Deer Camp and Scent Control

[DeerHunet]

I am wondering, how important it is to stay scent free while hunting.  My buddies and I like to go camping and hunting during the weekends.  However, camping around a fire ensures that you will end up smelling like a camp fire.  Do the deer notice and avoid this scent as it seems they would normally avoid fire.  Should one try to avoid the fire at night in hopes of increasing the chances of a successful hunt or is really not that big of deal to worry about?  Any advice or personal experience welcomed

[HATCHCHASER]

Keep the wind right and it's not a big deal.
I am not sure on this but I had heard that the Native Americans would stand over the smoke of fire to cover their human scent.  I have also heard that in other countries they burn the dung of non-predatory animals and stand over the smoke.
I try to stay as scent free as possible but to me half the fun of hunting camp is the camp part!

[John Scifres]

The fire will make you stink no more than a weekend of camping will.  Either way, you will stink and if the deer are downwind, most of the time they will smell you.  Depending on the deer, that may or may not matter much.  Take home = stay downwind of the deer.

[GingivitisKahn]

Dude - the fire is the least of your deer camp scent worries...

 

[Daddy Bear]

After spending a week hunting hard out of backpacks with those in my circle, the smell of woodsmoke is a savior:)

One of my friends married the daughter of a pro hunter for a major compound bow manufacturer. One of the perks of marriage is he now goes on some big hunts with his dad in law and his dad in law's hunting buddy, Mr. Adams. They went on several trips hunting for about a week in duration using all the latest whiz bang clothing. It is constant work for me to manage myself and my gear on my backpack hunts, so I asked him how they kept their stuff from smelling after a few days hunting. He laughed and said "shuttle to the hotel, laundry service, and a supply of new sponsor clothing."

I don't have that and must rely on the wind:)

[Dave2old]

Ging -- I was going to make that joke, but your photo says it better! It is, after all, supposed to be an overall enjoyable experience. While we don't want and  can't afford to become sloppy about scent, a hunting camp is the high point of any hunt lucky enough to have one. Regarding scent on the breeze -- if you're upwind, they will scent you. If not, they won't. If you're stinky they smell you "louder." If you clean they smell you quieter and maybe think you're not as close as you are; a definite advantage. But the scent I worry about and work to eliminate is the lasting kind that we leave on brush we push aside with our hands, trees we touch for balance as we go along, filthy clothes that rub against brush, stinky boots, etc. That's what lasts and, after a few days, makes even the dumbest deer get the clue. Moderation in ALL things. d