Homemade Buck Scent Wicking

Deer hunters rely on buck and doe urine and tarsal gland scents to attract deer as well as cover the human scent left behind from walking through an area. Using a scent wicking material is an efficient means of dispersing the scent as it provides a long-lasting effect. Hunters have the choice of purchasing premade wicks or using materials found around the house to make their own.

  1. Cotton clothing

    • Cotton clothing items such as T-shirts or sweatshirts make ideal scent wicking material. Cut unwanted cotton clothing with scissors to make one-inch-wide strips that are 6 to 12 inches in length. Cut a hole in one end to attach a string that you can tie to your boot for dragging or to a tree. Drop the scent directly onto the material prior to walking to your stand. Reload it with scent as necessary for longer walks.

    Cotton Balls

    • Plain cotton balls found in the health and beauty aisle of the local drug or grocery store make low-cost, ecologically friendly scent wicks. The cotton ball's small size means you can place it virtually anywhere in nature unnoticeable to weary animals. Its lightweight construction makes it a temporary wicking material that is best used just for the hunt and thrown away.

    Tampons

    • Tampons, which are found in many households, are an ideal deer scent wick. Because they're constructed from heavy cotton fiber, they retain scent well. They are also easy to use because they come in small packages and include a string that can easily be tied to a stand or tree limb. It is critical that you use nonscented tampons; the scented kind will spook deer.

    Fleece

    • Fleece material used in coats, gloves, winter hats and other clothing items can be quite an effective wicking material. The material is often thicker than cotton material and will soak up more scent, making it ideal for a foot drag that you can reuse or a wick that you can reload with scent on a regular basis. Cutting the material in long, thin strips enables you to tie it directly around a tree limb or your boot.

    Storage

    • Homemade buck scent wicking devices should be stored in an airtight vessel --- for example, a plastic storage bag --- to prevent the scent from drying out. Wicks can be soaked in scent in advance and stored in a backpack or in your deer stand for later use. Soaking the fleece strips and tampons prior to use enables the scent to thoroughly penetrate the thick material. Using an airtight storage device keeps the scent away from your clothing, home and vehicle.