I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

I have been running a general search on the studies and effectiveness of scent control specifically carbon and ran into a couple places that stated carbon cannot be "re-activated" by your dryer unless it reaches 900 degrees and that the human body does not generate enough heat to keep it active. Actually some of the carbon companies are in court right now pleading their case. Some of the other studies had bloodhounds look for people using scent control and the bloodhounds won every time. I have a tendency to subscribe to a lot of gimmicks at first hoping to improve my chances but I am starting to get wary of a lot of them and by wasting soo much money through the years I think it is good research to save money when it comes time to outfitting my kids. I will say that through the years I have had multiple deer approach from downwind with no scent contral and never know I was there yet I still have it in my head that I need to control it, go figure. A little of subject but I think when I do get busted downwind of deerI tend to believe they can see my UV glow more then anything.

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

Id never buy into a gimmick such as carbon/charcoal activated clothing. what a waste of my money that would be. I could buy better things. The key is to play the wind, be scent concious, and being in the right place at the right time.

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

You're just starting to think it's a bunch of crap? I'vewas convinced of it a long time ago.:D:DTo each his/her own.;)

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

Christmas of 2006 I was given a top and bottom FULL SEASON Scent-Lok suit. Free is a good price. I bought a headcover too, and a trendy Scent-Lok travel bag for the whole works. Took really good care of it. First time I wore it I shot a deer and a bobcat and missed another deer on the walk back to the truck (and the deer I called in from over 100 yards using The Can... and he circled dead down wind and stopped while I shot beautifully over his back... he would have made the book too). Anyway... it was raining that day. I took care of my suit and actually gained a little faith in this stuff.

But that was where it ended. I paid very close attention to the wind and kept up with scent control... but never the less I think I got winded more times last year than I ever have. Moreover, when it was warm, I would roast inside that damn suit. When it was cold... I would have rather been in jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt as it offered ZERO relief from the cold. The headcover, over my big ears, made a scraping sound againest my ears that was deafening when I so much as gently turned my head.

I don't think the suit was the cause of me getting winded... and hoenstly all I heard was deer blowing... and with all the activity around there and dogs constantly passing through it quite frankly may not have been me they were blowing at (there were times there were deer UPWIND of me where I hadn't EVER set foot... and they blew and went a different way). But I will say that movement is a killer, and that suit is uncomfortable. You have to be in the stand to kill deer, and my cold ass was marking time in the stand trying to stay warm and sleeping in during the mornings... which doesn't lend to killing deer much at all.

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

I don't know if it works. I have never tried it. I will agree that minimzing your scent might make the diff. in some cases.
All I know is that if I took the time to do everything humanly possible to rid myself of human oder each time out I would have a lot less hunting time. If I was targeting a specific buck that I had patterened I would go all out on scent control. My type of hunting isn't like that. I do my best to use the wind and terrain in my favor and leave it at that.
One thing that I have had great success at is putting my top layers in a bag or tote with pine branches.

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

It did not matter to me as much before as I just started bow hunting and grew up with a rifle in the plains states where my shots are usually quite long.

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

I cant comment much on something i really dont know much about but the bloodhound thing is IMO is redickulas. I have seen this test, if a persons head is not totally sealed off then there is going to be some scent from breath. Dogs have amazing noses!! I have indeed used scentblocker and have good luck with it. :)

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

The thing is, bloodcreek, how do you know you wouldn't be having the same good luck without it? every time you go to the woods it's a unique experience. The deer passing through at that particular day, in those particular weather conditions with the particular air current patterns in effect at the time... So many variables to account for and they're constantly changing. That's the rub. It can't be proven either way.

Take the back support belts weight lifters wear. On a physiological basis, they don't do anything. Psychologically though, they tend to make you think more about using good lifting form. I think the scent blocking clothes probably do the same thing. They make you think more about scent control so you do a better job of it.

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RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

I have been present with the bloodhound test, and they are given a swatch that the subject has wiped across his skin as a sample for the dog to sniff. And yes, they will track the person down every time (if the handler knows what he's doing) scent blocker or not.

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

You do every little thing you can think of to tip the scales in your favor.

If just one time a grunt call brings in a Booner that wasn't aimed your way. Or one time scents or scent control make the difference for you it's worth it. And they KNOW THAT. THEY USE IT AGAINST US SELLING US ALL OF THIS STUFF.

:)

I've got the carbon shirts and jacket but I think they do about as well as the rest of my stuff if I keep clean and scent free.

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

From everything I've ever read about this, and it includestests and studies. The re-activation is virtually impossible because attaining the heat levels that are necessary to accomplish this can't be reachedwith the common clothes dryer. So they say;):D

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

Home clothes dryers only average running about 120 degrees. And they don't have an oxygen free environment. That's the other half of the high heat regeneration process.

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

http://www.scentsmoker.com/

If you want a product that does work look through that. I used it successfully the entrie season last fall. I had deer downwind of me on several occasion last year and not one deer spooked as a result of scenting me.

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

Ialways thought it was crap and just a way to play on the what if factor that drives hunteres crazy! Nice job in advertising, but it looks like most people with half a brain have decided that it's bologna!

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

I wonder what would happen if you only hunted on the ground level. Bet they'd smell ya then.

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RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

I dont, never said it has helped just saying i have had good luck while wearing it, but i have had also had good luck without it. :)

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

Scent smokers, now I've heard it all......

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

I'm like many who have already commented. I have not bought into the idea. Several of my friends have. Some swear by the "scent blocking" suits, but others swear at their's. All I do is try my best to play the wind in my favor, ease in and out of my hunting area as quietly as I can, and try not stinking the place up doing so. Almost always I hunt from a tree stand. Often 25+/- feet off the ground. I am convinced getting up off the ground can help hide my scent somewhat. I do nothing special to my clothing except use "scent free" washing soap. I do the same when bathing - scent free bath soap. But frankly, down here in the deep south, most times by the time I get to my stand and settled in, I am seating up a storm. Especially in early bow season.

I do very often use a "drag rag" and rubber knee high boots, hoping to somewhat mitigate my the scent trail of my foot-falls. I make the "cover scent" from urine I collect from the bladders of deer I kill. Keep the unused portion in the freezer. Pull out what I need. seems to work OK ... sometimes.

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

Proven? In this game I don't think anything is proven to fool a whitetails nose except a favorable wind. Anyhting else is playing on the "what if " factor imo.

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

Never used the stuff, just because I could not see how it would work enough to actually make a difference.
I figure that if you hunt the wind, and pay attention to keeping your clothing as scent free as possible then you will be ok.

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

I use it. Just another piece of the puzzle.

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

I guess we have all wasted thousands of dollars on other useless crap in our pursuit of deer. Why not another 200.00?

LT

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

X2...I've never bought into it!

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

Gee, 3 or 4 years ago I was the only person around here calling it snake oil. Now we have a bunch of folks saying it's crap. Hurray Beer,... Red Beer... making white boys smart for over 4 decades.[8D]

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

I think it works but wont seal off all your scent. We tried a test back when my dad still had his archery shop.We took some perfume and put it in a jar. Then cut some of the scent lok and covered the top of the jar with it and rubber banded it on. It took about 2 weeks before you could smell the perfume through the carbon. That right there tells me it works. Now one thing we didn't try was putting it in the dryer to see if it worked again. That I think is what we need to find out.

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

X-SCENT!!!! Or just about any of the Silver Ion Base layers, I've used 3 different brands and they are all good. The silver right against the skin kills most odor causing bacteria, leaving you scent suppressed moreso than most "scent suppressing" clothes. Start out with a good "scent control" plan, scent-free or low-odor soap, scent-free laundry detergent, keeping your boots bagged or at least out of the dog/cat hair in your house, and you're further ahead than most.

RE: I am starting to think this carbon thing is crap
 

Well, as I've said before, I have a German Sheppard that has found me in my magic scent-lok suit over a hundred yards into the woods. Deer have an even more acute sense of smell than a dog. Suit was brand new. No, I wasn't cocooned up with the stuff, just the suit, and to say you have to be is ludicrous. I wear camoface paint and ultra thin gloves during bow, andhaveseen more deer this way than I did wearing the scent lok suit.Here's the other thing that bothered me about this product. You're only supposed to wash it in magic scent-lok detergent, once a year, or if it becomes "soiled" too bad. One day in early October with the temps in the mid 70s in the afternoon, I'd consider it "soiled. Let alone if the temp creeps into the 80s. So, according to the manufacturer, I just throw this thing into the dryer and reactivate it. After two or three days of this, the thing smells like a wet sweat suit worn byRichard Simmons during one of his fancy workouts. I'll stick to daily clean skivies, socks, and hunting cloths washed in scent free detergent and playing the wind. I don't buy the assumption that it may cut down your scent and that helps. If a deer winds you at50 yards, you're hunting in the wrong spot. I still have the suit. The camo has held up well, I'll give them that :D.