Attracting and cover scents

[Pat B]

After reading the recent thread about baiting on TradGang got me thinking...are attracting or cover scents considered baiting? I've used both. I've never had much luck with attracting scents like Doe in Heat, etc. The few times I tried them, at the appropriate time of year seemed to scare off deer or at least they become very alert and to me these scents are counter productive. I have used cover scents on my boots, specifically fox urine or fresh deer urine or even walking in a fresh cow pie on my way to the stand. With the fox pee I've had both foxes and deer follow my trail right to the stand but as far as estrus scents or dominant buck scent they seem to scare off most deer. I know that in some areas they can be very productive but do you consider them baiting?
 We all know that your best cover is using the air movement in your favor.

[Hawkdancer]

Haven't used either, but I think baiting involves a food or supplement placed to draw the game to a specific spot for hunting purposes.  Legal in some states, and highly frowned on to the extreme in others.  Using cover scents would not be baiting as you are trying to "hide" your scent in my opinion.
Hawkdancer

[osage outlaw]

As far as my state, if it's just a scent, its not baiting.  If it's anything for them to eat, that is considered baiting.  Similar to my water hole.  If its plain water it's legal.  If I add apple flavor or something than that's baiting. 

For cover scent, I stomp on walnuts or osage fruit before I enter the woods.  I smear it all over my boots and pant legs.   It's a natural smell that they are used to in my area.  It has worked very well for me.  I've never used much as far as attractant scent.

[Pat B]

I've seen attracting scents that smelled like corn, apples, grapes, etc. Even though these are only scents they smell like foods deer eat. Why wouldn't something that smells like corn, apples or grapes be like spreading apples, corn or grapes around your stand. I have never hunted near a corn field or apple trees because where I have hunted they weren't available but I have hunted near grapes. It's the scent of the ripe grapes that attracts the deer.
 Just my "stay at home" brain at work I guess.    Too much time to think.

[JEB]

I still have a 1960's tube of green camo face paint that has the apple scent to it.  But then again I am old and so it the camo tube,lol

[osage outlaw]

I copied this from our regulations:

Bait is considered any product that is transported into a hunting area and placed there for animal consumption. Baits can be in the form of salt, mineral blocks, prepared solid or liquid, or piles of apples or other food that is intended for the animal to eat.

[chamookman]

For more than 30 yrs, I've always carried a Film canister, with cotton inside and  a clothes pin taped to it - filled with Vanilla extract. wonderful cover scent. Had Deer downwind Danger Close - and not got busted. the clothes pin is for attaching to a sm Limb or Stick - works like a Charm. Bob

[Eric Krewson]

I had a lot of fawns follow me to my tree when I used a product called "cover up" many years ago, I it was nothing bit vanilla extract, at least it smelled like it.

I had mixed results with the various flavor of the day deer attractants and cover scents, mostly negative with an occasional buck that would show an interest in them.

I remember when skunk scent was the rage, phew, then fox pee, which wasn't much better.

I used to do all the scent free routines, now I don't wear camo, wear my hunting clothes unwashed for months (wool) until they get blood on them and hunt the wind. I actually have more opportunities to kill deer than I did back in the unscented days, I let most of them walk though.

[Hawkdancer]

Clint,
I assume that salt/mineral blocks for livestock are exempt?  Game animals don't care who it is put there for, however.
Hawkdancer

[mullet]

My wife just bought the oils to make me a batch of cedar/vanilla cover soap. Curious how it works this year.

[Pat B]

Jerry, in the states I've hunted in, NC, SC and GA I believe you can't hunt within 100 yards of man made salt licks. I'm not sure about natural salt deposits. I would guess they are acceptable to hunt near.

[Deerhunter21]

i wonder if they come to the vanilla smell because they are looking for fruit/sweet smelling stuff like corn, beans and stuff like that.... just a thought

[osage outlaw]

Mineral blocks or powder are considered baiting.  Doesn't matter if it's for livestock.  It's still illegal.

[bjrogg]

Mineral blocks or powder are considered baiting.  Doesn't matter if it's for livestock.  It's still illegal.

Same here.
Bjrogg

[mullet]

You can't use any attractant that is made from deer urine or parts in SC, now.