How To Use Doe Estrus In 2025 – How Much & When To Use It?

Generally, most hunters prefer buck hunting. However, in public lands, getting a buck near your tree stand or ground blind is nearly impossible. Various methods are used to lure mature male deer into hunting zones. One of the most successful ones is using doe estrus urine. The estrus urine surely attracts bucks during and pre-rut.

If you are new to this and want to use doe estrus to hunt the bucks, be mindful of its use. Where it increases, the chances of hunting can drastically decrease if bombed everywhere, attracting more deer than needed. 

Deer urine can be used in mock scrapes to attract big bucks. These mock scrapes are 2.5 x 2.5 ft. on soil. The scent is either buck urine, doe urine, or doe estrus (doe urine with pheromones). Each of these is used at different times of hunting season.

When to use doe estrus scent?
The most crucial time for hunters who use doe estrus to attract big bucks is the start of November. It is peak rut season, and as per my experience, bucks are very aggressive.

When to use doe urine?
Simple doe urine can be used during the whole hunting season. It can bring nearby males to look for new females in the area.

How To Use Deer Urine For Hunting?

The bucks’ urine is sprayed on natural scrapes before rut season, indicating an intruder on the property. 

Another way of attracting big bucks is hanging doe estrus wicks. These methods are essential in the rut season, which starts at the end of October and ends in mid-November.

The doe estrus scent released naturally by the doe during rut season increases buck’s aggression and search for mating partners. 

There are different ways that you can implement the use of deer urine to attract them to hunt.

The Rut Season (Breeding)

The best time to use the doe’s urine is during the breeding season. In this period, the does are releasing hormones in the urine that attract the buck towards them. As mentioned, the breeding season comes late in October or early November, so this is the time to attract bucks. 

Use of Drag Rag

Different companies make natural or synthetic doe estrus urine to attract the bucks. The best way to use these is by drag rag.

The recommended area to drag the scent is 100 to 200 yards. The buck will come right to your stand in your bowhunting zone. 

While using doe estrus, wear an appropriate, scent-free uniform, shoes, and gloves. I have rubber gloves and boots and make my clothes and gear scent-free before leaving the house. Washing is critical, which eliminates human scent.

Spreading On Trees And Using Scent Wicks

Another means of using the doe urine is to spread it on trees. But this bombs the smell in the area, attracting more bucks than needed. Therefore, a better and more efficient way is using scent wicks. They hang on the tree branches, and the wind carries the scent.

While using any scent, stay upwind. The scent is used downwind. It will prevent your smell (if any) from mixing up with the estrus scent. This is one way to avoid spooking deer. 

Before using doe estrus, you must spot deer trails, signs, bedding, feeding areas, and water sources. When you are sure a buck is nearby, use it near your treestand/ground blind and wait for the wind to do its magic!

Dragging wick with doe estrus scent in your shooting lane is essential. If you are hunting using a bow, get it closer to your stand (15-25 yds.). However, rifle hunters can leave it further away per their gun range.

You should stay concealed by standing high up in the best tree stand, keeping you away from deer’s line of sight and reducing your scent carried by wind to deer.

Another important factor is rising and falling thermals, which carry scent. But understanding those is another story. Stay scent-free, quiet, and concealed, and let the estrus scent work.

When To Start Using Doe Estrus?

Simple doe urine can be used anytime during the hunting season. It will not spook nearby does and may attract the bucks to look for new female deer in the area.

Another one is pure doe estrus, used only pre-rut, post-rut, and in between. It will aggressively attract male bucks. It should not be used in the early hunting season when the rut season is yet to arrive, which can spook the deer.

Male buck’s urine is also available in the market to alert the male deer in the area. This lures the bucks for a challenge in their territory. It is commonly used with rattling antlers to make more odds in hunters’ favor.

Different lures have different timelines throughout the hunting season. The estrus urine should only be used during the breeding season because, if used early, bucks will know something is wrong and avoid coming to that area. 

Some states and even some counties have regulations regarding using natural and synthetic urines. To comply with that, check out your state regulations as well.

Doe’s have an estrus window of about 24 – 48 hours. Additionally, take note of the wind flow of the area where you want to put your doe estrus urine. To have better buck attention, spread the urine before the estrus window for the bucks to show in your shooting lane. 

How Much Doe Estrus To Use?

Use a little on the same spot. Use the lure to spread it on your shooting lane. If it is bombed around your location, you might get extra attention, resulting in spooking the bucks. If used too little, it may not be able to reach the deer.

A small amount of urine should be used, and instead of spreading over trees, use wicks and dip in the urine. Hang them over the trees for effective spread. Moreover, add a drop or two of the urine over it. This is the most effective way to use the doe estrus to attract the bucks for hunting. 

If you use excess estrus urine, the buck will keep coming and using his daylight and nocturnal movement to look for the female in estrus. This will bring him to wick, or a competition might put all the bucks away from that area.

Conclusion

Hunters use different traps and lures, but the most effective one in a rut is doe estrus urine to bring the buck to your shooting lane. It has benefitted many hunters if used appropriately during the breeding season. 

Frequently Asked Questions