In August 2019 we published a story titled “Hunting Companies Respond to Recent Ban on Urine-Based Deer Lures,” which detailed how three states have announced rules banning urine-based scents. Of course, many deer hunters are not happy about these new regulations. We followed up that article with another that explained how two hunting companies have partnered to fund a CWD study and testing protocol for urine-based deer lures; click here to check it out.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is the state government agency created by the General Assembly in 1947 to conserve and sustain the state’s fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use and public input. The Commission is the regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of N.C. fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws.

We recently were made aware that North Carolina is considering a ban of urine-based scents. According to contacts at Tink’s and Wildlife Research Center, makers of a wide variety of deer scent products, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is proposing a regulation to ban the use of urine-based scents. 

Corey Consuegra from Tink’s wrote the following in an email:

Urine-based scents are an important tool and traditions used by successful hunters in North Carolina. They state the primary necessity for the rule is because there is no commercially available test for urine to test for CWD contamination. That is not true any longer. Leading scent companies like Tink’s and others in our industry are testing every lot of urine prior to bottling and packaging, using a widely accepted testing method called RT-QuIC, to test and certify that no CWD is detected, and provide a final confirmation that these products are safe for use and without risk of spreading CWD. All of the retail packaging and bottles will be labeled so that it will easily identified as RT-QuIC Tested and ATA Certified. Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee that had similar bans proposed in 2019 all reversed their decisions when learning of our testing efforts.

The science and use of these products, does not support banning urine-based scents. The lead authors of the studies, most commonly referenced when considering a ban, agree the risk of commercially available urine-based scents contributing to the spread of CWD is virtually zero. 

The urine used in our products and the other leading scent companies comes from facilities 100 percent monitored for CWD meaning every deer that dies is tested for CWD. The disease has never been found on one of these facilities. Essentially all of the major scent companies and our collection facilities, participate in the ATA Deer Protection Program, a robust certification program to further protect our herds from CWD.

We take the threat of CWD very seriously and support action to stop the spread of CWD.  While we strongly support efforts to prevent CWD, we strongly oppose banning or prohibiting retail sale, possession, use, and distribution of urine-based scents. The ability to use urine-based scents in the state of North Carolina is a safe, long standing tradition, and an important and effective tool for hunters.

It will be taken away if enough people don’t send in their comments opposing this ban. We need everyone’s help to stop this. Every individual who sends in their comments can make a difference.  

There is currently an opportunity to provide public comments and help stop this rule change.  We are asking for your help to do so. The public comment period for this rule change is open now and will only be open for a short period. Please take a few moments to send your comments opposing this ban.

Editor's note: If you have an opinion on whether North Carolina deer hunters should be allowed to continue using urine-based scents, you can submit your comments to the following email: regulations@ncwildlife.org.