Pennsylvania Game News - October 2008 - 6

MOSA saves tarsal glands from deer he’s harvested and uses them to lure deer to his stand later in the season or the following year. glands were becoming a necessary part of my set up, and with only two per deer I wanted to get the most out of this valued commodity. The thing I’ve noticed when using tarsal glands is that deer react one of two ways: they’re either interested, or they completely ignore the scent and just keep on with their business. During the time that I’ve used tarsal glands I’ve never had a deer spook from contact with the scented area. In fact, in 2007 I actually noticed some calming effects on deer near my treestand. I’m sure the 2007 archery season will be remembered by most as the season with hot temperatures and biting midges. When the temperatures finally started to cool down, I began to hunt in stands near water and cover, with the tarsal gland from my 2006 buck hanging nearby. With my mind set on a wall hanger, many legal bucks walked and the weather was still too hot to fill the freezer with a doe, but once again the tarsal gland was attracting and holding deer within bow range. Around the third weekend of the season my friend, Art Bundy, asked me if I wanted to try his cousin’s farm in Ohio, so I took my smelly tarsal act 6 on the road. On a stand 50 yards from a massive soybean field a small 6-point came cruising by at 10 a.m. and gave me every opportunity to fill my tag, as he sniffed and pawed at my tarsal laden mock scrape before bedding down for the next hour, right in my scrape. Did I mention that tarsal glands have a calming effect on deer? The following morning I moved my stand farther from the bean field and set up two mock tarsal scrapes. Any deer passing through the area would stop to check out the mock scrapes. From a patch of saplings I heard the clashing of an antlered buck fight, but a few loud belches on my grunt tube broke it up. Moments later a 6and a 10-point were heading in my direction. The 6-point stopped short to scan the area, and the 10-point proceeded to the mock scrape on my left and stood captivated by its scent. When I drew, the 6-point caught my movement and spooked, but it was too late for the 10-point, as the arrow was already slicing through both lungs, and after a short dash he dropped within sight. After securing the buck I returned later in the morning and took a large doe from the same treestand, out of the same mock scrape with the tarsal gland. Weeks later, back home in Pennsylvania, the rut was kicking in and I had more than my share of opportunities at bucks and does with the tarsal gland method. But, with a freezer full of venison, and enough tarsal to start next season, a buck would’ve had to be really exceptional for me to release another arrow this season. Although the musky smell of a whitetail may be duplicated and bottled for sale, the real deal has proved itself invaluable to my hunting setups. However, the whitetails’ iconic status as North America’s top big game animal can never be totally imitated or rivaled. Their ability to survive and adapt through ultra keen senses will continue to intrigue hunters for generations. It’s this attribute and not a musky smell that is the true essence of the white-tailed deer. GAME NEWS

Pennsylvania Game News - October 2008

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