Dominant buck urine, or tarsal gland scent is a good choice if you have your sights set on a truly big buck. The most common, and arguably the most effective way to use dominant buck scent is by hunting scrapes or scrape lines. Liberally douse an active scrape and set up well down wind. A lot of hunters make the mistake of setting up right on a scrape when they should be downwind to catch a buck as he scent checks it from a distance. This tactic is often effective when hunting an area that is as close to a big bucks core area as you are willing to get.

Building and maintaining a mock scrape gives archery hunters another opportunity to use dominant buck scent. If you have conditioned deer to check your mock scrape during daylight hours, a midday hunt might just be the ticket. If the setup is close to a big bucks bedding area he may just take a stroll around the perimeter, and if he gets wind of a rival in the area he’ll likely close in to check things out.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you hunt an area where the competition for does is minimal, dominant buck urine (just like fierce rattling) may not be the best route to go. In situations like this, the smell of a dominant buck may actually scare deer away. With plenty of does to go around, the risk of being injured in a fight isn’t worth it.

Give ‘Em What They Want
Sexual attractants account for a huge portion of the scents that are sold and used. Most archery hunters invest at least a few dollars every fall in a doe-in- estrus scent. These scents are by far the most effective during the pre-rut and peak-rut times of the year. Using estrus scents outside of the stages of the rut is not a good idea, and can often send deer running the other way. They know when the big show is close.

There are more companies selling this kind of scent than any others, and there is a reason. Bucks may not want to come in to something that smells like corn, and they may not be ready to fight, but when the time of year is right they will come to a doe they believe is in estrus. No secret there.

In reality there are two different kinds of doe-in-estrus scents. The first kind is urine that was harvested from one single doe while she is in estrus, and the second kind being a collection of several does that were in estrus, all mixed together. Whether deer prefer one or the other is up for debate. Personally I have had success with both types, and found them both to be effective when used correctly.

Estrus scents can be used in multiple ways, and their versatility is one of the reasons so many archery hunters find success using them. When hunting a lot of funnels and pinch points, simply hanging a scent wick upwind of deer travel lanes may be all you need to set up a chip shot. If you hunt a lot of agricultural fields, large oak flats, or overgrown pastures, dragging a rag soaked in estrus scent might be the ticket. If bucks are chasing and actively searching the first estrus does of the year, your opportunity to capitalize is huge.