I'm curious what you think? Longtime bowhunter John Eberhart, co-author of "Bowhunting the Eberhart Way," believes that it depends on the type of deer you’re after. For me, the jury's still out. We have trained our dog to … Deer don't like to smell of dogs (predators). Human urine can keep deer away if the deer are heavily hunted and therefore fear all humans. 8. posted 8 years ago. Kroll and Koerth concluded that, when it comes to pee, a deer’s natural curiosity explains its behavior. A deer learns early in life to escape when it smells human odor. When a person suffers from incontinence they can develop a urine odor that is difficult to remove. The moral of this story is, if you gotta pee, keep your hunting area scent-free! “I don’t believe it bothers deer, and can even arouse their curiosity,” said bowhunter and writer Jay Strangis. “Deer of all ages and sexes came to every one of the treatment sites,” explained Kroll. Another strong argument for those in favor of the practice is that it's highly unlikely that deer associate human pee with humans. OutdoorHub Reporters 11.16.17 Have you ever wondered how far away a buck can smell the deer … Also, check him out on Twitter @TreeStandDiaries and on Instagram. Find out if peeing off your treestand is more likely to attract or deter deer. I've long quit obsessing over urine/urine smell in the woods. His extensive research on both penned and live deer in various parts of the country corroborate the fact that deer are curious animals, and may come to investigate any new smell that’s in their territory, even human urine. While cover scents have little effectiveness, the ability to reduce (not necessarily eliminate) human scent with antibacterial soaps, detergents and sprays, anti-microbial Scent Killer, and carbon is proven science. So next time you head out whitetail hunting, take along a bottle or two of water because while your sitting there killing time you can … I haven't noticed a significant boon or bust of deer passing in front of the camera to make a definitive decision for myself. “We don’t know if human urine was the attractant, because there are a bunch of other scents around that could be having the effect, such as deer urinating into the scrape, preorbital gland secretions on the licking branch, and tarsal gland odors.”. “I don’t want to do anything that may alert deer that they’re being hunted.”. ... That fix the problem! It might be better described as a confidence scent. How to Use: 1. Deer are instantly attracted by the pure urine, and will certainly recognize the smell. Obviously, you don’t want pet urine IN your garden, but if you can, train your dogs to pee around the outside perimeter of your garden. However, using urine to attract deer is half of the hunting plan. To successfully hunt for deer, one would have to cover his or her human scent. It's this curiosity that makes the strongest argument for those in favor of peeing in the woods. “Before I climb on stand, I think about whether I might have to urinate later in the sit. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question. 8. posted 8 years ago. Deer have a heightened sense of smell and since they see humans as predators, they may be able to tell the difference between non-predator and predator urine. Deer have incredible instinct. For example, wildlife biologist Dr. James Kroll found there are at least 90 different compounds in doe urine. Want proof? Eberhart also believes that if you’re hunting small destination areas like primary scrape sites, near mast or fruit trees close to cover, or pinch points along transition routes, you don’t need a scent to help you bring home the backstraps. While cover scents have little effectiveness, the ability to reduce human scent with antibacterial soaps, detergents and sprays, anti-microbial Scent Killer, and carbon is proven science. What I've never seen is a big, mature Booner come through and investigate a human urine smell. If so, click here to read more great hunting, outdoor, and shooting articles by Reid Vander Veen. So reduction of the most offensive odors should be a top priority, with special attention paid to human scent. “We found no statistical difference in the number of deer, or type of deer, that came to any one of the treatments. Can deer smell human urine 11-21-2010, 07:53 PM. We all know that guy who talks about always peeing into a deer scrape. But deer do not instinctively fear human smells and automatically flee them–the survivors of a mere 300 years of firearms hunting in the North American deer herd only cautiously move away from human odor in certain contexts, such as during hunting season. But deer do not instinctively fear human smells and automatically flee them–the survivors of a mere 300 years of firearms hunting in the North American deer herd only cautiously move away from human odor in certain contexts, such as during hunting season. Many hunters believe that peeing near your deer stand is the worst possible thing a hunter could do if he wishes to kill a buck. As opposed to other attractants that use chemicals, this lure can be used effectively to mask the human scent during a hunt. “Whenever I’m leaving a hunting area, I regularly use my boot to make a mock scrape under an overhanging branch and urinate in it. The real determining factor of whether or not that deer bolts depends on whether they believe that danger is still present and represents an imminent threat. Some of those are unique to deer and some are shared with other species. That's a different story. When a whitetail suddenly smells fox urine accompanied by a modest human scent, the deer characteristically becomes sensitive to the alarm calls and actions of other wildlife. NEXT: TEXAS IS STILL LOSING THE WAR ON FERAL HOGS. That said, you could easily argue that it's best to avoid sending a signal that you're there in the woods. Human, meet deer. Is that possible? The theory goes like this: Deer use their noses for survival, and deer are conditioned to fear humans, therefore if deer smell human urine they will go the other way. From urine to dryer sheets, how to keep deer from destroying your yard. Jay Green. A hunter using deer urine to cover his scent smells like a hunter and deer urine to a deer, not just one or the other. So in the end, human urine probably won’t run most deer off, and it may even pique the curiosity of some of them. However, mountain lion urine works well on all deer. BUT you can also smell the coffee brewing, the toast browning, and the can of cat food you just opened up (don’t forget to feed fluffy). Another strong argument for those in favor of the practice is that it's “Deer are herbivores and humans are omnivores, so there are big differences between their urine.”. I think they can probably smell the difference, but deer have not come to associate human urine with danger. Dilute the solution, with 1-part urine and 10-parts of water, and sprinkle it at the perimeter of your garden to prevent animals from entering your garden. While cover scents have little effectiveness, the ability to reduce (not necessarily eliminate) human scent with antibacterial soaps, detergents and sprays, anti-microbial Scent Killer, and carbon is proven science. Attractant scent contains simple doe or buck urine. This whitetail season, I recommend that you skip carrying a pee bottle into the treestand or worse, hiking through the woods just to relieve yourself away from the stand. Does that mean they'll spook? Other hunters are against the practice of peeing in scrapes — or anywhere near where they hunt. However, merely cleaning the urine with a cleaning solution may not solve your problem. Sterling,I can assure you that human urine doesn't spook deer. There is no "human scent" in human urine. If you’re a hunter, you know that deer have a sense of smell that rivals that of a bloodhound— and they can see and hear pretty well too. Deer don't like to smell of dogs (predators). Besides, finding urine from predators, including humans, tells deer where the predator was — not where the predator is. And many. He was dead serious. “It is unreasonable to think pre-hunt application of these sprays can eliminate 100 percent of human odor, given the various sources and volume of VOC molecules given off by the human … Deer Scents To Use: Just buck urine won’t do, with the powerful nose of a whitetail, the buck should catch onto the most potent and “smelliest” scent of all…the tarsal. “If urinating in a scrape is a confidence builder, or it allows you to keep hunting, then go ahead and do it,” Kroll said. Regardless of whether you’re talking about deer or people, in healthy individuals, all urine is made up of more than 95 percent water. Some hunters are indifferent, relieving themselves right by their treestand if nature calls, and others that make regular practice of it. Real-World Test Video: How Far Can an Animal Smell Deer Urine? Diluted urinecan be applied near plants; it is unnoticeable to humans, but it deters away animals that eat plants like rabbits and deer. Human urine can keep deer away if the deer are heavily hunted and therefore fear all humans. Use fresh urine each time and store your plastic spray bottle outdoors where it won't be confused for a household cleaner. The theory assumes that deer can distinguish human urine from animal urine. Or he makes his own scrape just to pee in it. Research has shown, however, that the smell of human urine does not noticeably affect deer, if it affects them at all. For them to do that, they’d have to follow a hunter around and wait for him to urinate, or catch him urinating, and then go check it out.”. It's very likely that deer use their powerful olfactory receptors to detect that something unusual and perhaps dangerous was once present. You should also be concerned about your health. Good question for a biologist. “If human urine gets deer thinking about what they’re smelling, then it may heighten their awareness and make them more likely to detect a hunter,” Miller cautioned. In short, there is no indication that human urine scares deer. And since urine is one facet of our odor we have some control over, plenty of deer hunters take the logical step and pee in a bottle. Scientists believe deer use urine to communicate and learn about each other, making it a big deal in the whitetail world. The good news is there are ways to neutralize the deer’s sensory advantages. Adding Code Blue’s Whitetail Tarsal Gland Gel to your decoy will be the final piece of realism needed to fool a mature buck into making a mistake. Covering your scent is easy and can be done a few different ways. So, what does that tell us? If you’re going to drop your britches and answer the call of Mother Nature in a scrape or underneath your stand, just make sure that’s all you’re leaving. The theory goes like this: Deer use their noses for survival, and deer are conditioned to fear humans, therefore if deer smell human urine they will go the other way. Some of these sprays advertise a 99 to 100 percent efficacy in eliminating human odor. Ask a group of hunters their thoughts on human urine and its effect on deer and you're likely to get a mixed response. When deer smell dog urine or human urine, they are immediately wary about entering that area. It's a bizarre topic that draws many vocal opinions. Can they tell if it's a predator? “I believe human urine could possibly attract a deer, but I pursue mature bucks in heavily-pressured areas, and in such areas, mature bucks do not behave like subordinate bucks and does do when it comes to anything out of the ordinary concerning odors. I've relieved myself at the base of my deer stand and killed deer from that location within hours. Let's investigate a bit. Scent covering while deer hunting will give you the advantage and contribute to the success of your hunting trip. The combination of urine with gland secretions is a whole other story. Try spraying your urine solution around the perimeter of your garden to discourage these unwelcome guests. There are nearly 100 different compounds in doe-in-estrus urine. Often a urine smell will linger which can cause unpleasant odors, However, it's not just the foul smell that may bother you. Many people clean up the mess as soon as they notice the problem. Not necessarily. Does it attract deer or scare them? ... That fix the problem! Questions. People still argue about the effectiveness of the scents, but a great range of hunters assure that the products work. They will be attracted to your position in order to maintain a territory. “For their survival, it’s necessary for deer to be curious and know everything that’s going in their home range,” Kroll said. If you don't want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription for free! The room erupted in laughter — all except Crash, that is. Posts: 587. “To deer, humans are predators, so it’s possible that deer can tell the difference between predator and non-predator urine,” said Brian Murphy, biologist and executive director of the Quality Deer Management Association. Updated Apr 03, ... the product freezes and emits very little odor. ... Nylons filled with human hair. However, I might not try so hard to hold it from now on. So which is it? In the woods, urine from deer and predators is everywhere. In our tightly knit group, Crash was that guy. There is no "human scent" in human urine. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments. The theory assumes that deer can distinguish human urine from animal urine. Though it has never been proven that CWD can be spread through urine, Nationwide Scents continues to monitor their herd to the highest standards available through USDA and the ATA Deer Protection Program to provide you with the safest and cleanest products available. “But it’s unlikely deer associate human urine with humans, unless a human leaves their scent behind along with the urine.”, Miller agrees. I've relieved myself in the woods to only moments later have deer come within range. The average number of times a particular deer came to a treatment site was once, and over 90 percent of all visitations were nocturnal.”. Animals like deer, mice, rats, skunk, squirrels and even suburban coyotes react to the scent of predator pee by seeking to avoid those predators at all costs. Mature bucks use it every single day to avoid detection and danger. Can deer smell human urine 11-21-2010, 07:53 PM. Like many other hunters, Nelson carries in his pack a pee bottle. This page is about removing urine odor from skin. If I must urinate, I don’t hesitate to do so anywhere near the bottom of my tree before I climb up.”. What’s interesting is that, although not statistically relevant, both the buck urine and human urine outperformed doe-in-estrus urine. A hunter using deer urine to cover his scent smells like a hunter and deer urine to a deer, not just one or the other. In the poker game that is deer hunting, the house (and the deer) has the evolutionary advantage. Personally, I've peed on scrapes near trail cameras in the past--both real and mock scrapes. 2. “Deer aren’t genetically programmed to be able to identify human urine. But it's that remaining 5 percent that's most important. Good luck. Tip. One strong smell doesn’t cancel out all others. Not only wasn’t this buck spooked by the smell human urine, but he was attracted to it — big time! Does Human Urine Scare Snakes Off?. Rabbits, deer, groundhogs and skunks dislike the smell of human urine and tend to stay away from it. “Because one of the biggest things you can do to boost your odds for success is to hunt longer.”. I too freshen scrapes with my own fresh urine, delivered straight from the tap. Alternatively, use cotton balls soaked in the solution and keep it at edges of the garden. TEXAS IS STILL LOSING THE WAR ON FERAL HOGS. There are unique chemicals, pheromones and hormones found in deer urine, making it not only distinct from human urine, but unique from deer to deer. In fact, it’s hard for humans to grasp. I've always assumed that, under normal circumstances, urine is urine. Later that night over a sizzling plate of venison tenderloins (courtesy of yours truly), Crash swore on his mother’s grave that his own urine had put two Booners on his wall. Deer urine, like human urine, is primarily water, roughly 95 percent or so. Deer have a very sensitive sense of smell and use it to avoid danger. Deer have a very sensitive sense of smell and use it to avoid danger. |, Best Airgun Rifles for Hunting Urban Predators, How to Choose Between Night Vision Or Thermal Optics, BEST HUNTING APPS BASED ON HOW AND WHERE YOU HUNT, WHY PLANTING FRUIT TREES FOR DEER IS A GRAND IDEA. Furthermore, scientists say that whitetails have thousands of sensitive receptors in their nostrils, which they use to sort out up to six smells at one time. The problem with some deer repellents is that they don’t smell bad only to deer; they can smell pretty funky to humans as well. Join other outdoor enthusiasts who already get great content delivered right to their inbox. Pee from the stand; you might lure in a curious buck. So it’s unlikely that, absent other indicators of a human’s presence, a buck will high-tail it to the next county upon discovering human pee. Few studies have been done on the effects of human urine on whitetails. Mary Ylisela 21 July, 2017. deer image by Henryk Olszewski from.! 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Smell deer urine, and will certainly recognize the smell site for can deer smell human urine weeks, hours. Other story many people clean up the mess as soon as they notice the problem 2017. image... Of logic required to process that thought never get a mixed response, however, mountain lion urine works on. The buck urine and tend to stay away from ones homestead can be very satisfying have. Mask the human scent during a hunt when it comes to hunting strategies hunter....