Scent control question...
 

I was just wondering to what extent those who deer hunt use scent control? I have only used cover scents. I know a lot of people go to great lengths by using the special laundry detergent, soap, shampoo, deoderant etc. Plus the sent away products. If I spray my clothes down with some scent away will that be enough? Just curious. I also know guys that have hunted their whole lives and are very productive, and they don't use anything. I shot my last deer just using apple scented buck snort. I just put it around my stand, on the tree at the stand, and used a drag rag soaked with it.

chris

RE: Scent control question...
 

I used to do all my hunting in blue jeans and car-harts (sp) and never use any scent stuff at all and kill deer. My main set up now is I have a set of bibs and insulated jacket that I wash at the beginning of season and mid season with a non UV soap. It is scent free, but I do it mainly for the UV reasons. I have a older set of camo's and I was getting busted once in a while, deer would just look right up at me and spook! Found out about how deer see UV real good and started washing my camo in it and now I vary rarely get busted. That is all I do, I still use regular hair soap and regular everything else to. I think scent control is way overrated IMO. But will admit I think it depends on the person to. I have to be super hot and working hard to even break a sweat on my forehead, can't remember the last time I had "wet" arm pits. But some people just think about work and they sweat up a storm and can get a real good stink on after a fresh shower. These people are the ones I think have a problem and maybe need to do more. I think another thing is your area. My area is populated with houses doting that country side. It would be impossible for a deer to not smell something human regularly. Some areas way up in the bush where a deer may have never smelled anything human may have a harder time hunting. Also, the last time I used doe pee was the last time I was followed out of the woods by a buck in the dark! NO thank you!! Also to get back to the topic, I think the scent control market is way overrated IMO, just people cashing in on hungry hunters trying to score. Some of them guys on TV should feel bad about endorsing the jokes that they do IMO!!

RE: Scent control question...
 

I use scentless soap, laundry detergent( baking soda works too), deodarant, and fall blend cover spray. I even bought some mouth spray this year to keep in my pack( can't hurt). I swear by rubber boots. I keep my clothes in a tupperware container with dirt scent wafers. I even put my clothes on when I get out of the car. I think the rubber boots are the most important thing for me. Do I need to do all this? No, but I kinda like it. Its a pretty easy switch. Starting oct 1st I just switch to scentless soap and deodarant till the season end and I rarely get scented. Can't hurt nothing but my wallet.

RE: Scent control question...
 

I think a lot of it depends on where you hunt and the particular deer your hunting. In one of my spot I am in a creek bottom and there is a mother doe that will catch you every time if your not perfectly scent free. I'm always 25 feet up and she still gets me sometimes. I think she goes looking for trouble. I walk up the stream to avoid laying scent down. One day I will try some of that scentlock clothing. I should of shot her a long time ago.

RE: Scent control question...
 

I do the shower thing and also wash my cloths once in the begining of the season and use no-scent then I go out and get a shovel full of dirt-leaves and some twiggs put it in the bottom ofa container(plastic tub with lid) and use earth tone biscet's then when Iam done with my 1st trip into the woods I put everything I was wearring into the container and thats my scent free for the rest of the year....I do shower every time beforeI go into the woods and use scentfree deoderant and dont eat anything that will leave a bad oder.........my stands stay in the woods 365 days a year so I dont worry about them........I also stay away from colone durring the Archery season also........my shower towels are washed every time in no-scent and put into a little tub for me to use nxt time..............hasnt failed me yet.........:eek::D

RE: Scent control question...
 

Since I live in the south I put my clothes in with a bunch of pine straw into a garbage bag and store them like that all year. During hunting season I usually refresh the pine straw every so often but that is about it. I do use scent free shampoo and soapwhen I shower before hunting..

RE: Scent control question...
 

I like to shower in early morning using unscented soap. I have my washed clothing outside under shed to air out several days before opening day. I go outside wearing my rope and put on all my fresh aired out clothes and rubber boots. Don't use any scents, try my best to sit down or qtring winds.[:o]

RE: Scent control question...
 

i have a rock circle in my yard that we cook weenies on for kids etc.
i take wood and pine needles and start fire.
i SMOKE my clothes,then into a plastic bag ..
when i get to woods, i change clothes..
we used to smoke ourselves in woods but DCNR will not let you start a fire now.

it was a lot of fun to start that fire and tell stories while descenting yourself.

i dont use any store bought stuff and use plain unscented dial soap to take bath...

my smoke idea is better than you will ever get from those plastic bottles...
it lasts a long time....

other than that,i use doe in heat in rut but nothing before rut and no rattling of anthlers..
that rattling of antlers is for TV,not for big buck on stateforestland......

RE: Scent control question...
 

i hang my stands about 25 feet high. have had to butt out a cigarette before i shot most of my deer. the height widens your scent cone and i think the deer would rather smell the smoke than smell a human.

RE: Scent control question...
 

In 23 yrs of hunting I dont thinksmokeing has ruined any of my hunts.I also beleave deer dont spook from cig smoke like they would from body oder....After all dont they eat tabbaco plants down south ?,as if that has anything to do with it.....I have seen DRUNK deer when I worked at the beet plant,they jump the fence and drink the ferminted water around the beet piles and man is it funny when they start staggering and falling down.

RE: Scent control question...
 

Scent Control ................ here is my take on it


Does it help or is it a waste of money that companies have exploited just to help lighten our wallets.

I feel that scent control is a good thing, but there is also a point that you can cross the line and it just becomes a waste of money. Who is to say that all of your precautions will stop the deer from smelling you ......... can anyone actually say what or how much a deer can smell or cannot smell ....... I know that I do not know that.

I have a scent loc suit and have even tested it with my late beagle. It did work to some extent, but he was still able to find me from downwind, just not as fast as he would normally do.

Generally deer are a very inquestive animal ........ if they smell a new strange odor, they will investigate to find out what it is, to see if they should be scared of it or not. Light a smudge fire up wind of where some deer are bedded, more away and see what happens. The deer will come to investigate. Just like all these new scent attratants, once a deer knows what most of them are, they usually will not bother with them (I did take part in some scent testing for a company).

So I will say, do what you can to help lower your scent (since deer assoicate human scent as danger) but I would not go over board. Use scent attractants (smoke sticks, vinella, estrus, ect) and vary them to keep things different.

Just my two scents (which by the way is worth more now because the CDN dollar is worth more :D :D :D )

RE: Scent control question...
 

the temperature plays a big part too. You could use every trick in the book on a warm humid september day and get scented. But on a 20 degree day in january you could use no scent control what so ever and be fine.

RE: Scent control question...
 

I use stuff on my clothes to kill the scent and also to kill UV by washing it. Small bottle lasted me 3 or 4 yrs. Only other scent stuff I use is the earth scent (smells like dirt) I will keep my hunting clothes in a scent free bag and spray them down with that so they smell the same everytime I pull them out. Another good way is to use them earth dryer sheets and toss one into the bag also. SoI don't use stuff to spray myself down when I am ready to go into the woods.

I don't smoke, and keep my clothes in that bag whenever not in use. For washing myself I just use non scented shampoo. Doesn't have to be some special hunting brand. If you look around hard enough you can find stuff with no perfume smell for people that are allergic to them.

I do like the unscented deoderant, but you must also remember that if your going to do any amount of walking to your spot you will sweat. You got all that gear on to stay warm and your making your body work. Take your time walking, get there early so you will not want to sweat and also keep your noise down. Sure Scent lock gear may help this. I don't own any though.

Stuff like Gum-o-flauge and crap I don't by into. Me and a buddy actually came up with something similar a few years ago.. Non-scented toothpaste, mouthwash. Think we should have gone with it as they now sell it all and even breathmints for hunting.. I did make the suggestion of making it of doe in heat flavor as a joke when we talked about it. :DAlmost made 2 hunting buddies hurl when I said it. I thought it was funny.

I know I got my scent down and it seems to work. Last yr was my first year in a stand. Had alot of deer walk up to within 10yards of me. All other hunting was on the ground, and have had deer stand 5 yards from, had a doe a couple yrs ago walk into a field I was sitting on the edge of 3 yards from me. I have never been busted for my scent, moving, sneezing (that sucks) and misfires on my blackpowder gun has. Upgraded to a 209 primer .45 cal this yr also. See how that likes the rain. :)

RE: Scent control question...
 

Thanks for all the good info!

RE: Scent control question...
 

covering your breath seems like good idea to me. I'm usally breathing most of the time. I would think coffee breathe would travel pretty far.

RE: Scent control question...
 

Only time I breath out of my mouth is after taking a shot. Normally by then my heart is racing so hard from adrenaline that I have no choice but to suck in as much air as possible. Lucky I haven't sucked in some leafs and squirrels.

I am not a big coffee drinker. Mostly drink water.