Best Buck Lure Scents (Pre Rut & Rut)

Whitetail deer scents – a complete waste of money or the best-kept secret to bagging the buck of a lifetime?

Ask any hunter, and they probably have an opinion and story on buck lures and whether or not they attract deer.

From real doe estrus harvested from live deer to synthetic buck urine; there are multiple types of buck lure scents on the market.

However, all buck lure scents have one thing in common. When used in the right way at the right time, they can make it easier to bring those bucks into range!

In this post, we’ll cover the best buck lure scents, how to use them, and when they work best.

Best Buck Lure Scents: Pre-Rut and Rut

Buck lure scents can be divided into two major categories: pre-rut scents and rut scents.

Pre-rut scents are focused on the curiosity and territorial responses of deer. During the pre-rut, we will focus on seeding scrapes with buck urine to drive bucks into a rage.

Rut scents are all about the scent of a doe in heat or estrus. Doe estrus is best used during times when the bucks are actively chasing does (the rut). Estrus scents are used to draw rutting bucks out from the protection of heavy cover to chase that doe right to your stand.

The list of best buck lure scents listed below are categorized by the prime time to use them (pre-rut or during the rut).

Read the summary reviews and buying guide below to find the best buck lure for your needs.

TINK’s #69 buck lure scent is a classic lure used by generations of hunters.

This scent is a 100% natural deer lure that contains doe urine collected during their estrus cycle. For many hunters, Tink’s #69 has proven to work year after year and for all types of whitetail hunting situations.

This scent is worth considering if you’re looking for an effective and proven luring agent to attract bucks during the rut.

Pros

Things we like

• Collected from live whitetail deer
• Contains doe estrus
• Widely available

Cons

Things that could be better

• Small, 1oz bottle

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Overall, this buck lure is a good choice for use during the rut. This is a 100% natural product that contains live whitetail doe urine collected from animals when they are most sexually receptive.

I am confident using this lure with drags and scent wicks when bucks are in rut.

The Code Blue Whitetail Doe Estrus is known as a premium (and expensive) buck lure.

The unique feature of Code Blue buck lures is that the urine is collected from a single whitetail deer. This is actually a patented process by Code Blue.

Their claim is that urine from a single deer will be more convincing to a deer that is extremely cautious. There are plenty of hunters that agree and are willing to pay the premium price for this urine.

Pros

Things we like

• Real whitetail urine
• Collected from a single deer

Cons

Things that could be better

• Expensive option

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If you want a pure option then you should give Code Blue Estrus a try. The premium price would be worth it if you knew it would pull in the big buck.

This might not be the buck lure you want to use every day. However, it can be a good choice if you are ready to go all-in during those final days of the rut.

Nationwide Scents makes a real urine buck scent that is collected from their herd of over 600 whitetail deer.

They use stainless steel collection tools to ensure the purity of the urine collected. This process exceeds the USDA’s APHIS Herd Certification Program and the ATA deer protection guidelines.

The point is that even though this buck lure scent is affordable it is still high quality.

Like other brands, Nationwide Scents collects their estrus directly from does in their peak estrus cycle. The scents are also collected and labeled annually to ensure freshness.

Pros

Things we like

• Collected from live whitetail does
• Estrus is only collected in the peak estrus cycle
• Large quantity bottles
• Great price

Cons

Things that could be better

• Mixed reviews (love it or hate it)

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Overall, the Nationwide Scents Buck Lure is a great scent for whitetail deer hunting. Their deer herd and collection processes exceed all certification program guidelines but the product comes at a more affordable price.

Tink’s is known for their real pee lures, but they also make a good line of synthetic scents.

If you prefer a synthetic scent or your state laws require it then you should consider Tink’s #69 Synthetic Doe-in-Rut Buck Lure.

Tink’s synthetic Doe In Rut Lure, which simulates the natural smell of a doe in estrus, is designed to create a strong attraction for bucks.

It is important to note that this is not real doe urine or estrus. The smell isn’t as strong or intense as real estrus. That said, it seems to work when bucks are ready to chase after anything during the peak rut.

One additional benefit of the synthetic scent is that it is more affordable than the real stuff. This allows you to experiment a little more without costing you a ton.

Pros

Things we like

• Synthetic is a good alternative if your state doesn’t allow real urine
• Large size bottle
• Good value

Cons

Things that could be better

• Smell isn’t as strong as real doe estrus options

Check Amazon Price

Overall, if you want or need a synthetic buck lure to use during the rut then Tink’s #69 Synthetic is a great option. It might not be as strong as the real stuff, but Tink’s does a good job mimicking the smell of a doe in heat that will attract bucks.

Tink’s Trophy Buck Lure is natural buck urine collected from dominant bucks. This makes it an ideal buck lure to use in scrapes before the rut starts.

Tink’s buck lure also includes other buck scents such as tarsal gland and interdigital gland secretions. The addition of these scents makes this a lure that is also effective during the rut.

The unique scent of the lure induces a territorial challenge to other males that are looking for fights as well as provoking them to seek out whoever has been challenging their territory.

The Tink’s Trophy Buck urine is made of 100% real buck urine, making it pretty effective. The bottle has a leak-proof seal and can be used on its own or with other scents in order to best suit your needs.

Pros

Things we like

• 100% buck urine from mature bucks
• Also includes tarsal glands
• Good pre-rut lure that can also be used into the rut

Cons

Things that could be better

• Small, 1oz bottle
• Can be a deterrent for less dominant bucks

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Tink’s Buck Lure is an effective scent for drawing in larger, more dominant bucks. The buck urine and tarsal glands provoke a territorial challenge to other bucks in the area causing them to seek out the intruder. This is my favorite pre-rut buck lure.

Code Blue Code Red Whitetail Buck Urine is a blended batch of buck urine from the Code Blue herd.

You should know that Code Red isn’t like other Code Blue products that are collected from a single deer. This is a blended deer product but it is still high quality.

Like other buck urines, Code Blue markets this to use during the pre-season to draw in more bucks. This is a great buck lure to use in mock scrapes or seeding existing scrapes.

This lure can be used into the rut season to try to convince other bucks that there are other males encroaching on their territory. However, it doesn’t contain tarsal glands like other products on the list.

The Code Blue Code Red Whitetail Buck Urine is a premium choice for blended buck urines. It is 100% natural and doesn’t contain any fillers or additives to dilute the product.

This is a good product that will attract bucks of different sizes without being overly threatening.

Pros

Things we like

• 100% natural buck urine
• No fillers or additives (pure product)
• 2oz bottle
• Not overly aggressive

Cons

Things that could be better

• Doesn’t contain tarsal glands, but it can be a benefit as well

Check Amazon Price

Overall, the Code Blue Code Red Whitetail Buck Urine is a great product for hunters looking to attract more deer in the pre-rut season. This is especially good for hunters wanting to attract any buck and not just the most dominant buck in the woods.

Nationwide Scents Scrape Lure comes in a full 8-ounce bottle which gives you plenty of buck lure to create mock scrapes with drippers.

This is one of the largest bottles of buck lure on the market, but it is also a quality product. Nationwide Scents uses over 600 live whitetail deer to create their products. This makes it a good pure deer scent.

Additionally, Nationwide Scents is a member of the ATA Deer Protection Program and their scents are certified to be free of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

Any hunter knows that CWD is one of the most devastating diseases to deer populations, and it is great to know this isn’t perpetuated by your lure.

Nationwide Scents are made in America and they offer a money-back guarantee on their products if you’re not satisfied with your purchase.

Pros

Things we like

• Huge 8oz bottle
• Great Value
• Certified CWD free

Cons

Things that could be better

• Mixed Results – Some say you get what you pay for

Check Amazon Price

Overall, the Nationwide Scents’ Scrape Lure is a quality product and can’t be beaten for the price.

If you’re on a budget, or just want to test out some new deer lure scents before making a larger investment then Nationwide Scent Scrape Lure is worth giving it a try. It is a great product to use in scrape drippers.

If you need a synthetic pre-rut buck lure, then Tink’s is a great choice.

The bottle is a good size at 4 ounces and it is cheaper than real pee buck lures. This makes it a great product to put in your scrape dripper.

Tink’s tried to mimic the smell of real buck urine and they did a pretty good job. To my nose, it actually does smell like other real pee buck urine. However, a deer’s nose is a lot better than mine. Take that for what it is worth.

If you want to use a synthetic pre-rut lure because of state laws or CWD concerns, then I recommend giving Tink’s a try.

As a bonus, Tink’s also includes their Scrape Bomb scrape dripper with every bottle of Power Scrape. It is a simple accessory to hang from trees and branches in the woods. The Scrape Bomb releases just enough liquid during hunting hours to pull that buck out of hiding while you are in your tree stand.

Pros

Things we like

• Smells like actual buck lure
• Great Value – A little goes a long way
• No CWD concerns as it is synthetic

Cons

Things that could be better

• Doesn’t seem to last as long as real pee

Check Amazon Price

Overall, I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a good synthetic buck lure to use on scrapes.

A couple of bottles of Power Scrape will easily last you all season, and it is cheaper than value brands real pee buck lures.

Types of Buck Lure Scents

The three primary types of buck lure scents are doe-in-heat estrus, bucks urine, and tarsal gland scent. Each of these scents has their own scent profile and are used for different reasons and at different times during the hunting season.

Doe in Heat Estrus

Doe estrus is the most powerful of these three scents because it has a strong musky smell that deer can detect from great distances.

This lure is used when hunting during peak rut, which typically occurs in late November through January. This is when bucks become obsessed with finding does to breed.

During rut season, the sole mission of a mature buck is to find a doe that is ready for breeding. He does this by identifying the pheromones in her urine, which she only produces for about 3 days.

The second day of the smell indicates the doe is ready to mate. Because this scent only lasts a short amount of time, the buck is very eager to search out the doe as soon as he detects the estrus scent.

Real doe estrus is usually the most expensive scent to purchase because of its potency and short timeline for collection.

Buck Urine

When hunting during seasons other than rut, buck urine offers a realistic deer smell for hunters to use when they are trying to attract big whitetail bucks.

Buck lure works by piquing the curiosity of other bucks in the area or by triggering a territorial response in dominant bucks.

One of the best uses of buck urine is to seed scrapes or create mock scrapes. This method is highly effective in triggering a territorial response in bucks making them come out during the day to investigate.

This helps you create the perfect opportunity to take advantage of an easy, close shot with your bow or gun.

Buck urine can be attractive to a buck during the rut, but it is recommended that hunters switch to doe estrus scent during peak rut season.

Tarsal Gland Scent

The whitetail deer tarsal gland is a scent gland found on the lower portion of their hind leg. The tarsal gland produces a fluid that exudes from the gland and coats the elongated hairs on the gland.

During the rut, deer urinate on these glands frequently to create an incredibly strong and musky smell. This smell is different from deer urine and it comes from the bacteria that grows on the moist tarsal glands.

Hunters can take advantage of this scent by creating mock scrapes that will trigger territorial responses from other bucks in the area.

However, you should know that using tarsal gland scents is an aggressive buck lure that could scare off smaller and less dominant bucks.

Tarsal gland scents are a good buck lure to try when nothing else is working or when you want to pursue that huge trophy buck.

Real Deer Urine vs Synthetic Buck Lure Scents

Most hunters prefer real deer urine scents but synthetic buck lure scents come close to the real thing.

There are many reasons why hunters choose to use synthetic deer urine.

First, synthetic deer urine is less expensive than real deer urine. This makes it a good choice for scrape drippers and other applications that require a larger amount of liquid. In many cases, you will find synthetic scents in 4 or 8-ounce bottles compared to 1 and 2-ounce bottles of real deer pee.

Second, synthetic buck lure scents are often the only option when hunting in a state where it is illegal to hunt with anything other than synthetic scent. States that outlaw real deer pee lures usually do so because of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the whitetail deer population.

What is Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)?

Chronic Wasting Disease is a contagious neurological disease that affects deer, elk, and moose. It was first identified in 1967 but did not receive much attention until 1995 when the incidence of CWD increased significantly (CDC).

CWD can be transmitted through contact with body fluids from infected animals. Several states and counties outlawed real deer urine as a lure due to the risk of spreading CWD in these scents.

If you choose a real deer pee lure then look for one that is certified to be free from CWD. Several of the best buck lures listed above are certified to be CWD free. They typically follow the Archery Trade Association (ATA) Deer Protection Program for certification.

The ATA is a deer protection organization that has been protecting the wildlife of North America for over 40 years by offering expert advice on hunting techniques while partnering with conservation organizations like Ducks Unlimited as well as state departments of natural resources throughout North America.

The “CWD-Certified” label indicates a commitment to not stocking any harvested animals from Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) affected areas according to regulations outlined by US Fish & Wildlife Service guidelines.

How to Use Buck Lure Scents

There are several ways to use buck lure scents. The methods change with the season and the type of lure you are using.

That said, the three most common ways of using a buck lure scent are 1) drags and drag lines, 2) scent wicks and 3) scrape drippers.

Drags or Drag Lines

During the rut, a simple but very effective way of using buck lure scents is a drag line.

A drag line is used to create a scent trail of buck lure by dragging a rope dipped in buck lure along deer trails near your stand or blind.

The intention is to mimic the scent of a deer as it walks down the trail. I recommend starting your drag line about 100-200 yards from your stand or blind.

When you get close to your hunting area, remove the drag line and hang it on a tree branch. This will cause the deer to stop in a perfect spot for you to take a clean shot.

Drag lines work best during the rut with an estrus scent. However, you can experiment and be a little more aggressive by combining an estrus scent with a buck urine scent if you aren’t having a lot of success.

Scent Wicks

A buck lure scent wick is a small strip of cloth soaked with buck lure scent. You can attach it to a tree branch or hang it from your stand for easy access.

Scent wicks are a less expensive way to cover ground and territory in the woods without using multiple bottles of deer urine.

The buck lure scent wicks are usually hung at about four to seven feet off the ground. This allows the scent to permeate the area and float downwind to pull in more deer.

When you use these, it will give deer something to get curious about on their way through an area.

You can also place them near your stand for extra cover scent while waiting for that trophy buck!

Scent wicks can be used with estrus or buck urine depending on the season.

Scrape Drippers

Scrape drippers are a great scent dispenser for hunters to use in the pre-rut season.

As you likely know, a deer scrape is an oval-shaped patch of bare dirt that a buck makes to mark his area and hold his scent (he pees in it). A deer scrape is a significant signpost to a buck’s territory.

Hunters can trigger a territorial response to a buck by seeding his scrape with another deer’s urine. You can also make your own mock scrapes in the area to anger the other bucks.

You do this by hanging a buck lure dripper above the scrape.

Drippers are small bottles that are filled with or attach directly to the deer urine or estrus bottles. Drippers have an air release valve on top which drips out about one drop of scent every few seconds.

A lot of drippers only work during the day, which makes a deer even more curious and likely to come by your stand or blind during hunting hours.

I like to use buck urine or tarsal gland scent in drippers. This will make the other bucks furious and they’ll be all over you like a bad rash in no time!

Be Creative with Buck Lure Scents

There are a lot of other ways to use buck lure scents when you are hunting. For example, when I wear rubber boots I like to put a couple of sprays on the soles as I walk into my stand.

The point is to be creative and experiment to find what works best for you and the area you hunt.

Pro Tip: Doe Estrus Tabs
Create your own Doe Estrus Tabs using small pieces of cardboard soaked with a doe’s natural estrus urination. These tabs are easy to place around your deer hunting stand to attract and stop a deer in a spot perfect for your shot.

Scent Control and Buck Lure Scents

Buck lure scents are a great tool for hunters, but they are only as effective as your scent control.

Make sure that you have done everything possible to keep from giving away your position with human scent before using deer lure scents.

If you smell like bacon from breakfast then the deer will smell you before they ever have a chance to be lured in by the buck lure.

We recommend using a scent eliminator, but other options include: staying downwind of the target area, wearing clothes that have not been worn in 24 hours to avoid body odor and sweat, and showering with antibacterial soap before hunting.

Conclusion

Buck lure scents are a great way to bring in more bucks into your hunting area.

There are many different types of buck lure scents on the market, and it can be difficult to figure out which one is the best deer scent for you. Luckily we’ve compiled detailed reviews of all the top buck lures available so that picking the right one just got easier!

If you need help deciding what type of scent would work best for your hunt, take a look at our guide before making any final decisions. 

What’s been working well for you as far as deer attractants go? 

Let us know in the comments section below! 

This is my current go-to scent for hunting during the rut: