Doug,
I agree with you on a few things but disagree on a few as well.
I feel it is misleading to the younger hunters to say its ok to disregard scent.
Here in the area of North Carolina where I hunt, You have to hunt from a stand. Stalks, deer drives and such are illegal. I am fortunate enough to have a fairly large track to hunt with probably 12 different and equally good stand locations where playing the wind is possible. I sometimes head out relying on the wind to protect my scent from the deers noses. I whole heartedly agree that wind control is the only way to protect yourself 100%. I pick my routes into and out of the stand locations as to minimize the impact on the hunt. Its all part of sound hunting principals but,
its irresponsible to tell these young guys just getting started that scent control doesnt matter. It does. A responsible hunter will do everything in his or her power to minimize his impact on his surrounding environment. You dont have to spend a fortune on scent blockers but washing your clothes in scent free detergent is sound advice. Washing the blood and stuff off your rubber boots before you walk into your stand is sound advise.
during the rut, estrous lure on the heal of your boots works like a charm.
I have a property that is extremely urban if you know what I mean. Deer could care less what smells they encounter as they smell it and hear it daily. On another property, the smell of your boot on the way in will send the deer into a frenzy. On this particular property, our best stand location in the middle of an 80 acre track of timber. Right in the middle of this old timber is a deer oasis of oaks, acorns clean water and grass. It has been hands down the most productive stand locations I have ever hunted. Problem is that the route in and out is long, thick and crossing many trails. The wind swirls in this opening no matter what direction its blowing in the adjacent field. If you smell, your busted quickly. We climb up as high as possible to minimize the impact but get busted on occasion from our entry scent.
Long story short,
If you think scent doesnt matter, your not doing any up close and personal hunting. Any regular bow hunter will confirm that someone that minimizes his scent will outkill one that dissregards his scent 3 to 1. If you can play the wind, which is the soundest hunting principal of all, your golden. If you cant then you need to try to minimize your smell.
I spend 40 hours a week in the field and know the truth as it pertains to where I hunt. If it walks, swims or flies I have probably hunted it. I over the years have developed the ability to ignore all the gadgets, gizmos and new products that hits the shelves each year and have learned to stick to what works but would never tell a young hunter to ignore his scent control.
To a hunter that hunts from a box stand on the edge of a field with a rifle, this post means absolutely nothing but to a hunter that bow hunts thick timber, he knows what Im talking about.