We all struggle to control our scent as we prepare for outings in the fall, but what about spring? Many seasoned hunters have realized that minimizing scent helps tremendously during turkey season. Why you ask? Because turkeys and deer warn each other. If a deer goes on alert with a turkey around, the turkey is on high alert and you can get busted. Call me crazy, but I spend just as much time controlling my scent during turkey season as I do for deer season…and it pays off!
Here’s an idea to scent your clothes with leaves from your area. Many of us have paper yard waste bags, which typically have a very minimal odor. Save one or two bags filled with dry leaves from late fall. About two weeks prior to any hunt, pour the leaves out and begin to layer your hunting clothes–shirt, pants, jacket, boots, and backpack–between layers of dried leaves back into the bags. Since the leaves are dry, there’s no concern about mold. The scent is perfect for spring or fall hunting. This process reduces, if not eliminates, the use of additional cover scents in the spring; just another edge over those elusive gobblers.
Excellent idea…the natural scent will be less alarming, however, remember to check the leaves for ticks…you don’t want to have these nasty bugs as guests…especially in the rezones of the Northeast and the midwest
Here in Maine I use Balsam Fir boughs. they provide a strong cover scent that is pleasant. I don’t much worry in the spring because our deer herd is so minimal I have never had deer and turkeys in a field or in sight at the same time.
I do something similar – following scent free washing my hunting apparel they are folded and stored between layers of dried autumn leaves in a plastic snap top lid box (which can be commonly bought now in any of the big box stores), I keep them stored year round this way. And in the fall I replace the leaves with a new batch for maximum scent hiding.
Sage. At the end of the season, dry my clothes and put them in plastic with clean, dry sage. Natural is best
Sage for me too. I have been storing my hunting clothes in bags with sage for years and I think it helps but if not I just like the smell, the smell of sage means Idaho to me.
Down south there is almost always Cedar branches and if not plain ole Pine Tree branches… I brush them on my self and clothing when going in and also rub my boot soles (even though rubber) in them…… Works great. When “you” can smell it on you; you can bet its having some effect.
We have use cedar berry’s dried and pine limbs in our clothes bags and it works well also
Why not use the H.S. Scents discs. I have been using them for years. I have a Rancho Safari Ghili suit that I pack in a clean Home Depot buck with assorted discs. (e.g. cedar, oak, acorn etc.) I have had deer within inches of me and they do not even know that I am there. I am sold on them. I lined a closet with cedar and I hang only hunting clothes in it and I pin assorted discs through out the clothes that are stored in there. (no worries about ticks or other little critters)
Didn’t think turkeys could smell.
I don’t know about that, but the author indicated that deer can smell, and they will alert the turkeys.
I agree with Butch. HS Scent Discs have a very earthy, peaty smell. Deer ticks are extremely small and love hanging out in dead leaves. Not sure how you could effectively check the leaves for ticks and be sure that you didn’t miss any. Lyme disease is extremely prevalent here in PA. Layering your clothes with dead leaves sounds like a dangerous idea to me.
Great idea for deer ! But turkeys can’t smell anyways lol