Getting Smelly for Deer Hunting

September 10, 2009

Question: I am looking for clarification on the use of scents while deer hunting here in California. Is it legal for me to use products that are applied to my clothing to mask human odors? Is it legal to use scents that spray into the air such as doe urine scents or other scents that might lead a buck to the area I’m hunting? I understand I cannot use any type of bait such as edible products but would like clarification before the season opener for rifle hunting. Thank you. (Mike K.)

Answer: Yes, you can use all of these scent attractants. Baiting is the offering of feed attractants that will lure, entice or attract animals to a certain location or cause them to alter their behavior, thus giving hunters the advantage over the animal. Scent attractants do not fall into this category.