L-154 retiree Paul Carson displays one of his deer scent products. At right are Paul’s wife Becky and grandson Carson Whiteman.
Deer urine business thrives in Pennsylvania
YOU MIGHT SAY that retired Local 154 member Paul Carson is in the romantic fragrance business. Sprinkle a little of his product on “drag rags” tied to your boots, or soak pads in the stuff and tie them to brush along a trail, and you may just lure a love-sick male your way. And if you’re lucky, that male will be sporting a heavy set of antlers that would look just great in your den.
Since 1986, Carson and his wife Becky have operated a deer scent business — West Wind Whitetails and Scents — in Kane, Pa. A Boilermaker since 1970, Carson worked as an NTL tank builder and later in construction as a member of Local 154 (Pittsburgh), before retiring in 2006.
“Being a Boilermaker,” he said, “I am an opportunist.” Carson saw an opportunity to put his 10 wooded acres, surrounded by the Allegheny National Forest, to good use. About 20 years ago, he fenced in part of the property and bought two doe. Then he bought a buck. By the late 1980s, he was running a herd of 20 to 30 Whitetail deer, not only collecting urine to sell to hunters but also selling mature bucks to hunting ranches. These days, he only keeps about a dozen deer, and he is focused mainly on collecting and selling scent. “The highlight of my business was when the Alberta Whitetail and Mule Deer Association asked me to go up there and show them how to collect urine,” Carson said. “I spent a week with them in 2001.”
Carson prides himself on his collection technique, which he said is different from that used by many other scent businesses. “We use an elevated floor that is perforated. This allows the urine to pass through, minimizing contact with droppings.” He said he does not mix the deer urine with other types of animal scents or additives, so that it remains natural and “pure.”
Carson sells three types of urine: Doe in Heat “P,” Dominant Buck “P,” and Doe “P.” He sells to gun and archery hunters across the United States and also wholesales urine to other scent makers. “I don’t do big trade shows or advertise in magazines, and that helps me keep my costs down.
“I have files and files of testimonials and pictures of hunters who have taken nice deer,” Carson said. “I also have many repeat customers.” He recommends that hunters buy his product as deer season nears, so it is fresh. Carson markets through local stores and nationally through his Web site at www.westwindwhitetails.com.
