Ask The Biologist

Time in a Bottle

Time in a Bottle

By Bob Humphrey

Some things get better over the years. Others, not so much.

QUESTION: I bought a few extra bottles of deer scent (buck and doe) about three years ago and never opened a bottle of either. So my question is, should I just throw out the bottles and get some more or are the bottles still good?

ANSWER: The bottles are still good but I’d throw out the contents (sorry, I couldn’t resist). Over time, the urea in urine breaks down into ammonia. In fact, urine was once used as a cleaning agent and stain remover.

Companies that collect and sell urine use dark, sealed containers to slow the breakdown process, but even that is probably only good for a season. Open those old bottles and you’ll probably get a strong whiff of ammonia. If not, it’s still a gamble since the contents have almost certainly degraded.

Considering all the time and effort you put into creating a potential opportunity, a few dollars for a fresh bottle of deer pee is a small price to pay to ensure you don’t mess it up.

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