Hunting Lube

[Gillgrabber]

My son and I bought new muzzleloaders to use for deer hunting (CVA 45 & 50 cals). We've never hunted with a muzzleloader before so I have a "newbe" question: What's the best lube to use to keep the deer from smelling it? Do they have scented lubes? I looked but didn't see any at the store. Thanks in advance.

 

[Wehrmacht]

When you kill the first deer,collect and save the fat when you dress it.Won't be much fat usually,but there'll be some around the kidneys if not much elsewhere. Render this fat down on low heat,don't let it get above a simmer.Pour the liquid,clear to amber colored oil off in small tins like Altoid or Kiwi shoe polish cans. When it cools it will be snow-white if you haven't over heated it too much,and it's one of the very best patch lubes you'll ever use .

 

[Pittsburghunter]

Hi Gill not much choice for store bought lubes are you shooting roundballs or conicals?

The Buffalo Bullet Co conicals have a sent free lube on them not sure what it is but it works ok. T/C natural lube does smell a little but I doubt the deer will smell it over the scent of the man holding the rifle.

I think it is the least of your problems go out and have fun with your boy.

I will let the experts chime in on this.

 

[roundball]

I agree with Pitts...the deer will smell you long before they'll smell anything else.

TC's Natural Lube 1000 has been in use for at least the 15+ years that I've used it, by thousands of hunters all over, so I think you're pretty safe in using it :grin:

 

[vermontfreedom]

I've used mint-scented and pine-scented bore butter for years and never had a problem with being scented by deer. I have to agree with others that you, your clothes, your burps or flatulence, gun oil, and everything else will reach the deer's nostrils long before any patch lube.

I remain completely unconvinced that scent is paramount when deer hunting. On a few occasions, I will admit that deer that did not SEE me winded me from down wind. Be it so noted that I do all my hunting from the ground, too. However, I have MORE often had deer within 10 and 20 yards, oblivious to my presence. In one such instance, in a psuedo-experiment, I had a spike buck feeding within 20-40 yards of me for the better part of 15 minutes. He was certainly capable of smelling me as the wind was swirling. I intentionally "let fly" a few and he never seemed bothered. Could it be that human flatulence smells reasonably normal--like feces from all the other critters roaming the woods. I would be more concerned about smells like gun oil, boot waterproofing, etc.

 

[No Deer]

I think it makes a big difference where you hunt also. If you are way out in no man's land, scent may be more of a factor. For the last few years I have been hunting next to a golf course, and scent does not seem to have made a difference. Deer have walked by me at less than 10 yards and not been bothered. One of my hunting partners has shot deer while smoking a cigarette. I think that being close to the golf course the deer get used to human smells and are not as wary. If you hunt near civilization that may condition them to not be as spooked by human scents.

 

[cayugad]

I use the moosemilk as a patch lube and it has so far not seemed to spook the deer. Although this year, I have to see one to spook! :rotf: