Talking about Deer

The smell of success, Part II

Peter Fiduccia

POSTED: June 14, 2010

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The key to consistent deer-hunting success rests almost entirely with avoiding being winded by deer. The savvy hunter knows that if you bust a buck’s nose — you’ll bust the buck. Reducing human odor is crucial. However, using different glandular odors is even a more powerful tool or strategy. Hunters can use these glandular scents to make deer follow their tracks, to create mock rubs or scrapes, and to help reduce their own human scent.

Forehead glands

The forehead glands are between the top of the deer’s eyes and the antlers. They become active in September and get progressively more active throughout the rut. The potency of these glands is directly associated with the deer’s age and social status. The forehead glands produce an oily material that makes the hair around the eyes darker. As a buck rubs a tree or an overhanging branch, it deposits his forehead scent as a message to other deer. It advertises the social ranking, current breeding status, and even the age of the buck leaving the scent. The older a buck is, the more trees and branches he will mark. Some biologists believe that the odor from the forehead gland pheromones left on trees and other vegetation helps bring does into estrus.

Forehead gland scent as a tactic

Unfortunately, forehead gland scent is not available commercially that I am aware of. The only way I have used it is from a dead buck. The best way to do this is to take a clean rag, and while wearing plastic gloves, rub the rag vigorously against each gland. Or press the rag to the glands and, with your fingers, squeeze the oil from the glands. Place the rag in a zip-top plastic bag and seal it immediately. When making mock rubs or scrapes, remove the rag and wipe it on the rub or on an over-hanging branch over a scrape. This has been an excellent tactic for me, and I have seen both bucks and does investigate mock rubs and scrapes I have created with forehead gland scent.

Pre-orbital glands

The pre-orbital or lacrymal glands are the tear ducts located on the inside corner of the deer’s eyes. There are a few sebaceous and sudoriferous glands located at the tips of each pre-orbital gland. Some researchers feel this gland does not produce a lot of odor. Others disagree with that analysis. Deer often rub the corners of their eyes on vegetation, overhanging branches, and twigs, and while rubbing trees. Many other researchers, including my good friend Dr. Leonard Lee Rue III, feel that deer use these glands for self-marking purposes. Therefore, it appears deer do deposit scent from their pre-orbital glands purposefully. The primary function of the pre-orbital gland is as a tear duct. It is also believed to be under muscular control and may be opened to emit odors. It is also said to be more visible in mature bucks and signals aggressive behavior.

Pre-orbital scent as a tactic

This is another glandular scent that is not made commercially but can be collected the same way as forehead gland scent. I have used it to help “create the entire illusion” when making mock rubs and scrapes. I get slightly better response from deer when I include the pre-orbital scent on fake rubs and scrapes. But it involves a considerable amount of effort to collect it from a dead animal.

Metatarsal glands

Metatarsal glands are inside a light tan-colored circle of hair about 1 2/3 inches in length located on the outside of the hind legs between the toe and the hock (or heel) on whitetails. Some naturalists and biologists feel the gland is atrophying, meaning it is getting smaller through evolution because the deer no longer needs or uses it. Therefore, it has no viable purpose any more. This is thought to be the case because the metatarsal glands no longer have ducts. Still, others believe the glands emit a pheromone that deer use for communication and as an aggressive odor to warn off other deer during the rut.

Metatarsal scent as a tactic

Because the glands are not totally understood, be prepared for anything to happen when using metatarsal glandular scent. Over the years, I have tried it several times. Sometimes it has helped to attract deer, but other times it has spooked them. Therefore, I suggest not using it – but if you do – be ready for anything to happen.

I am providing information about four more glands. It’s not practical to obtain scent from these glands to use for hunting. But you should know about these glands and the purposes they serve.

Nasal glands

These two almond-shaped glands are inside the nostrils. They help a deer detect odors. Some researchers feel they are also used to lubricate a deer’s nose. It is also believed that deer use their nasal glands to leave scent on overhanging branches and at rubs.

Vomeronasal organ

This organ is often referred to as a buck’s second nose. It is obviously not a second nose at all, but it does serve some of the same functions and purposes as the nose. The next time you take a buck, look at the roof of its mouth. You will see a diamond-shaped formation with a small passage leading into the palate. This is the vomeronasal organ.

The vomeronasal organ is crucial to bucks during the rut. During this time, its primary function is to analyze doe urine. During the rut, a buck will make a lip-curl while he inhales deeply – this is also known as a Flehmen gesture. The buck curls his upper lip and sucks air into its mouth. Any urine scent gathered passes over the organ. The buck is immediately able to evaluate the status of the urine to detect if it contains estrous pheromones. If the urine holds estrous pheromones, the buck will know if it has been left by a doe that is close by him or from one that may have passed through the area recently. This helps the buck avoid chasing after does that may not be ready to breed for 24 hours or more. When vomeronasal organ detects a higher volume of more pungent estrous pheromones, the buck immediately pursues that particular scent until he locates the “hot-doe” that deposited it.

According to researchers, the vomeronasal organ is capable of detecting to within hours a doe’s exact state of estrus. Analysis of urine through the vomeronasal organ is thought to synchronize the breeding readiness between bucks and does and ensure that both sexes are in peak breeding condition at the same time.

Preputial gland

This gland is located on the inside of the buck’s penal sheath. It is thought to serve two purposes. It is used for lubrication and is also thought to possibly contain sperm. Since researchers only recently discovered this gland, they have yet to determine its exact functions or role it may serve in communication.

Salivary glands

These glands are inside the mouth and produce saliva, which contains enzymes to help in digestion. When a buck rubs a tree, he always licks the rubbed trunk and deposits the salivary enzymes on the tree. He also does this when he rubs twigs and branches at scrapes. When a buck makes a licking stick, he takes a small twig or tiny sapling into his mouth and places it between his teeth. Then, he gently pulls his head back to fray the end of the twig or sapling. It is thought that the buck does this in order to deposit scent from his salivary glands on the licking stick as well as on overhanging branches at scrapes and on rubbed trees.

By using each glandular scent correctly — sparingly — you will increase your deer sightings and, hopefully, the number of deer you bag as well.