What "scent" are we trying to cover?

Pydpiper · 02-12-2007, 05:47 AM

Prior to going out I use scent sprays/powders on each layer the way have read about, I think I have that part covered..

What about the stuff I carry? Like a pop up blind? It has a foreign smell to it all on it's own. I have left it set up for days at a time in the back yard, covered it in sprays too.. Is that important? As important as the smell of a human body?
In my job I notice animal odors tend to adhere to certain materials more than others, for instance the odd time (OK, it's frequent) I get pegged by a skunk I can hang the clothes out and the odor is gone in a couple days, but my leather boots/belt/shoes hold that odor for months! So does that mean it is a bad idea to use the leather pouch for my binocs/range finder? I am assuming leather would hold human scent just as well.
What if I set a caged skunk in my pop up and angered it (I seem to be good at that, and I catch a lot of skunks). Would that be a suitable cover smell?

Rebel Hog · 02-12-2007, 06:27 AM

David, have you tried this?

Sport-Wash

What can ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda do to deodorize carpet and upholstery?

Pydpiper · 02-12-2007, 06:42 AM

Haven't tried that Reb, I use one from Hunters Specialties that promisies the same results..
I was thinking more along the lines of after I get my body taken care of, like stuff I carry, that won't fit in the washer.

retiredarmy · 02-12-2007, 06:43 AM

I use Arm & Hammer baking soda when I wash my hunting clothes, about a cup per load and it works great. Whole lot cheaper then the "NO" scent stuff. I also delutea cup or two in a spray bottle for my eq.
Bill

Rebel Hog · 02-12-2007, 07:21 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Pydpiper

Haven't tried that Reb, I use one from Hunters Specialties that promisies the same results..
I was thinking more along the lines of after I get my body taken care of, like stuff I carry, that won't fit in the washer.

I also do like retiredarmy does. I wash my clothes in Sport Wash (explanation if needed), place in a tub of Water with Arm & Hammer for about an hour and then hang and let drip dry. Been doing this for many years.

Edit: Ok, I misread your post!

For the large objects, use a quart sizespray bottle with 75/50 water and Arm & Hammer!

GrumpyTom · 02-12-2007, 07:37 AM

Do not get me wrong, but I believe that one can go over board with trying to eliminate scent. Eliminating as much scent as possible is a good thing, but they claim that 80% of your body oder comes from your breath.

The trouble is, everythng has a SMELL to it, even all the no scent soaps and stuff. Again the trouble is, us humans do not have the scent gathering ability that the animals we hunt have. Who actually knows what they can smell and detect that us humans can't.

I honestly believe that deer have been taught to ear the smell of humans. They come across different smells all the time, become alerrt to them, but do not fear them until they are given a reason to fear that smell (I have never had a problem with deer fearing the smell of new blinds, have actually watched them watching it). As long as it is not a human smell or another predator, then you should be ok. (Pydpiper, take your skunk sprayed clothing with you and place just down wind, best cover scent ou can have)

Again, your breathing and if you pass gas, will ruin all the precautions you have taken. Is all those precautions worth the cost and effort, that is up to you to decide, but I do not think so, not the degree that alot of people go to.

Pydpiper · 02-12-2007, 08:15 AM

I don't want to over prepare, I am just looking for as many opinions as I can so I have something to base my own decisions on.
I will have to try the skunk spray cover, that just seems too easy. Today I will be taking a skunk by hand (they never spray me like that) but I may try to contain some of the smell, with leather or wood. I have never tried to "keep" the smell, but it is worth a try.
Breath is a bit harder to stop, I can see getting light headed pretty quick

.. However, my carbon speedo should help with the flatulence.

kevin1 · 02-12-2007, 09:18 AM

Skunk spray is a response to predation, you'll more likely spook the deer than fool them. All you can really do with odors is reduce them to the point that you seem farther away, and therefore less of a threat, than you really are. I wash my clothes in Sportwash and baking soda and hunt the wind. If a deer busts you with it's eyes and/or ears it's first response is to circle downwind to check you out with it's nose.

Rebel Hog · 02-12-2007, 09:50 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: kevin1

Skunk spray is a response to predation, you'll more likely spook the deer than fool them. All you can really do with odors is reduce them to the point that you seem farther away, and therefore less of a threat, than you really are. I wash my clothes in Sportwash and baking soda and hunt the wind. If a deer busts you with it's eyes and/or ears it's first response is to circle downwind to check you out with it's nose.

10-4, Good Buddy!

ranger56528 · 02-12-2007, 10:35 AM

I wash my cloths in no scent at the beginning of the year and once half way thru.I keep all my gear and cloths in a tub(except bow).On the bottom of the tub I have a layer of dirt/leaves from the area I hunt.When I go out to the edge of the woods I just spray alittle no-scent on the bow and bottom of my boots....works great for me.......I used to be into all the differant cover scent products but The last few yearsIve kept it simple.

You dont wear fox scent into a area were thier are none and you dont wear apple scent into a pine forest....Ive heard of guys doing this and just laugh my ars off.........