Scent Control

[jpcarlson]

#2743

Looking for some feedback from the collective. I have always hunted the wind when I could, but find it does like to change on me at the most inopportune moments. Reccently while bow hunting with a buddy, I noticed how he had several deer walk right by him at 3 yards while he was standing in a 5 foot tall ladder stand. I couldn’t beleive it so I asked him what he does for scent control. He uses a scent illiminating body wash in the shower, scent illiminating deoderant, and laundry soap for his hunting cloths.

So I’m wondering, what is the poor man/ crafty man’s version of this?

I usually hang my cloths out on the line the night before. Does washing them in baking soda help? Putting them in a bag with sage, leaves, or grass? What is in those soaps that kills so much scent? Can a guy find it without paying for the packaging and a label?

Look forward to what you guys think:)

jans

[jmsmithy]

#12467

I’ve used various soaps/ sprays, carbon cloathing etc throughout the years. Each works to some degree but nothing beats out good ole cleanliness AND paying attention to the wind…..

You must have clean clothes and a clean body. Of course goes without saying that clean body/clothes does NOT mean using your regular soap/deodorant/detergent. They are all highly perfumed and uv enhanced. At a minimum, use either baking soda as your cleaning agent (hair/body/clothing) or certainly any of the name brand commercial preps will do the job….

I always hang my clothing outside after a washing to air dry and always store in a scent free bag of some sort…pay attention here too as many garbage bags are scented 😯

As I said before though, IMHO it’s all a moot point if you don’t pay close attention to the wind….it can be your best friend or worst nightmare 😆

[Stephen Graf]

#12773

I keep my cloths in a tub with a sealed lid. I drop a package of those earth scent disks in it once a year. I wash the cloths maybe 3 times a season.

I have some home made cedar oil spray that I spray on my hat and boots.

Even if you are clean as a whistle, you still have to breath. And I think your breath does more to alert deer than anything else.

In that vane, the more alert and excited you are, the more stink you give off in your breath. At least that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

I’ve had deer walk almost over me when I was as stinky as could be. But each time it happened, I was totally relaxed (since I didn’t know the deer were coming). So I try to project a calm mind and body.

The number one thing you can do, imho, is stop projecting killer thoughts. Be happy, and the deer will come.

[David Petersen]

#13162

Hey Steve — I really like your last piece of advice there, whether the deer come or not. 😀

[tailfeather]

#13194

I used to use the scent eliminating spray, and I think it helps to a degree….but I havent used it in years. I do wash my clothes in scent and UV-free detergent and wear unscented deo. Other than that I hunt the wind religiously on stand and on my approach. If it shifts, it shifts, but I’m convinced they’ll scent you if downwind regardless. I rarely have any trouble being winded by deer, and most of my shots are 10 yds or less.

One thing I absolutely believe in is knee-high rubber boots that are worn nowhere but the woods, and not touching brush around your stand. Deer will pick up on the trail otherwise for hours after a hunt and they’ll be getting an education even while I’m sitting at home in the easy chair.:D

Also, it may or may not work, but along the lines of what Steve said, I try to avoid direct eye contact with a deer that’s in stickbow range. Can they sense it? I think so….in much the same way you feel it when someone is staring at you from across the room.

[jmsmithy]

#13200

Amen Steve!

Projecting good karma, play the wind, and keep your cake hole shut and they will come….:lol:

On another topic, one bene about technology… I’m typing this to all my Trad Comrades will sitting next to my 13y/o son in groundblind Bowhunting here in NJ!

Now that’s cool!

Now if only I could figure out how to upload pic to show u guys … 🙄 😳

[gigglemonk]

#13224

I think Steves line makes a ton of sense. I dont ever look the animal in the face and try to focus on the feet/hooves whenever Im stalking. Not until Im ready to shoot do I like for the vitals.

That said, I love DIY projects. Ive been making my own scent spray and unscented soap bars. To be honest, Im not sure how important scent killers truly are. Ive had a fox come less than 10 yards from me when I forgot the scent eliminator spray.

Still, the scent spray works on my socks! totally kills the smell and it stays that way for a while.

16oz regular hydrogen peroxide

16oz water

4oz baking soda

1/2 teaspoon colloidal silver

mix water, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda in a large jug that can breathe. The pressure is gonna build. Stir it everyday

After 4-5 days when foam subsides pour into a spray bottle and add colloidal silver.

Shake it when you use it, the baking soda will settle.

Scent eliminator is a questionable necessity (I like that term). Wind, position, silence and restraining your predatory aura will go way farther than a few sprays.

This scent killer works great for cat shit on the rug!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#13318

I shower with scent-free soap, use a scent-free, non UV-enhancer laundry soap, and hang my hunting clothes in a mesh bag outside over night.

I’m also a big fan of merino base layers. Their ability to minimize odor retention is far better than any synthetic I’ve seen, including the endless variations on “Scent Block.”

And another prop for Steve’s last piece of advice. In addition to being able to smell our body odor, I totally believe that they can also “smell” a predatory intent.

[archer38]

#13392

Not much to say that hasn’t been said already. Yes, I use the commercial scent killing products. Yes I do believe they work but nothing is 100%, and I totally second what Tailfeather said about rubber boots !.Now for one more thing…..

Ozone generators. I know they are a bit pricey but if you put the cost against years worth of soaps and sprays and body washes, it starts to make sense. You hang your clothes in a closet with the ozone generator for an hour or so and they are completely scent free. You also can hang it or mount it above you when hunting and it projects scent killing ozone over you and your scent stream. You should really check it out. Its actually pretty interesting. Search Ozonics and see for yourself.

[Etter1]

#13990

I’m with tailfeather. I don’t do anything but wear rubber boots and non scented deodorant. I don’t even wear camo that much anymore either.

I’ve noticed that I rarely get blown at when I’m camping out and my clothes smell like smoke.

[gigglemonk]

#14430

If I wore rubber boots out hunting, there is no scent blocker tough enough to hide the odors that my sweaty feet would create.

[William Warren]

#14469

I agree with Steve and Tailfeather. Keep as clean as possible as natural as possible, stay downwind, don’t touch things as you move through the woods, and wear rubber boots. I like to air out my clothing and boots when not in use. Scent Killer? I never bought the stuff until recently. I had a Jack Russell that piddled on the living room rug. We tried everything under the sun to clean the odor short of disposing of the rug. The scent killer killed that odor after one application. I know it was not designed for that but it worked. So, I’m sold on it as far as something potentially useful for scent control. Sorry to say the Jack has passed away. He was 15, hence the piddle accident.

[William Warren]

#14472

Gigglemonk wrote: If I wore rubber boots out hunting, there is no scent blocker tough enough to hide the odors that my sweaty feet would create.

I just saw a tip that says washing feet in a vodka bath will help with smelly feet. Did’nt say it had to be good vodka 😀

[Author]

Posts