Scent control?

[Brent Whitaker]

#4361

Good morning my tradbow brothers! Do any of you see deer WITHOUT all that scent control stuff? I am having a depressing first season of bow hunting, and I simply NEVER see a deer (unless it is pitch black). Maybe it is a voodoo curse on me, but I AM taking care to at least wash myself and my clothes in scent free stuff, and I am about ready to rent a tank and go after those ghosts!

[mhay]

#29946

My hunting clothes are hanging inside my home when I’m not hunting . My home has two smokers and two dogs , as well as the fragrance of a lot of scented candles and fine meals . I see deer and many times within spittin’ distance .

It’s all about using the wind . Scent control in my opinion is another fad .

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#29955

Seabass wrote: Good morning my tradbow brothers! Do any of you see deer WITHOUT all that scent control stuff?

I’ve never used any of that “scent control stuff” and I have close encounters with animals all the time. As mhay said, I pay close attention to the wind, and I tend to wear fabrics like wool that don’t seem to hold scent the way that cotton and synthetics do. But regardless of what you’re wearing (including all that scent control stuff) animals are going to smell you if your scent is carrying in their direction, pure and simple.

[David Petersen]

#30078

It depends on what we mean by “scent control stuff.” Assuming we’re talking about commercial chemicals, I have used them and I have gone without and I can’t make a case for either way … other than in this world anytime we can avoid a chemical solution to anything, the world is better off. Yet I do not agree with “keep the wind in your face” as the only consideration … unless we’re rifle hunting and don’t plan to circle back through the same area anytime soon. First, the “wind” is by no means always a straight affair, but just as often rising and falling and switching directions. “Suddenly, I felt the breeze on the back of my neck and knew the game was over.” Familiar, ain’t it? So, anything we can do to minimize our scent strength helps to hedge our bet against the fickleness of air currents and at worst, when we are busted, the prey may think we are farther away than we are simply by the faintness of our stench, thus not necessarily panic and run. But for those trad bowhunters, like most of us, who do most of our hunting in the same restricted area/s through which we come and go frequently across the season, in my case daily for at least a month–the most common example would be to and from a stand–then the “second scent” kicks in, and that’s residual scent … the scent trail we leave behind from our boots, clothing and hands (and sometimes heads and hats). In this instance it won’t matter which way the wind blows if we gradually build up our residual scent in an area, because the animals will figure it out and leave. So, “scent control stuff,” no. Scent control wityh cleanliness and learning not to touch the vegetation as we walk through it, absolutely.

[Brent Whitaker]

#30211

I concur David! I was talking more about the “stuff” you buy at Walmart or. Bass Pro and spray all your clothes and equipment with. I definitely try to touch as little as possible, although rubber boots are a no go for me. Kind of got messed up feet and have to be a bit more selective on my footwear. I do, however, saturate those boots with the “scent killer” stuff.

[Brent Whitaker]

#30214

Seabass wrote: I concur David! I was talking more about the “stuff” you buy at Walmart or. Bass Pro and spray all your clothes and equipment with. I definitely try to touch as little as possible, although rubber boots are a no go for me. Kind of got messed up feet and have to be a bit more selective on my footwear. I do, however, saturate those boots with the “scent killer” stuff.

Also, the stuff I use, just on my feet, is supposed to be all natural.

[Doc Nock]

#30220

Seems sorta obvious, but to see deer, scent control of your body and clothing not withstanding, you have to be hunting where there are DEER!

I do the rubber boots, only worn in the field. Wash and air dry clothes, then rubber tubs. Wash body with scent free soap and no brightners in my wash.

The past 2 yrs, the area I’ve hunted for 15 yrs has had deer magically vanish…just a few sightings. Fewer bucks. Surrounded by posted tracks on 3 sides so we can’t evaluate what changed… but if there are few deer there, scent free, wind in your face, you don’t see many.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#30252

Reckon I should elaborate – I just assumed the OP was referring to the wall of “Scent Control” gimmicks found at any sporting goods store, which I have yet to be convinced on.

But I do other things to control my scent for sure – my hunting clothes hang outside in a mesh bag as long as weather permits throughout the season. I bathe in unscented soap, wash all my hunting clothes in a non-scented, non-UV brightener, detergent. Wear merino underlayers that don’t hold body oder the way synthetics do, etc.

All of that helps, but at the end of the day, I still think that even if you’re doing all of the above (and more) religiously, you’re not going to escape the keen nose of an ungulate if the air currents are wrong.

At the end of the day, there is no magic potion to replace good ‘ol woodsmanship and skill. And let’s hope there never is. 😉

[Doc Nock]

#30355

thanks, Bruce, for clarifying that for readers and others.

That is why I was a bit more elaborate in my reply. I control all I can with MY SCENT, but only ONE product I like and that is hard to find anymore…Robinson Labs “earth” scent killer.

Most are just peroxide in one form or another…but the “Dirt” scent of that particular product (no others I found) is the read deal and I use it when I can find it… because I like it’s earth scent, not to fool a deer!

I also learned to keep my rubber knee highs cinched tight and to blouse my pants to keep foot odor INSIDE the boot. Dang rubber boots act like billows pumping out ton of foot stink if you don’t!

I’ve had a great time watching milk-weed fluff go from a treestand… air currents are AMAZING! I’ve watched those wee parachutes said along, dodge limbs and stay however high I am in a tree, all the way up a ridge behind me—at that same level! and right over deer… calm days, and damp days…scent tends to sink to the ground and spread out more… with disastrous results.

I love READING about folks playing the wind…come hunt with ME! You won’t do that! We have small parcels of land w/ permission with tons of patchwork without access. in the rolling hills and ridges, air shifts constantly…

Saturday, our last day, the wind was blowing strong so I walked a mile to come back a side ridge INTO the wind…till I got to the back end of the ridge, it shifted… Set up a ground blind…and it shifted again.

I moved. Then it started to cool with the fading sun and all air movement started downhill. All four directions in 3 hrs!

I believe in the “hunt the wind” where there is sufficient acreage to do so, but there are areas of this country, that just won’t happen too easily… makes for a tough day and only reason I still climb trees, but those days are limited. My arse can’t take sitting in a stand long. Thank you Uncle Arty Ritis! 🙁

[William Warren]

#30402

Its funny, I have used the scent killer spray in the house and in the truck to kill doggie odors and it works fairly well as far as covering the scent without creating another scent at least as far as I can tell. Can a deer’s nose smell the scent killer? I don’t know I never remember to use it on me. Lol.

I don’t think we can be scent free. The best we can do is watch the wind and try to keep ourselves and our clothing and equipment as clean and scent free as possible. Hanging clothes/boots outdoors etc and not exposing our clothes or ourselves to strong odors before going into the woods is about the best we can do.

[SteveMcD]

#30406

I agree with all that was said. Especially David’s points. Many try to hunt the wind in the face, and that’s fine. But wind also swirls. for some of us, there is the additional challenge of hunting solely on the ground. Remember, Thermals rise during the morning and fall in the afternoon, animals particularly deer use these currents (Thermals) to their advantage for scent detection as well. The other thing about wind is think what would an animal do? For example in my area, there is lots of northern cedar swamps deer will bed down at the edge of the cedars and the swamp with the wind coming from behind them, so they can smell danger from behind while at the same time looking out over the swamp clearings so they can see danger coming that they cannot smell. I keep my clothes as clean as possible and at home store them in a foot locker away from other household smells, like the friggin dogs! And I do use an acorn spray, but there are plenty of acorns and oaks also where I hunt. Basically, I do not use attractants or any scents that is going to raise suspicion and even alert deer to come looking for something, cause the net is they are looking for you! I want deer to be feeding and moving as if nothing else is in the area. Having said all this.. a few years back I did try that stuff that is 99% effective? I got busted more than once with it! Guess I was just the other 1% all the time! :roll::P:lol:

[Doc Nock]

#30411

Duncan wrote: Its funny, I have used the scent killer spray in the house and in the truck to kill doggie odors and it works fairly well as far as covering the scent without creating another scent at least as far as I can tell. Can a deer’s nose smell the scent killer? I don’t know I never remember to use it on me. Lol.

I don’t think we can be scent free. The best we can do is watch the wind and try to keep ourselves and our clothing and equipment as clean and scent free as possible. Hanging clothes/boots outdoors etc and not exposing our clothes or ourselves to strong odors before going into the woods is about the best we can do.

I tried to “decode” some of the hype by reading some of the original research notes. There are “masking” scents, and “cover” scents which to any critter that can smell 10,000X better then me, I doubt will work.

The one I tried, was “supposed” to bind the odor molecules to “something” (?) so they wouldn’t not become air borne.

That actually made some sense to me (no pun intended).

When trying to get a deer standing RIGHT THERE unaware and relaxed, I think of it more like “winning the lottery” (which I don’t) but that you can’t win if you don’t buy a ticket…so I do the clean thing, as it appears many of us do.

I love meeting another archer in the woods and I have to gently shift around them while talking to them cause if downwind of them, the strong smell of dryer sheets coming off them makes me want to puke! Or go back to the truck dig out another set of my own duds and start over!

and ya know, some of those dudes SHOOT DEER! 😯 Go figure.

Most of the deer I see sneak off are ones that caught the most imperceptible movement on my part, not a scent thing.

Now if I could get some hypnotist to make me go inert but fully alert and ready to spring like a cat, I’d be set!

[Brent Whitaker]

#30501

Thank you gentlemen. Much food for thought!

[Jmcdonald45]

#30871

Seabass wrote: Good morning my tradbow brothers! Do any of you see deer WITHOUT all that scent control stuff? I am having a depressing first season of bow hunting, and I simply NEVER see a deer (unless it is pitch black). Maybe it is a voodoo curse on me, but I AM taking care to at least wash myself and my clothes in scent free stuff, and I am about ready to rent a tank and go after those ghosts!

. Are you hunting the wind? Because you can’t beat the nose of a white tail

[Ralph]

#30994

Best thing I can do around here it to shuffle my feet around in some “dry” (emphasis on the “dry”):D cow piles, go to one of the dirt roads, stir up the dust then hunt into the wind. It has been mostly so warm that I don’t believe any kind of scent killer would overcome my stink anyway so might as well try to smell like a dirty old black cow. Dry as it is maybe they’ll associate all the noise I’m making with the cow:?:?

I believe a deer’s sense of smell is liken to what I read about a dog’s, you and I smell the stew, the dog smells all 21 of the seasonings in it.

[Dan Sweeney]

#31001

I never see deer when I DO use “scent control” stuff, because I never use it. I shower occasionally and pay attention to the wind. Most of my deer the past few seasons have come from on the ground and within fifteen yards. Quit buying into the advertising and start paying attention to hunting. You’ll do much better, as well as be more satisfied.

[Ralph]

#31003

Basically what I’m sayin’ Dan, in a round about way, just be part of where your at and hunt.

[mhay]

#32055

Great discussion here .

In my above post I ASSUMED the subject at hand to be the products that are on the market that claim to eliminate scent, which I can’t believe work . I too believe the deer has the ability to separate scents as does the dog . A New England biologist did extensive studies on coyotes and claims their sense of smell is 100,000 times greater than humans . I doubt that the deer is much less , considering its ability to find an acorn under about 4-6 inches of rotting , moldy leaves on top of wet soil filled with innumerable scents of rotting debris , which is in the woodlot downwind of a large hog farm .

I totally agree with Smithhammer on the end of the day statement about WOODSMANSHIP.

[grumpy]

#32564

What would an indian do?

First of all, the water around here is hanging around 40 deg. So he is NOT going to dunk his privates in that!

He only has one set of clothes, so he’s not going to hang his hunting clotes outside. He is gong to wear them in his overcrouded, hot, smokey. dirty (kids y’know), teepee.

No cow plops to roll in.

No he didn’t save doe urine, didn’t have a bottle to keep it in.

I think Smithhammer nailed it with WOODSMANSHIP.

Pete

[Ralph]

#32623

In this part of the world buffalo “plops” might have helped. Can’t put on a wolf skin to sneak around in nowadays either, might get shot or jailed.

[Don Thomas]

#33287

Call me the ultimate skeptic, but I don’t believe in anything except close attention to the wind and rubber boots. Think of it this way. Imagine taking a 65 gallon drum and dumping the offal from the last deer you killed inside. Then take the 20 carp you just shot and dump them in too. Then clean the dog kennels and add what’s on the shovel. Then pick up 50 miles of roadkill whatever and toss that in. Seal the barrel and leave it in the sun all summer. Then open it up and take a whiff. Like it or not, that’s what we smell like to deer and elk. The notion that spraying something into the barrel is going to make it smell like roses is magical thinking. Don

[mhay]

#33321

Well said Mr. Don ,,,,Think I’ll go take another shower now .

[Anonymous]

#33322

donthomas wrote: Call me the ultimate skeptic, but I don’t believe in anything except close attention to the wind and rubber boots. Think of it this way. Imagine taking a 65 gallon drum and dumping the offal from the last deer you killed inside. Then take the 20 carp you just shot and dump them in too. Then clean the dog kennels and add what’s on the shovel. Then pick up 50 miles of roadkill whatever and toss that in. Seal the barrel and leave it in the sun all summer. Then open it up and take a whiff. Like it or not, that’s what we smell like to deer and elk. The notion that spraying something into the barrel is going to make it smell like roses is magical thinking. Don

You forgot the effects of Mexican food, deer camp chili, not brushing our teeth for a few days, coffee…

Yeah, hunt with the wind in your favor and use some woodsman ship. Magic doesn’t come in a bottle; it comes from experience.

[Brent Whitaker]

#33444

I absolutely DO hunt the wind, and yes, I WAS talking about all the “magic” sprays on the shelf. The problem we have here in South Georgia is what was said earlier. SWIRLING wind!! I have watched the wind detector powder literally swirl around me in a circle! It is NOTHING but trees here, and coming from North Dakota as a younger man, I am really missing that air moving in one blasted direction!

[Anonymous]

#34242

Seabass wrote: I absolutely DO hunt the wind, and yes, I WAS talking about all the “magic” sprays on the shelf. The problem we have here in South Georgia is what was said earlier. SWIRLING wind!! I have watched the wind detector powder literally swirl around me in a circle! It is NOTHING but trees here, and coming from North Dakota as a younger man, I am really missing that air moving in one blasted direction!

AH! Now I understand, and have dealt with those blasted mid-Atlantic/Southeast “swirling winds” for many years. What I’m about to say will amount to blasphemy otherwise.

The deer don’t care. Let me say that again: the deer don’t care if they smell you.

What? They don’t care? How can that be, and why? They don’t care because the winds are constantly swirling. It’s not that they don’t care if they smell you; they can, will, and do. It’s just that because the winds are swirling, they can’t pinpoint you by smell alone and won’t generally freak out because of it.

Think about it: the winds are swirling making location by scent impossible. They can and will smell you, to some degree, but can’t figure out exactly where you are. So, if they alert and run, they’re as likely to run to the predator as away from it reacting to scent alone. What the scent does and will do is put them on higher alert, and they’ll be tuned into sounds or movement that they CAN identify as a predator and react to that.

I assume that like many in that part of the world, you hunt from a tree stand. If so, then you have already limited your scent as much as you can in those winds. Just take care to be as quiet as possible and move as little as possible, with using the winds and other movement/noises to cover yours. If you’re on the ground, it’s even more critical. Movement and sound will bust you fast, and faster due to the swirling winds because they will know you’re around but won’t react to scent alone (normally).

[Brent Whitaker]

#34361

Forager,

Holy Cow, that makes PERFECT sense! You just put me more at ease with this dilemma! I do hunt from a stand, although, more than anything, I want to get away from that and get on the ground.

[Anonymous]

#34397

Seabass wrote: Forager,

Holy Cow, that makes PERFECT sense! You just put me more at ease with this dilemma! I do hunt from a stand, although, more than anything, I want to get away from that and get on the ground.

Once I came to terms with this idea, whether it is reality or not, I started hunting spots more than hunting the wind (since hunting the wind in most places on the East Coast is impossible), I started hunting more and much more successfully. Good luck!

[mhay]

#34410

I get your meaning Forager , and have seen that very thing a few times , actually having the wind at my back and have deer moving toward me from downwind .

Swirls are common anywhere there are trees and variations in terrain .

The farm across the road from my home is hilly . The uppermost field tapers off gently toward the north to a brush and tree covered break ridge that drops off sharply then returns to a gentle downhill slope . This break ridge runs east and west . General wind direction is from the west . On at least two occasions , one involving a wt buck , the other a red fox , both critters crossed the lower field in a cross wind as they came up the slope to the base of the break ridge . They then turned east with the wind at their back side . Both times I was sitting in the same spot in cover at the base of the break. The wind travels along the side of that break for some distance then will swirl down into the lower field and return back to the base of the break . Where I sat the wind was coming steady from the west as I faced north . Both animals smelled me as if I were behind them . Each bolted and ran forward right to my location .

It is difficult to make estimations sometimes on what is or might be taking place .

Downwind side of small woodlots is a bad place to be if the air is moving . It’ll swirl back inside the woods for some distance .

[David Fudala]

#36260

I must agree with the general consensus here. I think it’s a bit arrogant to think that we humans are so smart that we can fool mother nature with chemicals. When I shot wheelie bows I fell for all the gimicks. Scent sprays, carbon suits, detergents and soaps. you name it, I tried it. (ya, they got me pretty good for a while!) when I switched over to traditional, I wanted to sort of “purify” my hunting. I’m a big fan of bowhunting’s history and have quite a library of books about the sport in its infancy. The men that pioneered this sport didn’t have a Walmart shelf full of flashy bottles and packages promising them that they’d make them invisible to wild animals. and to add insult to injury, they didn’t enjoy the populations of animals we enjoy today. And yet, they still suceeded? I mean, had they not, they wouldn’t have become the legends we know them to be today. So, are we complimenting their legacies by replacing good woodsmanship with chemical shortcuts? When done the old-fashioned way, it is truly an uphill and frustrating challenge to harvest an animal with traditional equipment. And yes there are spells that we go thru where we don’t even see game. I haven’t seen a deer since the first week of October. But when the season ends, I feel as though it will have been a sucess because I hunted in a manner that showed respect to the sport and for the animals. And empty freezer or not, that’s good enough for me!

[Author]

Posts