Editor’s Note: Regardless of how-many decoys you put-out to lure-in ducks, if you place those decoys in ponds and potholes that ducks never frequent, they won’t lure-in any ducks. The same is true of deer attractants. Yes, their fragrances eventually may lure-in deer. However, if you put a deer attractant along the edges of trails that deer use every day, they don’t have to find the attractant. They’ll pass by it regularly. You’ll see more deer at your deer attractant sites next to trails than if you just put the attractant out in the middle of the woods where there’s no deer sign at all. To see the most deer and possibly the biggest deer quickly, put deer-attractant products where you know deer are traveling on trails. Several-different types of paths or trails are used by deer. Some are obvious, but many are inconspicuous. If you know what to look for and where to look, you can take a stand along these trails, place deer-attractant products nearby and drastically increase your ability to find and bag deer. Let’s determine how to locate various kinds of trails, how to hunt them and how you can use deer attractants to improve your chances for taking deer on those trails.

Another type of terrain break deer often will use in flatlands is to walk a creek bottom or a wash through thick cover. The late Clarence Yates, who took more than 100 deer with his bow over his lifetime, said, “Deer like to take the path of least resistance just like humans do. A small creek crossing that is grown-up on each side and has an opening in the brush will be where deer usually will go through that opening, just like people will.” One of the easiest types of terrain trails to find is a path along the edge of a creek or a riverbank. Traveling along the edges of water gives deer an instant and immediate terrain break they can use to put between danger and themselves. If hunters or other predators spook the deer, the animals quickly and easily can jump into the river or cross the creek and utilize water as a barrier to protect them from their pursuers. When hunting these types of trails, put a deer attractant about 10- to 20-yards off the trail. Then the deer only will have to veer a few yards off the trail to get the attractant. Also, when setting-up this type of stand site, make sure you’re high enough in the tree. If the deer runs to the water, then you can see him, while he’s in the water, and when he comes out on the bank on the opposite side.

Depending on how the creek or pond is situated where you find such a trail, the best method of hunting it may be to wade and hunt from the water and/or if possible, put up a tree stand on the opposite side of the creek from the trail, if the creek is small. If you put-out a deer attractant on the opposite side of the trail from the water, then when you take a shot, there’s a very-good chance that if the deer does hit the water, he’ll swim to you instead of away from you. Or, if the pond is a backwoods pond with flooded timber, place your tree stand in one of the trees out in the pond. Then you can approach and leave your stand by wading the water and eliminate the human odor you normally will leave on the ground to keep from spooking the deer.

Once you take your deer, check out John E. and Denise Phillips’ book, “The Best Wild Game and Seafood Cookbook Ever” that features 350+ tried and true recipes, and is available in Kindle and print versions at https://www.amazon.com/Best-Wild-Game-Seafood-Cookbook-ebook/dp/B00AN7GDW4. Also look at their  cookbook, “Deer & Fixings” https://www.amazon.com/Deer-Fixings-Cook-Delicious-Venison-ebook/dp/B007L97HCW that’s also available in Kindle and print versions and contains 100+ recipes for preparing venison plus features more than 100  recipes for side dishes to accompany the venison. To receive your free book on “How to Make Venison Jerky,” go to https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/Ece3UZVcOo52cKPJcL.

Tomorrow: How to Hunt Deer Mating Trails with a Deer Attractant