Busted on Scent
 

Okay, I've been one of those guys who thought he was being careful on scent control, but never thought it necessary to go to the lengths that some folks go to.

Saturday morning I was hunting a friend's farm -- about a 40 acre hay farm. Hunting clothes had been sprayed with a scent eliminator and had been outside for a week or so. I park nice and early, get out of the truck and spray a little red fox urine on the soles of my boots and set off across the field to my stand. It's still 45 minutes or so before first light, clear and cold... and the field is dry as a bone (no rain here for over a month).

I'm set in my stand, no extraneous gear, watching it grow light. About 15 minutes before sunrise (and about 15 minutes after legal shooting time around here) I watch a young six pointer walking across the field without a care. He's not in the prime hunting area, he's walking in the open between me and my truck (he's about 75 yards away). All of a sudden, he stops, drops his nose to the ground, jerks his head up, looks around, stomps, blows, and drops his head to the ground again. At this point, I notice that he's right where I crossed the field. He jerks his head up again, stamps, and bounds off across the field (in the same direction he'd been travelling). He didn't run, but kept springing his but up in the air, kind of "hopping" until he I lost sight of him in the treeline.

Other deer came through that AM -- only a couple of yearlings in range and I let them pass. None of the others crossed the path I came in on, and no others scented me... but it got me to thinking. (Even though I'm hunting with the Rage 2 blade mechanicals, I don't think it was their fault that this deer ran :eek:)

I thought I was being careful enough, but I guess not. Any thoughts or comments on this deer's behavior or on mine? Any suggestions on what else to do to "cover my tracks"? I'm not currently using a cover scent except a little squirt of fox pee on my boots (the foxes are thick up here - so it's a common scent).

RE: Busted on Scent
 

I am absolutely not a fan of cover up sprays. The reason is simple, how realistic is the stuff? Also, what if someone else in your area is using the same cover up and smells like a bad human to high heaven and constantly bust deer. Ever time a deer hits that scent...GONE.

I use Scent Killer on my shoes or boots and I haven't busted a deer by my trail in many years. (that I know of)....

AS SCENTLESS as possible is my motto.

RE: Busted on Scent
 

i roll in around in the grass before i go hunting.

RE: Busted on Scent
 

Don't you get grass stains on your camo?

RE: Busted on Scent
 

odmKP, he's 14, do you think he cares? ;)

RE: Busted on Scent
 

Heck, I wouldn't care either. Just givin him crap. Get lonley in my little dorm room[8D]

[Deleted]
 

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RE: Busted on Scent
 

I'm with Rob... go stinky free as possible. These chemstry class cover scents and attractants are far from the real thing.

RE: Busted on Scent
 

isnt your camo green anyway?

RE: Busted on Scent
 

In the early season, yes. I was just messin man, no worries. Good Luck

RE: Busted on Scent
 

They will smell you if they are down-wind regardless of what you buy, spray, or try to do to prevent you're scent from reaching their nose. Just my opinion of-course!

RE: Busted on Scent
 

Pics??:eek:

RE: Busted on Scent
 

What kind of boots?? Rubber, or leather? Leather will breath, letting foot odor escape. Also, did you spray your hands w/ scent elimination before putting your hunting clothes and boots on? Your hand is like a scent wick, w/ 5 wicks per. You would have left some scent on your pants, boots, ect....

As Rob said, scent free is the best, IMO. I don't want to smell like anything. I go to such extreme measures to be scent free, I almost feel like Jack Nicholson in "As Good as it Gets." I have a little OCD going on, shoot, it's almost like work.....[&:] BUT, I had 2 doe 25 yards of my stand, down wind w/ sinking thermals the other day, and they weren't alarmed in the least.

RE: Busted on Scent
 

Leather - probably my weak spot.

RE: Busted on Scent
 

I use rubber boots, and I am very careful as to where I wear them. I do not drive with them to my hunting area and only put them on when I am ready to hunt. Before I put them on I will spray them down with some kind of scent eliminator (I have used many different brands, and have never been able to determine one better than the other).

I also from time to time will give them a shower in scent free soap before a hunt and let them dry outside.

Again another vote for not being a fan of cover up scents. I try my best to not let deer know anything has been through there, unless its a little doe or buck urine on some scent bombs.

RE: Busted on Scent
 

No scent is the best scent. And get a pair of rubber knee high boots.