Mule deers range of smell?!?

[alwaysaz]

So, I am looking forward to my first deer hunt in a few months (if I get drawn). I am reading some good books and they all describe staying downwind, but they lack specific distances for smell (but not for sight oddly). They mention unlike sound or sight, a deer will always run if it catches your scent without stopping to check it out. I am sure people have had different experiences on the subject and I would love to hear them.

I am planning on doing lots of hiking and glassing from a distance in the open Arizona desert. The hunts I am trying for are going to be crowded so I am going to try to only scout remote areas. I want to be able to stalk in to about 200 yards for a shot. The best book I have is more for bow hunters, so I don't know how much of an issue the wind will be for me. In the desert the winds change very quickly sometimes. I will be hot and at least a little sweaty by sunrise, so the odor masks and careful storage of cloths in bags will probably not be the end all solution for me. I am curious about the range of a deers smell. I will make the answer format easy.

If the wind turns on you and blows straight to a deer, how far away would you need to be for a deer to....

1) smell you for sure.
2) probably smell you.
3) probably not smell you.
4) have a very unlikely chance to catch your scent.

I appreciate any thoughts! I am sure there has been a variety of experience and probably very different answers to many people, but the more perspective anyone can offer the better!

Thanks again.

[chesterwin]

You probably will get a variety of answers on this one. I personally don't use scent killer as some of my friends swear by. I try to make sure my gear and myself are as clean as possible. I don't use oil for my firearms. I keep the actions lubed with powdered graphite (it doesn't take much) and on the metal I use car wax to prevent corrosion. I wash my hunting clothes in plain water and never use soap, shampoo or deodorant before hunting. In recent years the only scent that I use is Juniper Berries. For some reason the odor of these berries seems to make deer curious. My hunting buddies and I have a saying about deer that might help.....

A deer might hear you 3 times, see you twice, but he'll only smell you once.

[samuel]

That pretty well covers it.Cover scent is highly effective and washing clothing and yourself in baking soda helps. ,,,sam.

[rebel727]

I don't do any of that and I always manage to get at least one deer per season. I can't count the number of deer I've killed while smoking a cigarette, seems like they're attracted to the smoke. I recently quit so I may go deerless this year

[wunhunglo]

I don't know if anyone can tell you much about how far away a deer can smell you but the best approach is always downwind.
On the sense of smell bit, I know quite a few professional deer-stalkers and lots of amateurs but don't know anyone who uses any of these scent masks or who worries about what they wash or shampoo with; again maybe our hunting environment is different, ours tends to be hilly open ground with fairly heavy ground cover.
Once we spot/glass a deer then we plan the stalk. Most of my deer shots have been taken at ranges of less than 100 yards, more commmonly less than 70 yards. Deer types, Roe, Sika & Red.

[samuel]

I tried to talk this over with a group of deer once and they said they would rather not discuss my smell for fear of hurting my feelings.I took it they were left wing waco invironmentalist,s. ,,,sam.

[Purdy]

Many years ago I hunted mulies in norhteastern Montana, killed around 30 and never even considered scent. Most were shot at 100-150 yds. and never knew what hit them. Unless you haven't bathed for a month or two I really doubt they could smell you at 200 yds.

[moosemike]

With Mulies your number one concern has to be their eyesight as that is their preferred defence. You stay out of their sight on a stalk and you should be in good shape if you're hunting them on the prairie anyway. And if you are that prairie wind lots of times is blowing so strong that nothing is gonna be able to get your scent.

[samuel]

A lot of truth in that Mike. ,,,sam.

[Jangle1965]

Generally with mulies, you are dealing with very large hunting areas (thousands of acres). A shot can come from anywhere between 10 and 500 yards. Winds can be calm to 70 mph. Moisture (which will affect how scent is carried on the wind) can be from dripping to dusty. You just never know. You must learn to adapt to your situation. I've had deer not scent me at 10 yards and scent me at 400 yards. There are just too many variables to calculate exact scenting distances.

The best advise I can give is to be ever wary of skylining yourself and make sure you don't shine anywhere. Including stainless guns. Binoculars and scopes will reflect like a mirro in the right lighting situation. Belt buckles, spectacles, wedding rings, eyelets on hunting boots, copenhagen can lids, cartridges in your rifle sling. If it is metal it will reflect and the prey will see it. Some orange hunting vests will even appear to "shine" in the right light.

Even if you spook a mulie and they run away, you might be able to get a shot at the next hilltop. They will ALMOST ALWAYS stop at the top of the hill and look back over their shoulder before they go over the ridge. BE READY.

No matter what, you should thoroughly enjoy yourself and thats what it is all about. Sure taking a deer is nice, but the time spent away from the concrete jungle is why we go hunting in the first place. Isn't it? Hunting for meat is much more expensive than just buying beef when you figure cost of gas, lodging, licenses, guides, leases, ammo, weapons, etc. Although I'll take a spike elk steak over the best corn fed beef anyday.

On a side note, when you do take that deer, make sure to field dress it as soon as possible. Also, getting the meat cool quickly will make for a much more enjoyable meal during the winter months. In Wyoming during deer seasons, we can have temperatures anywhere from 90 degrees to -20 degrees. In the hot years we make sure to get the meat to a fresh water source (preferably a hose with cold water)within a couple hours to wash and cool the body cavity. We also get the hide off as soon as we get back to camp. Field dressing is done as soon as we recover the animal no matter what the temperature.

Hope your hunt goes as you wish it will!

Happy trails.

[bigione]

In reference to smell. You might spook one on one occasion and have them follow your traks right to you on another. Muley don't seem to be as stealthy as whitetail most times. Out here we call them kind of stupid. Still, I've seen whitetail follow the fresh tracks of hunters. Gusess deer are like people, no two alike.

[alwaysaz]

Thanks for all the great reply's. I am in Arizona and those tips all sound like they will apply. I put in for open desert hunts with a decent chance of getting drawn.

I guess I will do my best to stay downwind the best I can. I will also try to take my monthly bath the week before I go, but it may take some schedule juggling

I have bought the scentless detergents and masks. I am planning on back in for a few days. I will probably just store them in the Ziploc bags with sage and not worry about the spray on masks after a first spray on in the morning.

I am really looking forward to going. I am starting from scratch and now have most of the gear I will need. I will only be disappointed if I am not drawn. I also put in for fall turkey as well. If I get skunked on the Arizona hunts, look for me in a state with over the counter deer tags in a few months.

[samuel]

Also,if you don't get a gun tag,try a camera.It's lots of fun. ,,,sam.

[Metronome]

Originally Posted by samuel

Also,if you don't get a gun tag,try a camera.It's lots of fun. ,,,sam.

No kidding! The recoil doesn't hurt nearly as much, they weigh far less, and people don't get all weirded out when you keep your trophies in your glove compartment.

[ALR]

I shot my first Mule deer in the Sierra mountains in Ca near the Nevada border. It was real thick trees and could not see much. My wife first smelled the buck when he was fifty yards away and alerted me of his presence. After a little cat and mouse I got a clear shot and put him down. So yes, under the right conditions Mule deer do smell.

[rockman7]

the only thing i've quit doin in rescent years is appling most types of cover scent.if a smell can wipe out anouther smell then next time you go into a waffle house try use'in the smell of your coffee to cover the smell of the eggs or bacon.(notice i didn't say things like "scent killer" wont work....in my ho they do to some degree)

clean clothes ( outside garments not taken out till headed in), clean body (leave the high karate at home), clean vehicle even (i wont ride with smokers, ect.), give you a better edge.

and when i mean clean clothes i mean drying them outside (mine hang under a type of tree i may be hunting in ...pine, oak, ect.),for some reason i just can't bear to dry my hunting clothes in the same machine my work socks just came out of

i've discovered that the hotter it is the better the bodily scents and such disperse....something about scents becoming gasious easier in hotter weather.try sniffing 'ol jimbob after 4 hours in 95' and 90% humidity.in 30' weather he's at least tolerable for 1 hour in church.

[deadzero]

I don't know about mule deer, but this can give you an idea. when i was in Virginia I was picking the brain of a wildlife biologist I knew and ask him a similar question, "how far can a deer (whitetail) pick up a scent?" I was suprised by his answer, " under the right conditions, a buck can pick up the scent of an estrus doe close to a mile away." he also stated "of their 3 senses that your working against, thats the one you need to work the hardest on to get a chance at the big boys."

[samuel]

This is true and a mile used to be about my range.But the older I get,the shorter the range.Today it is down to visual,and without my glasses sex doesn't even bother me. ,,,sam.

[rockman7]

gee.....i never could see the use of wearing glasses with a paper bag shoved over your head anyhow

[samuel]

You are on my sh** list.I'll have you know I'm not that ugly,(in the dark) ,,,sam.