It makes scents to him

Randy Lambert doesn’t consider using lures or scents as a big part of his deer-hunting program, with one exception.

“I’ve never believed in them, but there is one I’ll use,” said Lambert, who estimates he’s killed around 350 deer since he took up bowhunting in 1979. “In fact, I use it so much the guys I hunt with call it the ‘Randy Wafer.’”

Lambert’s hunting buddies are referring to a Golden Estrus Trophy Leaf, a scent product manufactured by the Wildlife Research Center. It’s a leaf shaped scent wafer designed to allow it be clipped onto tree branches.

Lambert doesn’t use it to attract deer, although that’s one of its selling points. He says, however, that it’s apparently a great cover scent.

“It has a very mild smell, a little sweet,” he said. “I use it more as a cover scent, and I’ve seen it work too often not to believe in it.

“I had this one 100-pound doe come in with two yearlings, and you know, that’s the most-careful deer in the woods – a doe with yearlings,” he said. “She came by me inside 20 yards, and she got downwind, and she was never leery, never bothered, nothing.”

Lambert hangs the scent wafers on tree lambs around his stand, but not before making one little alteration for his own benefit.

“I’ll put a little piece of reflective tape on the hanger so I can find it with a flashlight after I get down in the dark,” he said.