this product, they have seen deer walk close by and not get spooked. The VS 1 helps to bring deer closer, thus allowing hunters to get a clear shot, which is why hunters who have used this product again and again. This product mimics the smell of deer bedding areas; therefore, it puts the deer at ease. As a result, deer are not only attracted to the area, but they also feel that they are in a safe place, which is why they are not on high alert.

Why it Stands Out to Us

There are many features of this product that makes it a particular favorite of ours. The stick design ensures that there will be no spills and you can easily store it in your backpack. It is like a stick of deodorant; thus, it is very easy to rub on trees, your boots, and your stand. It is made from natural ingredients and does not contain any preservative, which makes it very safe.

Who Will Use This Most

This product is ideal for hunters who hunt the whole year round. It is very cost-effective; it works on the whole herd and is enough to last a season, which is why it is an essential addition to every hunter’s arsenal. Its mess-free application makes it suitable for all hunters, whether they are experienced or just getting started.

What Could Be Improved and Why

This product is applied to the tree, tree stand, and the hunter’s shoes just like a deodorant. However, it has been reported by some hunters that it does not work as effectively as a sprayed scent for longer distances. We feel that after making some minor adjustments to the formula, the manufacturers will be able to overcome this problem.

Bottom Line

If you are looking for a product that is not only effective but is also inexpensive, then the Conquest Scents Hunters Pack VS-1 and Ever Calm stick are ideal for you. This set contains two products. One is only deer estrus scent, which contains actual vaginal secretions, while the EverCalm is a deer calming scent. This product is very easy to use and gives an excellent result.

Best for the Money:
Code Blue Whitetail Doe Estrous

Code Blue Whitetail Doe Estrous

PROS

  • Comes in gel form, which clings to things better
  • 100% doe urine collected during its estrous cycle
  • Certified as a genuine product by an independent organization
  • Each bottle is marked with the doe’s unique registration number
  • Effectively draws in rutting bucks with the help of a single whitetail doe’s scent in heat

CONS

  • Small bottle size is not going to last the whole season

What Recent Buyers Report

Buyers find this product to be truly awesome. They state that after using this product their trail cameras have been picking bucks almost regularly, including in areas where bucks had never been observed in the area before. These buyers were very happy with this product and plan to buy it again for the next season.

Why it Stands Out to Us

Deer have notoriously sensitive noses. But this product, which is collected from a single doe in heat, helps to catch even the savviest buck. Also, it is labeled with the deer’s unique registration number and certified by an independent organization as a genuine product. It is highly effective and more lifelike than anything else available. Another thing that stands out about this product is that it comes from a single doe instead of being a muddled combination of several animals.

Who Will Use This Most

This powerful product is perfect for hunters who hunt during the whitetail rut. Each bottle contains the purest deer scent available and is made from the urine of a single doe in estrus. Big bucks will not be able to resist the smell of a doe in heat; therefore, hunters who use this will have no difficulty in making a clean shot.

What Could Be Improved and Why

The Code Blue Whitetail Doe estrus is available only in a one-ounce bottle, which is not sufficient for the whole season. It would be better if this product was available in bigger bottles or a pack of two so that hunters can have it on hand for the whole season.

Bottom Line

The Code Blue Whitetail Doe estrus is an excellent product to have on hand during whitetail rut. It is powerful, pure, and certified, thus making it one of the best products available. If you want to lure that trophy buck this season, then this product is just right for you.

Best From Top Secret: 
Top Secret Hot Mama Estrous Scent

Top Secret Hot Mama Estrous Scent 3 fl. ozs.

PROS

  • Easy to use plastic bottle with a screw cap
  • Perfect for beginners, as well as serious hunters
  • Overwhelming doe scent that bucks can’t resist
  • Use during the late season to get your buck trophy
  • Can be placed on scent drags or directly into scrapes

CONS

  • Some people got no response from this product

What Recent Buyers Report

Buyers report they have never smelled more potent estrus urine than this. Because of this product, they have been able to get their 8 point. Moreover, when they used it with the Bad Boy Scent, the result was outstanding.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The potent formula and excellent performance of this product have made it very popular among hunters. It creates an overwhelming doe scent that lures in bucks easily during the rut. Also, this formula is oxygen-free from collection to bottle, which is an added advantage.

Who Will Use This Most

This product is perfect for hunters who hunt during peak rut. It can be placed directly into scrapes, or you can put it on a scent drag and trail it to your tree stand, and within hours you will see bucks approaching. Also, it is a very safe product that can be used by all hunters, as it does not contain ammonia.

What Could Be Improved and Why

Some hunters have reported that even though they have hung this product on trees, used it for drags, and put it in active scrapes, it was unable to attract any bucks. By slightly changing the formula and making it more powerful, the manufacturers can overcome this issue.

Bottom Line

The Hot Mama Estrous Scent from Top Secret is a potent product that will make sure that you have a successful hunting season. It is easy and safe to use. Also, it is perfect for use during the late-season peak rut.

Editor's Pick:
Code Blue CR Triple Buck N Does Combo

Code Blue Buck-N-Does Combo

PROS

  • Can be used on drags, scent pads, or soles of the shoe
  • Anti-UV light bottle does not allow light rays to penetrate
  • Fresh product that can be used the whole hunting season
  • Urine does not evaporate, as it is protected from high temperatures
  • Doe and buck urine can be used early in the season while estrous is suitable for pre-rut and rut

CONS

  • Have to use it all at once, or the urine goes bad

What Recent Buyers Report

This is a triple pack combo that helps hunters harvest deer all season long, which is why it is very popular among hunters. It is made from the freshest all-natural ingredients, which make it very effective. Buyers report that every time they use this product, they observe increased deer activity.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The manufacturers have given special attention to preserving the freshness and effectiveness of this product. It is packaged in an anti-UV light bottle, which ensures that the sun's harmful rays do not enter the bottle. Also, this product can be sprayed on vegetation to lure the deer to your spot or used on drags to cover human scent. We particularly like the fact that the manufacturers have taken into account all scenarios and come up with a combination that greatly increases your chances of harvesting a buck.

Who Will Use This Most

When you buy this product, you will get three bottles – doe urine, buck urine, and doe estrous. Doe and buck urine is perfect for early season use, while the doe estrus should be used pre-rut and rut. This all-season product is perfect for hunters who hunt the whole season.

What Could Be Improved and Why

Some users have reported that this is an effective product if used all at once. However, if they use a little product at a time after a few days, it goes bad. In order to improve this product, the manufacturer should refine the ingredients. This will help to make it effective for longer.

Bottom Line

If you want a deer scent that you can use the whole year round, then the Code Blue CR triple buck and doe combo is for you. Its all-natural ingredients make it very safe to use. Thanks to the different types of urine, you can use the one that you find more suitable or mix them for better results.

Types of Deer Scents

The basic types of deer scents are:

Doe and Buck Urine

This variety is simply urine from a deer on an average day. It helps to calm a deer’s nerves and raise its curiosity level as it simulates a new deer in the area. It can be used during the whole hunting season, considering that deer pee in the woods all the time. It also works as a useful cover scent as it is fairly commonplace. However, it becomes a powerful attractant when combined with other scents.    

Doe Estrous Scent

The estrous scent is collected from a doe that is in heat. The changed chemistry of a doe’s urine communicates to nearby bucks that she is ready to mate. This scent is used at the beginning or end of a typical rut period to attract the buck.

Buck Tarsal Gland Scent

Bucks urinate while holding their back legs together. This causes the urine to flow down the tarsal glands. Tarsal glands refer to the stained patch of fur located around the inside of the deer’s knees. The urine infuses with additional oily secretions and hormones to give off a unique smell that distinguishes the buck.

Preorbital and Forehead Gland Scent

When a buck makes a scrape, he looks for a spot under a licking branch. He scrapes the ground with his hooves to urinate in and rubs his eyes and forehead against the branch. This releases scents from the preorbital gland and forehead gland. This scent is used preferably during the pre-rut to peak rut.

Conclusion

The main purpose of deer scent is to become an obstacle to the strong sense of smell. All the above products do so very effectively. Now that you are familiar with some of the top deer scents, it is time to decide which one is best for you. However, before buying, read the instructions carefully to make sure that you buy the product that best suits your type of hunting.

People Also Ask

It is hard to determine which deer scent will be able to attract bucks most effectively. Therefore, before choosing one from our list and trying your luck, we recommend considering the following questions;

When Are the Best Times to Use Deer Scents?

With the help of a good quality deer scent, you can attract a mature buck and get a clean shot. You can use ordinary doe urine in pre-rut, doe estrus during peak rut, and go back to using simple doe urine during post-rut.

How Do You Use Deer Scents?

Deer scent can be used in different ways. You can spray it in mock scrapes, or you can use a scent drag and drag it behind you on a string. You can also use boot pads, which are absorbent pieces of fabric that you can attach to your boots. These pads attach to the boot with a band, and just by walking with boot pads from your car to the tree stand, you can leave behind a fragrant trail for a deer to follow.



My name is Caleb and I am obsessed with hunting, fishing, and foraging. To be successful, you have to think like your prey. You have to get into the mind of your target - and understand Big Game Logic. If you have any questions, or just want chat about your latest hunting score or big catch, you can reach me at admin@biggamelogic.com. Read more about Big Game Logic.