Busted by Estrus?

[Five Seasons]

The ruts about a month away down south, my last day bow hunting was this morning as I head for NY on Tuesday... So sick of not seeing anything I hung a wick this morning.

Big mature doe comes down a run. She's still concealed I can't see her yet and she stops about 20' from the wick. There's basically no wind but she is downwind of the wick.

I move my leg a little to better position to draw and she blows and runs off.

Talked to my dad about it and he states he stopped using scents years ago after a huge monster winded his and circled to avoid it.

What says the Internet? Scents good for small bucks? Bad for does? Somehow busted my silent subtle movement? Too early for scents?

[ELMER J. FUDD]

Small bucks yes. Big bucks sometimes. Does who knows?

[Four Season Whitetail's]

The ruts about a month away down south, my last day bow hunting was this morning as I head for NY on Tuesday... So sick of not seeing anything I hung a wick this morning.

Big mature doe comes down a run. She's still concealed I can't see her yet and she stops about 20' from the wick. There's basically no wind but she is downwind of the wick.

I move my leg a little to better position to draw and she blows and runs off.

Talked to my dad about it and he states he stopped using scents years ago after a huge monster winded his and circled to avoid it.

What says the Internet? Scents good for small bucks? Bad for does? Somehow busted my silent subtle movement? Too early for scents?

Your first 7 words are the root of your problems. Using before the time is right will screw you every time. I believe just like on the farm that it takes the first few to come in before the whole area is saturated with the smell of love and accepted as normal.

[Doc]

I move my leg a little to better position to draw and she blows and runs off.

You made a point of mentioning that you moved your leg. Are you sure that was not the reason that the doe blew and ran off? Perhaps it had nothing to do with the scent at all.

[First-light]

If a doe isn't ready to breed and she smells estrous scent she will head for the hills. The doe will think there will be a buck around harassing the doe who left the scent, she wants no part of this. I have had this happen a number of times.

[ants]

I have had luck using estrus but only during the full rut. I don't start using it until I see chasing going on. That being said, I have never seen the stuff spook deer. Im thinking that it might be your movement that tipped her off. I have been blown at by more invisible deer than I care to remember.

[growalot]

Never used estrous that the area doe didn't bust me...I use drags but if still doe hunting as well will not hang the drag near my stand...it goes in a ziploc....towards the end of Oct. they are so over used in the area that I stop all together...unless it is an actual doe killed urine I collect...

[wfmiller]

You moved, that chased her away. As far as scent, I've had bucks run right into them, like this year. October 4th, 7 pointer ran right by me and stopped at 30 yards and I got him. I had scent hanging over a fresh scrape, that got his attention. As far as does, I've had them walk right by hanging scent and they never even look at it.

[Five Seasons]

You made a point of mentioning that you moved your leg. Are you sure that was not the reason that the doe blew and ran off? Perhaps it had nothing to do with the scent at all.

I really don't know for sure. But I could not see her and have no reason she could have seen me. I've certainly gotten away with worse and been busted for less... This sport can be frustrating haha