Elk Scents: Worth it or garbage?

dryflyelk · Aug 22, 2008

I've never used any real elk scents, just mainly cover scents and the like. I'm wondering if you guys have found success with them or you use them as part of your elk arsenal. I'll be spending a week in Idaho during the middle of the rut and I'm thinking about bringing something stinky along. Well, besides my hunting partner.

Edpre · Aug 22, 2008

I always use them during the rut. In moderation- I don't put 'em on like Old English on prom night, just a little bit on my hat, or on my decoy if I'm using one. A few years back I had two bulls at 2 yards and 3 yards, while I was hunkered down. The closer of the two sniffed my hat, did a gut roll and pi$$ed on the ground, got my arm wet, looked at me for a minute, sniffed again and walked off. Never spooked. Not as close as I'm comfortable with, but proved to me that the stuff works.

DallanC · Aug 22, 2008

I put a couple 1/2" rifle cleaning patches around me and spray the cow-in-heat scent on to those, I dont wear'em. But I've had an elk as close as 2ft from me in a blind sniffing around. Had a 7x7 within 12 yards of me last year lay down and roll around for 10 minutes, had no clue that I was there.

-DallanC

OmegaMan · Aug 22, 2008

> I always use them
>during the rut. In
>moderation- I don't put 'em
>on like Old English on
>prom night, just a little
>bit on my hat, or
>on my decoy if I'm
>using one. A few
>years back I had two
>bulls at 2 yards and
>3 yards, while I was
>hunkered down. The closer
>of the two sniffed my
>hat, did a gut roll
>and pi$$ed on the ground,
>got my arm wet, looked
>at me for a minute,
>sniffed again and walked off.
> Never spooked. Not
>as close as I'm comfortable
>with, but proved to me
>that the stuff works.

hahaha... that's some funny stuff. So is it a secret what products you use?

nmelktrout · Aug 22, 2008

Not a big fan of the commercial ones for elk. Wind direction will usually make or break you regardless of scent. I've had elk right on top of me and around me with and without scent cover and wind or lack of have been the determining factor. I do like to rub some sage or crushed pine needles into my camo whenever I can and as bad as it sounds, I think there is nothing better than some fresh droppings or better yet, a little dirt that has been freshly peed on rubbed into your camo (especially if you can see a cow stop and pee). You WILL stink but nothing beats the real deal from the area you are hunting. Natural scents from the area I am hunting in seem to work the best for me. Just my 2 cents.

slamdunk · Aug 22, 2008

NMELK just spoke the Gospel-

"Not a big fan of the commercial ones for elk. Wind direction will usually make or break you regardless of scent."

AWHOLELOTTABULL · Aug 22, 2008

+2 nmelk! I used to put that stuff on until I figured out that it wasn't much of a turnon for the Mrs. I actually had to spend the night outside one night because I put it on like "old spice on prom night". LOL Now that's a funny statement right there.

It's always an adventure!!!
www.awholelottabull.com

nmelktrout · Aug 22, 2008

LAST EDITED ON Aug-22-08 AT 11:21AM (MST)[p]awholelottabull, that is freaking hilarious! Sounds like you were the only rut crazed stinky in (or should I say out of) your house that night!

I must confess that I think commercial scents are good for one thing: sticking them under your buddy's nose in camp to wake him up. It takes a second for the scent to hit them hard but when it does, your buddy will be out of that sleeping bag (usually swinging) FAST. p.s. deer or coon urine works the best

Antlers_Ink · Aug 22, 2008

I've tried the Red Fox urine for a cover scent several times and it is one of the most powerful scents out there if you can stand that rank odor. Works great for trapping but for Elkin' I'd rather use the fresh elk pi$$ like was mentioned earlier. I'm still a huge fan of Scent-Lock systems. I believe they have allowed me to get closer to animals when otherwise I would have been busted.

Edpre · Aug 22, 2008

Omega- Brands????? none in particuliar. Just whatever WalMart or Cabelas offers. "Cow pee" pre-rut, "cow in heat" peak rut.

nickman · Aug 23, 2008

NOTHING that smells that bad can be good for anything.

There is no reason to stink up the entire camp with ANY commercial scent. Put that junk on and you are not welcome in my tent, camper, truck or county.

I would rather have uninvented sex with a skunk, than smell that stuff.

Drymountain · Aug 23, 2008

You say you used Red Fox urine. Wasnt he on sanford and son. What did he do pee in a bottle for you.

rackem406 · Aug 23, 2008

LAST EDITED ON Aug-23-08 AT 02:20PM (MST)[p]The best ever that worked for me and the only one that I'll ever trust, is the one that I picked up steaming off the ground. We were close in on a herd and came through some thick stuff they were just in while they moved out in a field to feed. There it was with steam coming off of it. I nice pile of poo. We smeared it all over ourselves and they never spooked even where we were about 20 yards away for 30 minutes. Just could never work in range of the herd bull.

Now come on admit it, you've tried it. Don't lie.

Rackem

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Antlers_Ink · Aug 23, 2008

Hey your suppose to keep those hard core secrets to yourself. Someone just might think you like those brown showers.

AWHOLELOTTABULL · Aug 23, 2008

I had to laugh......the other day I pulled up to a bowhunter walking down the dirt road. As I got closer I could literally smell him long before he got to the truck. He had at least 5 or 6 of those wafers hanging off him. I don't even think a rutting bull that has been peeing on himself for a week smelled that rank. I thought of this thread and just chuckled as I pulled away.

It's always an adventure!!!
www.awholelottabull.com

icemannm · Aug 23, 2008

hey jim
i was sitting here being amused by all this but u cracked me up on that one and i had to comment.i agree with u guys on no lure.the only one laughing is the guy going to the bank.i'm almost always using horses so it's hard for me to smell like anything other than a horse and by way the elk seem to like it.i'm headed out sat. have u guys had any luck??

tony

AWHOLELOTTABULL · Aug 23, 2008

Hey there Tony!!! You ready to rock-n-roll down there in NM?

It's always an adventure!!!
www.awholelottabull.com

icemannm · Aug 23, 2008

jim
i am ready to say the least.my buddy from Va. will be here sat.I'm going to do my best to get him a shot at a good bull.this is his first archery elk hunt and i think he's getting excited because he has called every day for the past week.other than with your kids these are the hunts u never forget.my hunt starts when his ends and i'm holding out for a good one.

tony