Deer Nose Question

[eastTN270]

I milk cows sometimes at a dairy close to home. Anyone who has been around a dairy (or just driven by) knows the strong odor of cow crap. That smell just impregnates in your clothes and never comes all the way out. When it's really cold I wear some of my cold weather layers that I wear hunting. Question is, I know you can't "cover" human scent, but would this odor be alarming to deer or would it be kind of like a normal animal smell? Deer on land away from the dairy may not be used to that smell, but it is just a natural animal scent.

 

[WestTn Huntin man]

I grew up hunting on land that cattle were turned loose on .We always stepped in a few cow patties on the way in.
Accidentally and on purpose. Lots of deer were taken . Didn't hurt, lots of deer taken over the years.

 

[bigtex]

When I had my deer lease in Giles County the farmer raised cattle. I made it a habit to step in the freshest cow pile I could find.

 

[Ski]

Man it's all situational. I don't believe anything truly covers human odor, nor do I believe it can be eliminated. What I do see is that certain deer react differently to it. Some freak out while others ignore it, and a whole spectrum in between. It's been my experience that it's the individual deer's personality and mood combined with the situational circumstances that determine if you get busted or not.

 

[BSK]

Should be no problem as long as cows are normal in the area.

 

[Pilchard]

I step in it at my lease with the idea that it could mask my smell.

That said, I think a deer's nose is good enough that instead of smelling a human, they just smell a human covered in cow s$@t.

 

[backyardtndeer]

I don't think it would hurt at all. Honestly around where I feed hay, it does not smell to me all that different than some popular deer scents.

 

[BSK]

I step in it at my lease with the idea that it could mask my smell.

That said, I think a deer's nose is good enough that instead of smelling a human, they just smell a human covered in cow s$@t.

Absolutely true. But doesn't stop me from walking through every mud-puddle I encounter on the way to my stand. But that's probably just for my benefit. Deer probably smell my tracks and think, "Huh, hunter with muddy boots. He needs to be more careful."

 

[skipperbrown]

If you are up wind from the deer, they will smell the cow on you as well as you. Tests show that you can smell dinner cooking, however dogs smell meat, butter, garlic, onions, chives, bread, etc. Also, after working around the cows a few minutes, your nose becomes overwhelmed and doesn't smell the smell anymore. Dogs, on the other hand, can clear the overload and still work multiple odors. I'm sure deer are the same. The cow smell probably won't alarm the deer if they live around cows, but if they are a smart doe or buck, your human smell will bother them.

 

[Headhunter]

Turpentine works as good as anything. Just put it on your boots and around your stand. Makes if hard for deer to smell you and deer are not bothered by it.