scent killer or cover scent.....
 

as many of you know im going to be bowhunting for the first time this coming season. (my bow should arrive hopefully tomarrow!!) i know a major part of bowhunting is getting close to the deer. although ive had ALOT and ALOT of deer within typical 30yd or less bow range in my life and NEVER used scent killer or cover scent etc.....i was thinking MAYBE i should...just to be safe....and particularly kill the scent BEFORE i walk in being alot of my bigger deer ill be after will be on VERY small pieces of private land. pieces of woods between housing plans etc where you can be smelled from anywhere....and most the deer half to cross your trail before getting to your stand etc...so i figured id ask...if you guys could have only one or 2 scent killers or covers what would you pick??? im not looking to wash my clothes in dirt and stuff like that....just a good spray or something easy and simple...nothing thats going to cost an arm and a leg.....im still not convinced i NEED it..ive killed 10 deer in my life and only 2 come to mind that were farther then 40yds away. just looking for extra protection without a scent lock suit etc...you get the idea......

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

That's a pretty darn good question, actually. I used to use cover scents, but I am now of the OPINION it is better to smell like nothing. I've used fresh earth, Essence of Autumn, and other "natural" cover scents. I've seen more deer since I applied the theory of not smelling like anything. Maybe being a better hunter is more reason for that, but douse myself in scent killer and get on with it.

If you decide to use cover scents, obviously don't use something that is
"strange" to the area. Such as pine scent in a place where there are no pines, that sort of thing.

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

I use both descenting spray as well as cover scents like Deer Dander , I think they help somewhat when the wind doesn't want to cooperate . It's impossible to smell like nothing completely , so the cover scent fills the gap .

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

With so many products on the market any young novice would be confused on where to begin.
Wash your hunting clothes with a good sent killing soap like Wildlife Reserach or Dead DownWind , its up to you.
Dry outside then spray them with a UV killer , after that put them in a large garbage bag ( sent free ) but if you want your clothes smelling like the woods then put alittle dirt, maybe some pine cones ,needles and acorns that kinda thing ya know.
Like I said theres alot of sent products out there from cover to attractants, you don't need a Sent Blocker Suit but they do make'em light whight and in asst. camo patterens the choice is yours to make.

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

thanx guys...maybe ill try a few things this fall. im just worried about that one time the wind isnt perfect....or when that brute crosses my trail and picks me off....

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

As scentless as possible, I love Scent Killer.

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

LOL.....buddy, when you figure out how to control the wind currents, you be sure to let us know! Just don't make yerself sick. :D

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

im not trying to control the currents at all....just something that will help when the wind is wrong or swirling......i know nothing will work perfectly and my setup etc as well as the wind will still play part......but a little added protection cant hurt...cant fool mother nature....

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

I'd pick what I use: HS Scents Scent-A-Way spray, and Fresh Earth scent wafers.

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

I've been using Wildlife Research Center's "Scent Killer" Autumn formula religiously for several years. It seems to work pretty well. I go thru a quart a year or so, spraying down everytime I put my hunting clothes on and then respraying periodically while on stand if it's hot out. It is a little of both ... a scent killer and a light cover scent.

http://www.wildlife.com/catalog_newproducts.htm#scenteliminators

... Shockwave

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

Oh, by the way, Istock up at (gulp:() Walmart at the end of hunting season. It's usually around half price.

... Shockwave

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

I use nothing but the wind. The only scents I use are doe in heat or buck scent. I only use these to stop the deer for a shot, not necessarily to attract them. I wash my clothes in plain water and dry them outside. I only wear these clothes for hunting nothing else. This includes boots, gloves and hats. No snowblowing or other activities will see these clothes. I do not believe that you can eliminate,kill, cover or mask human scent. Play the wind. Hunt smart. Don't waste your money. There is nothing quick and easy about outsmarting a deers nose. Play the wind and don't walk on their trails.

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

Wash your clothes in baking soda or a non-scented wash. Use scent shield or any of the million other sprays. I personally like white lightning and regular scent shield. I have used earth scent wafers, but I'm still 50-50 whether they help. I have no proof of being busted using them, but I really like the idea of as little scent as possible.

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

I never used anything until one time I had a doe feeding right behind me. She did'nt havea care in the world, UNTIL, she hit the trail I walked in on. She bolted like someone put a firecracker in her azz!! Since then it's rubber boots and all sprayed down with scent killer, usually white lightning. Have'nt had that happen since.

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

What you're NOT thinking about......is where you're hunting.....the deer are USED to at least a certain amount of human scent (between homesites, and such). Anything HIGHLY foreign is likely to put them on alert. Smelling like NOTHING is ood avdvice....and I can't see how you'd go WAY wrong. Remember.....they'r eused to a LITTLE human scent where you are hunting.

Also....I use rubber boots.......and I use White Lightning on them. I had tried to get close to these 4 does for a couple of weeks, last year, to get a shot. they were crossing at nearly the same place every morning.....but I always seemed to pick the wrong place. One morning.....I put on the rubber boots......sprayed down.......walked into the area......walked WAY around......walked through the creek......walked to my tree.....climbed up. The 4 does came through just before shooting light....and I couldn't shoot. When they crossed my trail.....the dominant doe stopped....backtracked.......and followed my exact footsteps to the base of the tree I was in. She is good. She's as worthy an adversary as any I've ever seen. My hat's off to the gal.

Jeff

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

thanx for the info guys.....

SBgobblers....thats kinda VERY true..kids playing in the backyards...guys cutting wood for the winter...ATV riders etc..maybe thats why i dont get winded all too much here....and when i do they are dead downwind and usually dont run just snort...the main factor is them crossing my trail. the small pieces of land make it hard to get in and out. although its our(hunters) nature to stay off game trails its hard NOT to cross one around here...thats why im considering a spray to help with my boots mainly..and try to be as scent free as possible...just didnt know if any products were better then others etc....

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

Do you have knee high rubber boots? They will be your best freind. But like SBGObbler said, they ain't fool proof. I wore mine hunting a sheep farm one day, then behind the house the next. Deer cut my trail and got all weird cause there ain't no sheep in my yard.

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

Mauser06 - SBgobblers....thats kinda VERY true..kids playing in the backyards...guys cutting wood for the winter...ATV riders etc..


You may be hunting in close proximity to human activity but the deers nose knows the exact proximity to that activity as well. So when he is skirting said activity and comes across a new and strange oder, he'll be on alert at the very least. Most mature bucks flee the scene imediately, where smaller bucks and does usually have to verify a second sense, such as sight or hearing. IMO, I believe it is best to have no scent at all. You must use the wind to your advantage to accomplish this. I've been smoking in my stand and had to put out the cigarette in order to shoot the buck. 147 gross. I had the wind in my favor. Would scent killer have helped? It wouldn't have mattered, he couldn't smell me because of the wind. Along with the wind, and equally as important, is the approach to your stand. Take what ever route necessary to not bump deer or have them cross your trail. I don't care what you spray or don't spray on your clothes, deer will detect your pressence, if they cross your trail. Some times it's impossible to get to your stand without passing where a deer will cross. To get to a field stand I will sometimes walk right down the middle of the field to get to my stand. Usually when the deer gets to my trail it is too late, I could have shot it by then. Ocassionaly, a doe or fawn may try to snif me out. Not cool.

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

I use HS Scent Away spray. It has always worked great for me.

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

thanks alot guys.....lots of good info....surprised that some of you "seasoned guys" use nothing at all....ill probably stick to my roots...or maybe a bottle of scent killer for peace of mind...

i do plan to buy new boots before the season...im thinking about a rubber pair..i need regular boots too.....but the rubber pair will be warm and will work great in the winter as well as bow hunting....anything else my regular boots should hang on another season.....

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

You can't cover your scent...period. Keeping clean and hunt the wind is the only option.

A deer can pick out the different scents in many different orders at the same time. Just like a dog can. If you could cover your scent with a little dirt spray then a buck could never find a doe. Just put your nose to the ground where a doe has walked across. What do you smell? Dirt, leaves, corn stalks, etc. These oders are much stronger than the does scent but a buck can follow her at a fast trot with no problems. The stronger scents don't affect him at all.

The same goes for your human oder. You can't cover it up because the deer can distingish between the different molecules in the scent. One scent being stronger than the other has nothing to do with it. You can't cover them up.

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

Peace of mind is worth its weight in gold. Always go with the feel good stuff.;)

Btw, rubber boots, to me anyway, are much superior to their plastic counterparts. They stay more pliable in colder weather. Oh... they are not scent free. They give off an oder that you and I or anyone else can smell. Just think how good the deer can detect it. They should probably be sprayed.

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

You say your hunting an area where there is inevitably human scent swirling around, but those molecules have dissipated and are less concentrated. I think scent elimination is the way to go. At the very least you're going to minimize the scent you produce, and possibly give the impression you're not in the area, and the off gasing the deer is smelling is somewhat normal. As for cover scents, only rut attractants!!!, and since most archery seasons aren't in the rut I wouln't recommend them.

A good cheap way to eliminate scent (I've been experimenting successfully for two years now) is to go the "devil" that is Walmart and buy Aquatech activated carbon for aquariums for about $3.50 for 4 oz., crush about 1/2 oz. of it as fine as possible, add 1/4 cup baking soda, all with a gallon of distilled H20. Let sit for an hour or so andstrainthrough a coffee filter 2-3 times. Put in spray bottle, and use when needed.
As evidence it works, last year I stalked in on 30 head of elk with swirling wind and stuck a young bull at 10 yards (he was the only one awake and standing and that wouldn't have changed if I hadn't shot him.)

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

Good info....especially since this will be my first year bow hunting.

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

If I stunk to high heaven and had a bottle of Hawgs vanishing hunter I would still feel confident enough to hunt. I think that much of the stuff.

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

Scent Killer is my choice...

RE: scent killer or cover scent.....
 

last year i started using scent killer autumn laundry detergent, and spray, and fresh earth cover discs. i didn't really notice any significant advantage from using them, but i would think that the non uv brightner detergent has to help. besides, that stuff does smell like my woods, so iti don't think it's going to hurt anything. i haven't gone so far as the soap, deodorant, and shampoo though. that's where i begin to question how much the stuff works and is it worth it.