Scent Control in Africa

[TxAg]

What's the consensus on scent control on an African bowhunt? We'll be hunting over waterholes in blinds.

Obviously, we'll try to play the wind....and I don't totally buy in to all the scent killer gimmicks, but I don't want to smell like sweat/shampoo/smoke or anything else.

Are there any tricks the guides use, or anything I should make sure to bring with me for the trip?  Usually when hunting in the states, I use scent free soap and wash my clothes in baking soda, then toss them in a trash bag. Can't quite do that once you're across the pond.

[Morpheus32]

The most scent control I did in Africa was to limit the amount of gas I passed in the blind  

Hunting in Africa is significantly different than in North America.  Have a good sit down with your PH and discuss what you want to do and accomplish.  This is likely the single most important aspect of the hunt.  Remember than "hunting" in some places in the world is killing only...so you have to explain what you want.  I spent and hour talking about what I considered a hunt.  For example....I wanted only bow kills...so he was not to interject with his rifle unless I was in danger.  My PH had a client that just wanted the trophies to brag about and actually asked him to shoot the animals.

It is worth the time to chat...

[calgarychef]

If you're in a blind at a waterhole what do you want to worry about scent control for....especially since you "don't buy into the scent killer gimmicks"  

You've already eliminated most of the advantage the animal has, now all you have to do is wait and shoot them, then pose with your "hunting" kills.  Maybe some of that conversation you have with the PH should be about some stalking options or sitting somwhere the animals don't have to go as a matter of survival...like a waterhole will be. I think hunting at a waterhole in North America is different usually because the animals have a choice about drinking or not, in Africa I don't think it's sporting-and I know a lot of guys will argue with me on that one but I'm ready for the firestorm.

 I've even heard of some rifle "hunters" sitting at watereholes with rifles...hardly sporting and lazy on the part of both hunter and PH.

I'm not trying to cause an argument or make you feel bad.  Just remember that the trophies you get will mean a hell of a lot more to you if you've hunted them fair and square.

As far as your actual question the gimmicks will help, but the laundry service you get probably won't be up to the standards we use for scent elimination here.  Although I must admit that I couldn't smell any lingering odors (soap etc.)on my clothing after it was cleaned.

cheers

The chef

[TxAg]

To each, his own. No hard feelings. Thanks for the input...I was wondering about that laundry service.

[Morpheus32]

If I could add a bit more.  Although I would word it a bit differently than chef...it is not a slam dunk as some may think.  He is correct that you can choose the type and degree of hunting...insert your definition of hunting here.  African terrain is extremely different, have seasonal changes and require different tactics.  It is not all arid all the time.  Some of the places I hunted in northern south Africa, it would have been extremely difficult to still hunt.  The terrain does not support it.  I still hunted on one day and it was great.  The problem was the gusting winds.  I spoiled me a couple of times.  I opted for setting up mobile blinds in different areas and made my plans with my PH.  

It is very easy to sterotype hunting in Africa, and you do need to do your homework, however at the end of the day, you control the hunting.  The PH is working for you.  I found being in a blind near a waterhole to be an outstanding experience, watching all the different animals moving about and discussing the types with the PH.  It was a great learning experience.  It is not as simple as chef notes however it certainly can be.  Some hunting concessions certainly cater to those whose definition of "hunting" is significantly different.

I would disagree saying that taking an animal from a blind at a waterhole is not hunting.  It goes counter to my experience.  What about hunting over waterholes for antelope in the prairies when it is warm?  Lets not sterotype any type of hunting...it is up to the hunter...

In terms of laundry...you don't need to bring alot of clothes...you get stuff washed daily.  I had two sets of clothes plus travel stuff.  Each day I left the clothes from the previous day out for cleaning...and returned to clean laundry...

Seriously you don't need to worry about scent.  The PH will deal with any big issues if they do come up in terms of getting the right set up.

Africa was an outstanding experience and a great 10 days of hunting...

Cheers

Jeff

[Smallwood]

Never been there (YET!)
but from what i've read and watched on video, one of the ways to counteract the animals getting your scent, is the ph will light zebra dung on fire so it smolders, this is used as a cover scent placed outside the blind.

[chrisg]

Dung is a good one. The game farm should have different blinds set up to manage wind from different directions. You can take a popup blind or build an opportunistic blind too. A blind is a good place to settle  nerves and get a grip on how animals behave etc, but don't spend all your time in one. Read the threads on here and see how much satisfaction guys have gotten from going out and still hunting or walk and stalking. your PH should be your guide in this, but if TAKING an animal is imperative opt for a blind for first two days and then get out and get some miles under your belt. If it is all about the hunt and experience and a trophy is not such a big deal, just stalk. Blinds are great places to learn about animals and birds and have plenty of value one need not scoff at being in one. Filming the shot or if your partner wishes to be with you then blinds are a good call. You can't stalk in a crowd!
chrisg

[tradtusker]

To each there own on how you "hunt" i use that term lightly

as for the sent control question without getting this more off topic, try keep your sent down common sense clean cloths i dont used all the sent sprays and sent eliminators etc used here in the states. play the wind if possible. sit around the fire back at camp in something other than your hunting clothes, dont stand in front of the exhaust when near a vehicle things like that.  

the Dung thing only works if the animals are used to it, eg..the guides have been doing it for quite some time as a cover sent and the game is familiar with the smell every time they get to the waterhole, i tried it a few times and every time the animals exploded out of there when the sent hit them.

and if your walk and stalking its easy..just stay down wind

good luck
Andy

[amazonjim]

I've been several times to Africa, and always use clothes with the silver lining, now I'm not sure it helps with the animales but it makes me a little more bearable in camp.

I would always carry a spray bottle of silver xp, to each his own.

When you have had a hundred animals real close you have to at least think about it.

[Brent Hill]

When I went, I used the the scent free body soap with every shower and had brought some scent free laundry detergent in a plastic bag but forgot to use it.  After each hunt, I hung all of my clothes out on the line outside of our tent to air out.  I dressed in layers and wore my silver lined shirt, elimascent or something as a base layer, another shirt then my wool for the early mornings.  As soon as I got into camp, just like when I'm at the deer lease, I would take off the hunting stuff first and hang it up to air out.  I forgot about the laundry service and had three sets of shirts and pants for the hunt and treated Africa like anyother bowhnut when it came to scent.  I'm going back in 2010 and regardless or laundry service, I would take 3 sets of clothes, 2 sets with my go to bow and arrows in bag 1 and a back up bow with arrows and 1 set of clothes in bag 2.You will have a ball regardless of whether you HUNT a waterhole or spot and stalk.  Bhill

[TxAg]

We didn't worry about scent too much. The wind was pretty steady out of the North, so we just stayed downwind. We did get busted a few times but that was part of the fun/charm. The groundblinds got old, but we sit in a tree a few times and that proved successful.

Anyways, it was a blast!

[tradtusker]

got any Pics from your trip Jeff? take it you just got back?

[Morpheus32]

I went last year in May with 4 other buddies.  It was before I went traditional so it has my compound in the pictures...

I considered it a fantastic opportunity and I look forward to going back.  I was going to go this year but a lack of work made it rather difficult to afford.

[TxAg]

"It was before I went traditional so it has my compound in the pictures..."

I've been shooting a trad bow for about a year as well. I took the wheelie bow on this trip, though.  I've got some really nice pics, but all with the wheelie bow. My buddy and I decided we want to go back in the next 5 years and it's gona be trad all the way. That's what I plan on doing this deer season as well. I just need to keep practicing.

I did have some good luck, though! I got a baboon, impala, warthog, kudu, wildebeest, and gemsbock.

[tradtusker]

congrats on the animals!

good luck with the trad bow stick with it, its to much fun      :D