Coincidence or not?
 

This year, I took the ScentLok leap, despite having my doubts as to whether it actually works (from a scientific perspective).

Anyway, through five hunts, here are my results.

2006 (no scent lok) - through 18 hours on stand, 5 days afield, I had seen 7 deer.

2007 (scent lok) - logged 18 hours on stand in 5 days. I've seen 23 so far.

There are some intangibles. The weather has been basically the same (a little hotter this year),and there wasone morning in '06 where I hunted through a steady rain shower. I've hunted mostly the same stands, but in a different order (accounting for the wind).

So do you guys think this is mere coincidence, or is there something to it? Or (like me) do you think that the data is statistically insignificant - and I need to log about another 100 hours before we start making conclusions?

Also, would you expect this trend to continue throughout the season?

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

Unfortunately, only a couple more seasons with similar results would tell for certain. Does it matter? For whatever reason, you are definitely seeing the deer! (Personally, I would keep using it, though.)

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

unfortunately.....even if you do document more sightings.....there are those who will NEVER attribute that to your choice in camo.

You knew that, though;)

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

I give all the credit to the deer's sixth sense. They know that it is impossible to be killed by you with your 250 grain arrows.;):D

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

Those that don't have it scorn it, remember "If all you own is a hammer, everything looks like a nail"

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

Here's to that false sense of security persisting for the next six weeks.


Salud!

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

I'd like to see the data after about another 100 hours. Unfortunately I probably won't help much when it comes to deciding whether or not the stuff works as advertised, still too many variables.

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

details man! so you just ignored the wind direction and hunted?...still utilised the wind?....did you hunt any differently when you were carbonized?

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

I don't think it's a coincedence. Even if it works 10%, that's 10% better than not owning it. But the anti carbon bandwagon guys will even dispute that but like GMMAT said, you know it's coming. So, I'll be first. ;)

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

Don't know if it works or not. Never owned it cause I had my doubts.

But I do know that when I went on a elk trip a few years back, all of the guides in camp swore by it (five guides, andfive student guides - they made the student guides have it). They even had backpacks with it.

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

It all hype, we are foolish for wasting our money, let the non-believers keep pushing deer our way


;)

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

I don't think it's coincidence either. Unless you've tightened up your overall scent control strategy.

I bought a set this year as well, and while I haven't seen enough significant evidence, (I just haven't been out much as yet) I have had deer down wind that weren't alarmed. One was for about an hour and a half, w/in 20 yards the entire time.

BUT, I noticed alot of that last year when I changed over to Dead Down Wind. The jury is still out for me, but I'm continuing to use it.

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

I agree with Rob :)

Fran, if you would be willing to sit with your old camo and see if your sightings go down, that would help with most answers .... :eek:

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

I am going to chime in.

There are to many differnet varibles here Quick

Mast Crop is it the same as last year?
Field Crops- My guess is they are not the same.
Weather - it's been hot, does that = less guys hunting
Pressure - is it more or less.

While I am 100% believer in scent control, there are way to many varibles to say it is one thing.

Example

I saw 3 bucks in the morning and 17 deer in the evening. That beats last years opening day by 19 deer. I know exactly what it is, it has nothing to do with me or what I wear.

My dad rides his Harley and is not out walking around.
My uncles have not been screwing around in there woods.

Pressure is way down, so the deer were movning. Pressure is the #1 facter in seeing a pile of deer. You can have the best location in the world, but if it has a pile of pressure, it's about as good as hunting in North pole IMO.

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

Yeah, the crops have rotated, that's one variable that should be noted.

Another thing to consider is that the pressure onthe primary farmthat I've been hunting has increased. A few guys got busted for poaching across the road, so that farm is now off-limits to all hunting. The displaced guys all came across to the farm where I hunt, b/c it's the last place around that's open to everyone.

Last year, I was seeing one guy out there every day. There were a minimum of four other bowhunters in there last night. 4 hunters on a 140 acre parcel that is only 10-15% woodlot (85-90% fields). I say a "minimum of four" because there are ways for guys to sneak in from the neighboring grounds.

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

I don't think that your "study" has any significant value. I do think carbon suits will help but there are just too many variables that you do not have control of. Chances are with out any changes you just may have more deer this year to see, you maybe sitting still better, or any number of reasons.
Since I've bought my scent blocker suit, I've seen fewer deer. I'm not blaming to cloths, we just have fewer deer to see. On the other hand, I've seen more critters as a whole, seeing several foxes with in bow range this year already and a few coyote's just out of range down wind.
I'm not writing to discourage or to down play the advantages of carbon, I just don't think seeing a few more deer this year than last is proof of anything. You will know when you're in a stare down with a buck and the wind is going in his dirrection, wether or not he can smell you.
I know this season has been tough up here. Yesterday, I went out and it was so warm, my scent Blocker jacket and pants went in my back pack, I walked to my stand with no shirt and shorts and still worked up a sweat. Today and tomorrow are supposed to be even warmer, above 80. Gets any warmer I'm going to put AC in my tree stand. lol
What I've learned in this heat wave is that my Scent blocker pants and jacket breath a lot better than I imagined. I expected to feel like being wrapped in plastic, keeping sweat in like it keeps odor in. That's simply not the case. I've worn Xscent base layers under, I've worn nothing under, and I've worn cotton under while it's been warm. The only time I felt wet and sweaty was when I wore cotton under. The cotton loads up with sweat and holds it, I felt a lot dryer with out and with a good wicking base layer. Can't hurt if the base layer also helps kill human odors. All my cheap Walmart cotton camo shirts and sweatpants have been demoted to wearing to and from hunting, from shower to the woods and from woods back home. For me scent control is second, moisture control is first. Moiture control keeps you cooler in the heat, warmer in the cold. I'm extremely impressed with todays scent control products like my Scent Blocker/ Rain Blocker suit, Xscent socks and base layers, and Cabela's camo skinz and ingenous socks. I don't know for sure how much scent contol I'm really getting, but I sure am comfortable when I'm hunting. I can work up a sweat and not have to worry about freezing to death because of it. No need to change my socks after walking to my tree stand, my feet are dry and comfortable. Well worth the few extra dollars.

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

I personally cant bring myself to spend that kind of money on some camo. As far as the data I think that it doesnt tell anything really. I have had dear with in 8 yards of me last year hunting from the ground sitting next to a tree and never got busted.AllI used was scent killer on my clothes. But if you think that it helps and since you have already purchased it I would defenitely continue using it.

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

I'm not really on either side of the scent lok debate, as I don't own any and probably never will.

My understanding of the great debate, isn't if it works to start out with. It's if it works after the carbon has been saturated with odor.

Comparing next year with last year and this year may tell a better story.

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

I agree 100% wack. Matter of fact, I've already been winded by a mature doe (I had a 1.5 y.o. buck wind me also, but he didn't freak out like the doe did).He just changed his body language and left. She totally freaked out. Again, I gotta emphasize that I'm hunting deer that will tolerate NO human intrusion.

...AND I've been picked outat 19' inthe tree by another mature doe (upwind)in my Predator camo. Anyone who says "deer look right through you" in the open patterns is full of it. I'd say they look right "at" you. LOL

I get busted no matter what camo pattern I wear, MOBU, Predator, etc... No movement, and I hunt high. I'mjust hunting deer that are trained to keep their heads up. They see something out of place, and they leave. No tolerance at all from anything other than the fawns. I expect the Predator to work a little better once the canopy opens up. It's still pretty heavy.

That's with an antimicrobial base layer, scent lok, about a gallon of scent killer spray, a short walk, and always keeping the wind in my favor (unless it changes once I'm already set up)...

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

I've got several scent control suits and am not convinced they are 100% effective' but I am convinced they help and if they help even 10% or 20% thats going to increase deer sitings. Also if it gives your confidence a little boost like it does mine then I think it helps you be a better hunter, because if I'm confident in the spot and my equipment, I know I hunt better.

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

Without being able to rehunt the exact same hunt it's impossible to say if the suit changed things. Too many variables, even day to day. Try hunting a day without and then a day with. If you keep doing that for a long period of time you can come up with a statistical trend but no definitive answer. That's like clinical studies of humans; unless they have thousands of clones that live the exact same life and only change one variable they can't do anything but track statistical trends, which may or may not prove anything.

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

Are you sure there's just not 3x's more deer around this year?

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

The reason for the increased sightings are as everyone has stated tied to many variables.Deer wanting to see if you are actually hunting with that light of a set up:D.Your selection of stands based on wind direction,although you probably did that last year,food availability this year versus last.
The real test of your scent control program is a deer's reaction when it goes directly down wind of your scent stream.It sounds like the mature doe got a real snoot full.Did you sweat when going in?Was there a swirling wind that drove your scent down?
You have got to be pleased with the increased sightings.Make sure you have tree's behind the animal you shoot,on the pass through your arrow may go on forever.You are shooting one pin out to how many yards?

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

One thing I believe is that some fabrics or dies actually glow in the dark for deer. If you don't get all the UV briteners out of your hunting cloths, the pattern makes little difference if you're glowing. I've used the UV Blocker laundty soap and spray on every piece of hunting cloths I own, except the carbon suit. Hmmm . I know it makes a difference with hunter orange. I've seen it on deer drives and have left powder burns on many deer that didn't see me......
Thanks guys, I think I know what's wrong with my new camo! I haven't UV treated my new mask, hats, gloves, jacket, pants, backpack, shirts or anything. I had most of my stuff stolen last year, replaced most of it but I'm still glowing in the dark!
Makes perfect scence to me now! LMAO. Out of 20 trips to the woods, I've seen deer that didn't see me on 2 different days. Both days I was wearing my cabela's camo skinz shirt that was UV treated and both times with out a hat or mask. I've seen deer on 2 other days that saw me, same shirt but wearing my new mask and hat. I couldn't believe they saw me and know they didn't wind me. The other 16 days, I've seen no deer, just turkeys and fox's. 0-16 with my new stuff. I'm going to the store and going to change that today.
There still isn't many deer out there to see, but I'll feel better thinking they're going to have a harder time seeing me and smelling me after today.

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

Everyone complains about the price. Now you guys have a lot more choices up north in camo. The scent lok stuff isn't really that expensive compared to the rest here. Not for a nice suit. Regardless if it works or not.

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

Not a very scientific test IMO. Too many tangables. Wouldn't be able to render an opinion one way or the other.

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

I completely agree with germ on this one.


Is there anyone on here that actually disputed that the scent suits work?


I believe what most disregard is that they can be reactivated,which I also have my doubts about but I absolutely KNOW the carbon suits work well but for how long,imo,is the question.


I will go as far to say that the best carbon suit on the market only cost about $30.00.That's right.


I have used it and I can say without a doubt in my mind it attributed to more deer sightings and not only saw more,had them doing things around me that I have never witnessed before or since the suit was new.


I am speaking of the chemical suit that the military wear.Of course,the carbon will get all over you but they do work.


If you have doubts,they are cheap enough for most of us to atleast give them a try and the suits will last forever but not the carbon.

Here is the link.
http://www.colemans.com/scentsuit.htm

RE: Coincidence or not?
 

i think scentlok is a very good camoand it does keep your scent good as long as you keep it in good condition