Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

Last night my 10 year old son and I where fishing and talking about the up coming deer season. We where talking about lures and scent for both deer hunting and trapping. His first question was "dad how did people hunt before scent loc or scent away sprays ?" Fred Bear did not wear or use them from what he had read or seen of old vidoes. I told him that as far as I was aware Fred Bear did not use scent away spray and scent loc did not come around until after he had passed. I explaned that before scent away spray most deer hunters washed there clothes in baking soda and then put them in trash bags and sometimes add leaves in the bags. Baking soda at that time was the ticket and used alot. I remember not only washing my clothes in it but taking a shower with it and brushing by teeth with it. My uncle would mix baking soda and water togather and spray down with it while hunting. As for scent blocker clothing I advised that someone found that by putting carbon in clothes and stitching it very tight it helped reduce odor and that over time more and more things have came about. He then ask does it realy work ? I told him that I belive that it works some in helping reduce odor cause studies show there is no way to stop odor. The clothing is just a aid in helping get close to game. finaly as far as vidoeing it started as a way to recall hunts then somebody seen that money could be made from it and that is why we have hunting shows and dvd's. He advised that he like the shows but it seemed they were all about what to use when hunting. This realy got me thinking that the sport I love so much is becoming all about money. It appears to young peple that if you don't wear or shoot certain items then don't hunt.
I remember when the first vioes where at lot about helping hunter lean how to hunt not how big the rack needs to be. Does anyone else feel this way ? Good Hunting.

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

I truly believe that the commercialization of the sport is one factor that has led to a reduction in the numbers of hunters entering the sport. I too bemoan the loss of Fred Bear and Howard Hill, and their philosophies regarding hunting.

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

This is exactly why we need to teach our children how to hunt instead of them learning it from the Outdoor Channel. You're doing the right thing. Television hunting is most definitely all about marketing. When someone like Stan Potts can be taken seriously, there's definitely something wrong.

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

As hard as it may be for some to comprehend my grandfather, my father and myself all hunted very sucessfully not only deer but elk and antelope without a stitch of camo, no scent block, no tree stands, no video, wearing red shirts and hats with rifles that had a max range of something less than 100 yds.

We are our own worse enemy when it comes to making it "all about the buck".

Watching a video of someone elses hunt is like watching other people have sex. Looks fun but it lacks in feeling.

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

I'vebeen sayingthat for a while now. The over commercialization is ruining the sport, and driving the price of everything skyhigh.

I cant believe new bows cost $800, dozen arrows cost $140 and so on........
I think it is driving a lot of people to stop buying the stuff, and just give up on the sport. I will never stop hunting as long as I can still do it and can afford to buy equipment, but I can see why someone would just give it up. Or someone new who is introduced to the sport would not want to get into it.

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

AMEN!!

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

Wow!!!
I agree whole heartily...
My question/statement is the whole world has been like this for decades not just hunting...
Truly depressing isn't it???

Sounds like your boy has a gift few people possess... Common-scents;)

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

The deer were dumber then!

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

Yeah, they never looked up!:D

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

scent-lock, food plots, cover scents, feeders, game trail cameras, canned hunts& filming hunts. All have taken away from the true sport of hunting.

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

There have been gimmicks and snake oil as long as there have been hunters who wanted an easier way to kill game, some of them become accepted, and some don't.Most of us are old enough to remember when a new fangled thing called "Hollis Allen's Arrow Launching Device" came on the market, he didn't dare call it a bow since he probably would've been lynched by the tradionalists back then, but most of us carry one now. We often laugh at some of the more questionable camo patterns today, yet nobody questioned why a guy wearing a red plaid jacket was less likely to be seen by game than a fella wearing a solid red one back in 1948 because the study of vision in game was still just a dream. Do we need many of the things we lug into the woods each year? No, but it sure is fun!

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

Everybody seems to like new technology,but that same technology is what makes everything so expensive.That and the desire to make money,I mean some of the prices for some of the hunts that are being offered today is crazy,but they all seem to book up I guess there are a lot of people with the money to spend on them.I just can't see myself spending 5000.00 or more for a trophy buck,I don't think I would feel very proud of myself either.With that said hunting is no different than anything else in this world,greed and money and power.

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The first "camo" was plaid flannel cloths.

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

I actually think modern bowhunting started this trend to make everyone think that contraptions and gimmicks are necessary to be successful at hunting. Bowhunting is supposed to be a primitive way to hunt, but one surely wouldn't say that when you look at what the modern bowhunter carries afield. I think many gun hunters have more primitive equipment than the typical bowhunter these days. I think someone with good hunting skills will be MORE successful hunting in a 3 piece suit and black loafers than someone with the most up to date equipment but who has poor hunting skills.

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

Agreed Steve863;)

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

Amazing I've been an elk guide for over 20years and when someone asks me what scents and scent lok type suits i use and when the answer comes back that I don't use em they go in shock. I've stalked closet enough to smack elk on the rump without all that gadgetry. Some of the best scent cover you'll ever find is from the animal that walked before you. Mind your wind direction and move like they move you'll find the rest is just a marketing tool. Why no scent lok suit? Anyone that's ever hiked the mountains after elk will know your not gonna stop the persperation. I don't know much about sitting in tree stands but i know if you want to have a better chance of taking an animal from a stand i'm sure a lot of scent covers would help a lot. Baiting and food plotting works too in the state's it's legal. I wear camo and i even have a camo cowboy hat just for kicks. Is it necessary no, but it does give you an advantage. Just for a heads up in the rocky mountains Natural Gear Camo is the best camo for blending in grasses, aspens, pines, and brush. It's lighter and not so dark as mossy oak or real tree. Animals don't tend to like dark bushes that move.:D

I do agree we have become gadget dependant in hunting. I know where an big bull is not from trail cams but from spotting time from time to time all summer and fall. Not easy to do as they move from bacherlor groups to gathering cows. I believe in spot and stalk and letting your true nature as a predator come out. Not all men are created equal but some of us are beasts.

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

Sort of a Update, I admitt that I do wear scent loc and remember the old days just going and hunting. That is why I'm going to show him some of the old school methods you might say. He knows to always play the wind when hunting. However, I'm going to show him how to make his owe scent away spray and stuff. This is going to be a fun year, good hunting.

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

I have no problem with any hunter that uses cover scents, attractants, scent loc suits, etc.
If you think it helps, by all means use it.

Personally, I don't use any of these. Hunting the wind is always paramount,THE most important part of being successful.
Also, hunters that underestimate the deer's sense of smell are making the biggest possible mistake.

I firmly believe a deer that is downwind of me, will not smell me.
Upwind, he will always smell me regardless of what I try to use to cover my nasty, human scent.
The deer will also know I was in his woods if I fail to wear gloves and touch branches, limbs, brush, etc with my bare hands.

I know fellow hunters that try to be as scent free as possible yet they put on their hunting clothes and boots without using light gloves.
Again, human scent is disposed on clothing for the deer to smell.

Common sense can go a long way and appreciation of the deer's ability to smell is most important.

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

There were many days in my youth that I remember my dadleaving the house wearing plaid fannel shirts and jeans to go hunting. He also smoked cigarettes back thenand drank coffee on the way to the stand; sometimes smoking in the deer stand[&:][>:]but still managed to kill alot of bucks.

I agree that the commercialization ofhunting is hurting people coming into the sport. Isee fellow hunters spend a couple hundred on scent-lock[:'(]and $1500 bow setups when all they need are the basic essentials to harvest deer. In my case, I would rather join ahunting club every year and know there are plenty of deer to hunt that blow all that money on equipment to hunt heavily-pressured public land.

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

I agree with what everyone has said. I buy my camoflauge at walmart and its not fancy smansy stuff. its just basic realtree stuff. and I dont have some crazy expensive set up. I have a bear element, a very inexpensive, but reliable bow. I also bought a basic two prong rest and a single pin sight that is set at 30 yards. both ran me about 20-30 dollars. and I shoot xx75 arrows. so my whole set up is about $400. although this seems expensive, A basic matthew bow, withouht any sights or anything on it can run someone about 700.. i think this is just ridiculous. They all do the same job. and if you just become real familiar with your basic equipment and you practice often enough with it, you can be more accurate and be more successful in the field than someone with all sorts of expensive equipment. I think its gettin ridiculous all the gadgets and gizmos. I mean, it doesnt even take skill to judge distances and such while bow hunting now that we have range finders..In general, I cant stand caged hunts. I think its ridiculous and i would be embarrased to shoot something in a cage. I really would. I liek to know that my hard work on my little 80 acres helps provide life, and for me, thats more than any bought hunt no matter how big the buck.. and Im just 18.. im actually going to school for wildlife managment because I want to help our hunting heritage.. :)

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

i hunt the old fashon way i dont use and sent covering stuff or trail cams or hunt over food plots or anything my dad taught me how to hunt

RE: Before video camera and scent loc ?
 

i know same thing here. i hunt with a guy thats dips like a son of a gun and he still manages to kill plenty of deer