What is a lure?
Webster's dictionary describes a lure as something that entices, tempts with the promise of pleasure or gain.
So to an extent, anything that attracts the attention of an animal, and then draws it to the source of the attraction can be classified as a lure. For example, the sound of a dying rabbit can lure coyote, fox, or bobcat to where the sound is coming from. A small round hole in the bank near water's edge would attract mink. A bundle of fur moving in the breeze would provide attraction to bobcat. And of course, a grunt from a deer grunt call could be all that it takes to attract a large buck within range.
There are a variety of lures that will attract each game animal, and each animal has specific lures that attract it best. All of the lures mentioned above appeal in some way to the animal's senses. Animals especially rely on their senses of smell, sight and hearing in order to understand things around them, to communicate and also to be warned of danger or a reward. Lures take advantage of this dependence to depict a particular "story" to the given animal and attract them to some action - typically investigating the area that is the source of the lure.
What is a scent?
The difference in hunting between a scent and a lure is very subtle, but is important. To shed some light on this difference we can get a clue from Webster's again:
One definition of scent is described as the smell remaining after an animal has passed (urine).
Commonly in hunting "lure" and "scent" are used interchangeably. It may be a semantical difference, but this is actually incorrect. A lure can include many of the senses including sight and hearing, however a scent is obviously only smell. Not only that, but a scent will almost exclusively refers to animal Urine within the context of hunting of trapping whereas a "lure" will refer to a great many types of smell-based attractants. Because animals use Urine to communicate territorial or reproductive messages, the message communicated by a scent will always be one of these two. In some instances this can be highly effective.
However there are also other messages that can be communicated, believe it or not to deer that only lures can accomplish.
Types of deer lures
GLAND LURES - Most animals communicate through the use of glandular secretions. This type of lure is usually a blend of those substances. It's made to appeal to the competitive, sexual and territorial instincts that most animals have. Most high quality gland lures, no matter what the animal, take exceptional skill, knowledge, and much experience to formulate.
FOOD LURES - Their primary attraction to an animal is food. Most food lures contain various plants, musk's, and extracts, etc. animals might find attractive. Without a doubt this type of lure plays more of a role of importance among trappers than that of hunters- particularly deer hunters. Don't confuse this with bait and check your state game laws before hunting with such an attractant. Some of the most common food odors among deer hunters are; apple, cherry, pear, sweet corn, etc.
CURIOSITY- 'Curiosity Killed The Cat'. Most all animals are curious by nature, especially the Whitetail deer. Most often this type of lure contains smells foreign to the animal's habitat. An example of one such odor might be vanilla. Many animals like its sweet odor yet seldom does an animal come into contact with it along their daily travels. You must remember that a curiosity attraction is a relatively "short lived" attraction. Once the deer has satisfied his curiosity - he loses almost total interest. If you're a deer hunter, you had best be in position when 'Mister Hat Rack' decides to respond to this type of Lure!
The "story"
When choosing a scent or lure, remember that you are telling a story. The more convincing you are of that story often will result in "luring in" that animal.
When deer hunting, some hunters strategically place a doe in heat gland lure around a tree stand. Once in the stand they will periodically mist buck urine into the air. This combination of a scent and lure more often than not has proven itself deadly because it tells a strong story. The best time to use this combination is during the rut and near existing dominant scrapes.
What message "story" do you think you're sending the buck that made those existing scrapes? Get the picture?
This news article is brought to you by YOUR LIFE YOUR CHOICES YOUR MIND - where latest news are our top priority.
No comments:
Post a Comment