What to do about stinky feet
 

I don't really know if this is the proper place to ask this question or not but since it affects bowhunters more than anyone, I thought I'd ask here. What do you guys do about the scent left where you walk. It seems I have tried everything and no matter what I do I still see deer sniffing where I have walked in. Sometimes they leave, sometimes they change the direction they were traveling, and sometimes they just continue what they were doing. In any event, it's not a positive thing. I never wear my boots anywhere but hunting. I never put them on until I get to my spot. I scrub them down before the season with nonscent soap but I still can't seem to "dissapear" when it comes to my boots. I tried the Dream Season boots and they were very comfortable but were no longer water-proof after the first year. I used a product called Deardander this past season with mixed results. I just don't know what to do about this problem anymore. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Blessings.....Pastorjim

Hold your Nose Jim!!

Sorry about that I couldn't help it:s2:

Robinson Labs has insoles that will help with scent, They also have available silver thread socks to use for an under sock.

You can use a gel deoderant/anti perspirant, Atsko makes a powdered product called N-O Odor. I find it works very well at absorbing odor and moisture.

If you want to control ground scent to the Max check out Elimitrax.

Good Luck stinky feet!:p

Dan

I used to use a non-scented spray anti perspirant/deoderant,but I used it mainly to keep my feet from sweating so much on the long walk in to my hunting area which helped keep my feet warmer when I did sit for long periods of time after a long hike in due to the fact that my feet and inside of my boots wern't soaked with sweat. I would also pack in extra soaks to change into,sure made a difference on a long cold sit,just be sure to put the sweaty stinky soaks in a ziplock bag and stash them in your back after you change.

I've always wore rubber boats without a problem. Seems you dont have the scent issues you would have with leather boots. I like the lacrose alpha-burlys.

ya i always used rubber boots 2

well...ya need to imagine you are a fishing net full of non-cooked rice...eeverytime you move rice is fallin out everywhere, heck even if ya aint movin its fallin out lol...so even though you only hunt in them, when you pick them up, rice (scent, skin particles) is fallin all over them. so make sure to put gloves on, make sure your hood is tucked into your jacket, your jacket in your pants and ur pants in your boots.. spray head to toe including the bottom of your boots and just sit on the ground and let it dry.(hopefully every part of you flesh is covered and contained inside of your clothes.) dont even be downwind of a buddy, keep his stinking polluting butt downwind. this should secure all the loose particles to you so they wont fall off. dont look down when your walkin out...particles from your face , which the eye area should only be exposed, fall on the ground and lay all on your chest..makin it like a painted path (if you will) of scent.

If your boots are old and leak..... replace them. Scent will leak out where the leaks are. Also, I don't wear rubber boots much because they tend to make my feet hot and that causes oder. My two main pair of boots are the Wolverines (pictured on the home page of HNI) and Rocky Blizzard Stalkers.

I have found that if I walk around in my buddy's dairy barn while wearing these boots, the deer pay no attention to my entry trail. Best cover scent around..... and free!

Once the boots start leaking, the deer notice even with the cover scent.

If you have really stinky feet, you might try anti fungal cream on your feet and in between your toes daily after a shower for 2 weeks. It will clear up any fungus and eliminate foot odor.

how and where do you store your boots when you're not using them?

I also always were rubber boots but I could see them making the foot sweat more. I never try it but some people swear by fox urine on the bottom of the boots. I wonder if putting alittle baking soda in the bottom of the boot would also help.

scent free bag..i put a lil dirt (lol its really sand lol) ,leaves and pine needles in mine.

neoprene socks will wick the moisture out, and also those hand wipes ya get from the doctors office, they have benzalkonium chloride in them, its miricle werker, and if those creams burn ya on any rash, this stops the itching and kills the fungus (including ring worm and jock itch) without that burning sensation. lol no this will not stop the burn when you pee, go see a doctor lol

JD sorry for quoting you, i meant to quote who ever was talkin bout fungus'

Also, be mindful of your walk in. If deer are crossing your path and catching your scent that means you are crossing theirs. Take the long way around to your stand. Avoid trails and approach your stand from downwind. Little details make a big difference.

I store them in my truck during the season. I never bring them inside or even drive to and from my spot with them on. I guess I should have been more clear. I don't think it's actually my feet but just the odors of the boots themselves. I am currently wearing Rocky Cornstalkers. They are a great boot as far as being and staying waterproof but the deer seem to always be sniffing where I've walked. This seems to be a problem with any footwear I've ever had, including rubber boots. As I mentioned before, this past season I tried a product called deer dander and that seemed to help some. Actually I had a doe get on it and she actually came right to the base of my tree.

Blessings.....Pastorjim

Pastor Jim,

There has to be something you are missing because your routine seems over the top with extra steps that I do not have to do to keep the deer from picking up my trail.

I had a couple of deer pick up the scent trail from my boots early last season. Here is what I did to cure it. My problem stemmed from putting on my boots in the garage then walking across the garage floor to the outside. I now dress and leave from my basement and patio. It made a world of difference.

I walked through mud, dirt, creek water, and anything natural that I could find. The last step was to crush a couple of hedge apples and smear them all over my boots. I then moved my boots away from anything unrelated to the outdoors. They stayed outside. I brought them inside only during rain events or hung them upside down outside in the rain. When inside, I store them on newspaper away from anything that is scented or odorous. I also stop on the way to my stand and grind my boots in mud or dirt.

I did that once in a cow pie. All was good until I had to climb down from the tree and put my hands on the tree steps. Never again will I knowingly step in poop then climb.

Pretty simple yet very effective. You just have to season them to your area and not expose them to anything foreign. Again, there has to be something you are missing.

Xscent socks, use non-scented Sure on the soles of my feet, and spray down my boots (and everything else) with Scent-Killer or DDW before I walk into the hunting area, regardless of whether or not I'm wearing rubber boots.

during hunting season i always keep mine outside(i made a boot hanger so they are upside down and won't get wet on the inside). i also make sure no pets,animals,grill smoke,dryer vent air, etc.. can get to them. when i go hunting, i put them in a garbage bag, tie it up until i'm outside of my vehicle ready to hunt. i also try to walk through mud and creeks,and even deer poop, it works with no problem for me. (i use to use red fox urine,skunk scent,doe/buck scent,apples,pears,etc... but i quit wasting $ on that even though it helped). during the off season i store mine in 2 garbage bags until 3 wks. prior to season, then back outside they go rain,snow,or sunshine. but always keep in mind that no matter what anyone does, no one can ever be scent free. if nothing still works try walking an extra 1/2 mile to 1 mile out of your way to get to your spot(if possible) and always play the wind. hope you can find a solution!!!!

I usually hunt on farms, so I sometimes rub them in DRY cow patties. Get a little bit of cover scent on them.

are you tucking your pants into your boots, and your top into your bottoms, and your hood into your top, and wearing gloves?are you sprayin scent spray all over you, including the bottom of your boots? if not then you are just sprinkling scent where ever you walk....like a salt shaker of human skin cells.