Dead Scent

[Recurve50 LBS]

I went to my favorite hot spot today for another evening sit. When I got to where I wanted to sit in a blow down I could not miss the distinct odor of death in the air. Apparently something was dead and rotting in the woods in the near by area but not on the property I was hunting.

My question is, does the smell of a dead animal scare away the local deer population? I had only spotted one deer the whole time I was there and it was no way close to where I was sitting. The smell did not seem to affect any of the other critters there like the red fox and assortment of tree rats and hawks.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I have seen deer walk up to and smell a dead deer. Then walk off like NO BIGGY

[Weekend Warrior]

I've seen them smell walk up and smell a dead deer also.
  It would be a good opportunity to take a coyote or bobcat if its legal in your area.  If you can stand the smell  :D

[vermonster13]

Death is a part of life and animals understand this far better than many humans. Haven't seen it bother the deer yet.

[Pat B]

Makes for good cover scent!    Pat

[Bonebuster]

It makes me wonder, because if a deer can smell me at 400 yards, just imagine what a rotting carcass would be like to them.

I agree totally with everyone else, dead doesn`t bother them.

[owlbait]

All the deer were probably very sad and depressed. They will soon be feeling better and be back to their normal routines. They probably could tell exactly what kind of predator killed what kind of animal or know if it was an accident or suicide. Maybe it was shot by someone wearing Scentlok or maybe it WAS someone wearing Scetlok that smelled like they died  

[Shawn Leonard]

I have shot them standing over a gutpile from a few days before. Deer are only alarmed by scent from something they associate danger with. Shawn