Smoked hunting clothes,,,,

[michaelschwister]

I met and hunted with a group from coastal South Carolina. They bowhunt the swamps in mid september. These swamps have continually swirling winds, and hyper alert deer. Before every hunt they build a big fire and smoke their cloths, even when the temp is nearly 90 degrees.  They hunt a week together every year and really clean up on deer.  It appeared to me that bowhunting there is impossible without smoking your body and cloths.

[Overspined]

I’d try smoke. Never have... I do focus on the wind hard though. The day I gave up all that scent crap was the day I felt free.  Hunt the wind, kill bigger deer not messin with all that. That’s my experience. But smoke seems reasonable, but I just like clean and careful at this point. I’d like to see how they react, or don’t...

[Zwickey-Fever]

I’d try smoke. Never have... I do focus on the wind hard though. The day I gave up all that scent crap was the day I felt free.  Hunt the wind, kill bigger deer not messin with all that. That’s my experience. But smoke seems reasonable, but I just like clean and careful at this point. I’d like to see how they react, or don’t...

I still shower and wash the majority of my hunting clothes in no scent laundry detergent. I dust down my socks, underwear, thermals in baking soda but the outer layers, boots, hat. and pack I smoke with a bee smoker. Itry to smoke myself just prior of hitting the woods but it doesnt always happens. So far, so good as when deer circle down wid.

[T Sunstone]

Smoke kills bacteria just like it does on meat and fish.  As soon as you finish showing bacteria starts to form.   

[beendare]

It worked for the indians.

They used smoke huts and sat in the huts before hunts so long  A fine ash would cover their bodies ( and their lungs)

In one of the Saxton Pope books on Ishi the native indian they befriended it documents this technique.

Personally, i think it works to a degree, but cant stand being in smelling like an ashtray all day.

[YosemiteSam]

I tried it for a couple of seasons.  Didn't notice any difference at all.  Any deer downwind of me would snort & pronk away just the same.

I have noticed a difference in early vs late season, though.  Early season has me in short sleeves for most of the day whereas the late season has me in a coat most of the day and barely any skin showing in the early/late hours.  Seems that they can smell me a little further out in those warmer days.  Then again, maybe it's just me stinking & sweating more in those warmer days...

[Wudstix]

Over the years I have not noticed any fading from baking soda that can't be attributed to normal wear and tear.  Smoke works, but swirling breeze has saved more deer in Texas and elsewhere I'm sure.
GCook; you are indeed correct Sir, about mature hogs ability to make deer look foolish.  Ground hunting mature hogs is for sure PhD level stuff.  Don't think I have ever had a hog down wind of me that didn't leave in a hurry.  Been at it in Texas since '98 and have 82 pigs to account for my efforts.  All but two from the ground spot-n-stalk.  Really a blast and frustrating in one.