Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

The way I see it, deer are the masters of their domain as we are of ours. They can tell the difference between another deer stepping on and breaking twigs and you breaking twigs. Although the sound might appear the same to us, it is a different tone or pitch that only "deer" ears can differentiate. In the same way, they know a human when they smell one.

I think it doesn't matter how well you prep yourself, there's no way to make yourself so scent free that deer can't smell you at all. I've seen posts where guys have said they've been detected when taking even the most extreme scent control measures. My take is that even if you were in full body scent lock suits, the deer could still pick up your scent just from you simply breathing.

I wish we had a few scientists on the board to shed some insight but what do you guys think? I believe that as long as you are playing the wind, you can be stinky as a gasoline/oil drenched mechanic and still pull it off. If the deer are upwind, they can't smell you period.

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

I agree with you somewhat. I just wash my clothes before each hunt and my self with sent free soap. I play the wind. I don,t think you can fool a mature bucks nose no matter how hard you try.

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

If people don't take scent control - and a whole pile of other things about hunting - to unreasonable extremes of seriousness, the whole industry will go bankrupt!

[8D]

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

Being upwind obviously is your best scent control. Do all the other scent control measures matter? Yes, they do as each step further you take does reduce the chance of being scented. Hunters who have had 30+ years of experience and who are absolutely meticulous about scent control will tell you that carbon activated clothing was a big breakthrough for them and does work when properly activated and cared for to the extent that it isn't that important any more for them whether they are upwind or downwind. But these same hunters bath with scent free soap/shampoo, towel off with a towel that has been washed in scent free detergent, wear clothes that were also washed with scent free detergent and then dried outside, wear rubber boots that have been stored outsided in leaves or a plastic bag, etc. They don't eat garlic and are meticulous not to sweat on the way to their stands. They don't smoke or ride in a truck that has been smoked in.
Scent control is like a chain, and if you break one link, you are busted. Most of us who hunt don't want to take all of the measures necessary to remain scent free. They think if they take a shower and throw on some scent lok clothing they should be invisible in the woods and it isn't that simple.
Your comment about breath is a good one. This seems to be the most overlooked area of scent control. I know a guy who brushes his teeth with baking soda. I have tried scent masking gum but I have no idea if it is working.
Many hunters get busted despite their Scent Lok clothing and blame it their scent lok not working. However they never activated it correctly, stored it in a plastic bag or airtight scent free container, or reactivated it after wearing it a few times. Or it they have, they chew tobacco on the stand, wear non-rubber boots, or make so much noise getting there or while they are there that they have no chance of success.

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

If your going to take hunting serious? Than your going to have to take scent control serious as well in order to be successful on constant basis[&:]

But i do agree that no matter how much we try? A deer down wind can still pick up our scent. I don`t really think you can completely get away from it. But washing our cloths in scent free detergent and Taking none scented bath`s, Maby go a little higher in a tree or even use a cover scent to help cover your tracks? Greatly helps your chances at taking a deer.

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

Well, it's not to say that I don't believe in scent control at all because I do the scent/dye free detergent thing, the wildlife research bar soap thing, the special boots only for the woods thing. More importantly, I try to play the wind. Only thing is, after a while you start gettin' paranoid/obssessed and begin taking running head start jumps over deer trails in attempt to not leave your scent. Then you start panicing when the winds change directions and are suddenly somewhat carrying your scent in the direction you anticipate the deer to be coming. That's when my head starts spinning and say "oh frik it, long as I aint dirty nasty stankin' then I should be fine just playing the wind."

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

The deer take it serious and so do I! For me it's the 2nd most important factor in the mix. First is my shooting capabilities. If ya can't make the shot the scent thingy don't matter![8D]

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

Yep, a guy only has to take it as serious as he does his hunting I guess! ;) I agree that it is impossible to eliminate all our scent but I have certainly learned that when taken to extremes you can indeed see more deer more often than without! My goal is to minimize my disturbance to my area. For instance.... when/if a deer "jits" my scent, instead of smelling like I'm 20 yards away, my scent may seem like it is a couple of hundred yards away. Instead of smelling like my entry/exit trails are only a minutes old they may seem like they are many hours old. In farm country where I hunt this can indeed be the difference between getting a shot at a "shooter" buck and possibly never seeing him in the area again! To each his own, but I will contiue to use eevry advantage technology gives me.

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

I'm of the opinion that your scent is like playing a radio in the woods. You cannot turn it off, but you can most certainly turn it down a great deal.

At times, not always, but at times, thats all the difference in the world.

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

I believe scent control is absoutly necessary in my situation. Some of my best stands are within a "bowl" where the wind swirls all around me in every which direction. If I didn't take steps to reduce my scent, I probably wouldn't see any deer at all. So, I'll keep doing my thing, you keep doin yours. ;)

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

I'm a hobby hunter and sure don't do everything possible for scent control.I've seen big animals walk thru camp,scratch there anters on picnic furniture and go down a sidewalk in the suberbs.Here's my theory.

I am a licensed charter captain and owned an operated a charter boat on the great lakes.I noticed something fishing as well as tournament fishing,which is like deer hunting on steroids.Some people Out fish others with no preperation it's the way they smell.Some people baiting a hook can actually attract fish or not not scare them away.Others touching the hook or line pretty much means no fish.

Could it be the same with deer?I always get a deer and usually it's nothing to brag about.But some guys I hunt with always get the big one,ever notice?It may be in the genes also,but some people with the same skills just do better over a lifetime.I think it's in the odor or body chemistry.

Maybe their ancestors were hunters?I know people that can catch a fish in a mud puddle,don't you?

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

My big thing is that its easier to smell like somthing else than nothing at all lots of cow $hit and coon pee for me.Plus if you know your hunting area set stands for all winds and never hunt the wrong wind.

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

mrlizzzard,

Some are gonna think we're just silly but I'm actually somewhat with you on that. I've got a buddy who outfishes and outhunts me 3 trips to 1. He has pissed off the treestand and still bagged something. Man, how much does that say for my skills or stench? LOL

And as a matter of fact, the 120ish class I saw this year was when he was out there with me in a nearby tree. He always seems to be a good luck charm. We'd arrive at the fishin' hole to sad faces from all the other fellow fishermen. We start casting and next thing you know those sad faces turn into mad faces.

Oh, I even have this theory that women have the advantage over men in hunting/fishing because their female scent isn't so threatening to the game.

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

The way I see it is that you will never eliminate odor completey, but every step you take in that direction will lessen the chances of being detected by a deer. Hunters who are serious about taking mature whitetails know that when it comes down to it, your efforts in scent control may be the difference between going home empty handed and arrowing the biggest buck of your life. To me, scent control isn't a hassel (like some make it out to be), but rather it is a part of hunting for me. I look forward to doing everything I can to elude the senses of deer, but its up to you as a hunter to decide how important hunting is to you. Those people who think that since being scent free is impossible and therefore toss the whole idea off to the side, have shown how serious they are about hunting whitetails and answer their own question of how important scent control is.

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

Oh, I know it's important. I decided that when that buck put his nose in the air, sniffed, pinpointed, looked dead at me then took off. I did the things to follow too mind you.

What was unclear at the beginning of the post was whether it should be so extreme because there's no completely winning the battle. Some of us are fortunate enough to be able to afford scent lock suits. Others of us can only affort scent/dye free detergent, neutralizing bar soap, and a pair of single purpose boots. That's what I do and will continue to.

I still think that them dang deers can smell human breath.

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

Here's my analogy of getting a good deer on his turf....

Its like someone hiding in your living room and expecting you not to notice them...

If they leave their shoes outside of your door and mess up your stuff (scent) they may not get to see you at all.

If they are careful and try to not disturb to much (scent free), are careful with how they move and not leaving clues everywhere they may just may get to find you before you find them...

Because for sure, you will be spotted.....

I do as much as I can knowing it not 100 % but its better than nothing, then again I got an 8 pointer 2 years ago after I had decided to give up for the day , had a sandwhich (salami) in my hand and had taken my boots off to allow my sweating feet to get some cool air before walking out....

If my arrow hadnt gotten the deer my foot funk probably would have

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

This is my opinion but it probably wont go over too well! The way i look at it is that people have killed many deer before any of this scent control, $700 bows, $120 arrows, $100 rests and sights ever came out! That list can go on and on! I am no hardcore bowhunter but love doing it! I think that a lot of that stuff is nothing but a bunch of hype. I mean if u have the money to spend on all that stuff go ahead and buy it. I think a lot of it is a waste of money myself. I have many friends that kill deer every year and dont use that stuff and some kill big deer every year! Thats just my opinion but u know what they say about opinions.

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

Great post, dkeener. My thoughts exactly.

RE: Does scent control have to be so serious?
 

Yeah, man has been killing animals for centuries without all the expensive hype. But, the indians here in the west used to use the bark from aspen trees as a natural scent blocker and antiperspirant. I don't beleive in all the scent block clothing and stuff. Scent control can be done very cheaply. I wash my clothes in baking soda, and then saturate them in elk urine.(I am primarily an elk hunter) I take baths in the creek every night to get the sweat from the day off of me with a bar of scent free soap. I hang my outer clothes well outside of camp. Each day I add fresh urine to my clothing. When I come across fresh crap or bull urine in the beds I will rub it on my clothing. Yes I smell a little funky but all of this can be done for less than 10 dollars. I have had elk within arms reach of me and never caught me. The elk that was that close walked out about 20 yards and bedded down for the afternoon. If anyone reading this has hunted elk they will know that elk have awesome noses. Their nose usually is what keeps them out of harms way. This method is all natural in smells. It doesn't hurt to put a little baking soda in your boots also.

I beleive more in cover up than I do in scent elimination.