Yeah, I Smoked My Clothes

[tradslinger]

I do this every year or at least try to. I take the clothes that I intend to hunt with and smoke them. Actually, I smoke everything, boots, hats, gloves, shirts and pants as well as my packs. I used to fire up my smoker and have everything hanging above and around the smoke stack but this year I changed things up. I have an enclosed blind that I plant to hunt out of, it is a fairly big blind, 8 feet tall, and is about 7' by 10'. So it has plenty of room inside it for my longbows or whatever. It is also perfect for hanging everything inside to give a good smoking. I have a big aluminum pot that get my wood shavings/dead leaves whatever to slow burning in inside of the blind. I get it smoking good and then close everything pretty closed. I did a couple burns like this and then used a couple of cheap clothes containers that allow you to zip closed and hang like for traveling in your car or truck. So they are smoked and pretty much sealed as they hang nice and neat. I like it for a cover scent and it does work pretty good too. I always do a little burn in my blinds when hunting anyways for my skin and hair etc. I do my black clothes as well as my plaids etc. These mountain winds are always squirrely and this has helped me a lot.  I remember years ago that most of the guys that smoked seemed to see more deer. So I usually puff on a cheap cigar some to try to help with my mouth scent. Anyways, once they are smoked good, I try to keep them sealed in something until I need them. Smoke is a very common scent in the woods from natures fires and man made fires.

[mgf]

Maybe try a bee smoker?
https://www.amazon.com/Honey-Keeper-Stainless-Beekeeping-Equipment/dp/B016YJ986M/ref=asc_df_B016YJ986M/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198063854780&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4220815712892724995&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016400&hvtargid=pla-367714389027&psc=1

[mgf]

A video of a guy using a bee smoker on his hunting clothes.

[tradslinger]

Thanks MGF, that is really good to see others doing it as well. my grandfather was a bee man, used a smoker for years, wish I had it. I have always smoked the inside of my blinds as well to cut down on human smell.

[toddster]

In my opinion Smoking clothes is the way to go.  Long time ago, I gave up on the BS scent things, that cost money.  I mean the native americans did it with success.  I always played the wind, but one hunting trip sold me on it.  I was in another state bowhunting whitetails, and been camping, we was having problems connecting with a shot.  After few days we all was around the campfire in our clothes, having fun, the smoke chasing us. 
The next morning, 3 of the 5 of us harvested deer, two was from elevated stands, one from the ground.  All of us talked on trip home about it.  It was then that we realized it had to be the smoke from the campfire.
Since then, I have a breezeway (3 season room) and that is where I smoke our meat.  So right before or during season, when I am smoking something, I just have me hunting clothes hung up, to get good and smoked.  Seems to work for me.

[tradslinger]

awesome Toddster, the power of the simple smoke when used correctly. Yeah, I quit the expensive scent control thing a long time ago. The Native Americans didn't just survive, they thrived until "modern" man came. Even in say Africa and the rain forests, smoke is what works and it is dirt cheap. I'd say that for you guys, it was a lesson well learned

[Jim Wright]

Not to be contentious but with the extraordinary sense of smell that whitetails for instance have, is it not probable that you simply smell like a human in smokey clothes?

[mgf]

Not to be contentious but with the extraordinary sense of smell that whitetails for instance have, is it not probable that you simply smell like a human in smokey clothes?

The claim is that smoke kills the bacteria that causes the oder. I haven't been able to verify it but the practice has been around for a very long time.

[Jim Wright]

mfg, respectfully if that's the case, then in order for it to work you would have to smoke yourself as well not just your clothes.

[mgf]

mfg, respectfully if that's the case, then in order for it to work you would have to smoke yourself as well not just your clothes.

Correct...they call it a "smoke bath".

[Terry Green]

I've killed 90% of my deer on 90 degree high days here in GA.  Smoking, scent lock, scent sprays all make zero difference here as we exude scent.

Yeah, I tried almost all that stuff and gave it all up as I NEVER saw an advantage.  I did see a disadvantage in my wallet and time waisted.

There is only one way to contribute to scent control/suppression that actually does work....

[Jim Wright]

Terry, might that one way involve being down wind?

[Terry Green]

Jim, that is 1st defense....

2nd defense is also almost as good...

I'm working on that....

[rastaman]

i've got a buddy that is totally into anything that is supposed to "descent" human smell.  He has an ozonic locker, an ozone plug in for the truck on the way to the lease, descent spray, Evercalm for the boots, etc.  i would drive him crazy because i didn't use any of that and until recently smoked cigarettes.  i have done the campfire smoke thing when camping but just because we were around the campfire.  i am very aware of the wind direction, thermals etc., before choosing my stand.  My buddy and i have about the same amount of success hunting.  Whatever gives you confidence , do it! Good luck to you guys as the "seasons" approach.

[Terry Green]

Yeah Randy, we had a member here for years that touted scent lock clothing.  He would fight you over it. Spent thousands on it and field staffed it, then they got sued for fraud.   He never spoke a word about it afterwards. Not sure where he's at or what he's doing.

[woodchucker]

I knew a guy years ago... He got picked to go on a hunt, with Lee & Tiffany Lakosky.

They gave him and his Dad a complete Scent-Lock outfit to hunt in.
On the way to the hunting spot, he let loose a big old ripe one....

CLEARED THE TRUCK OUT!!! So much for "scent-lock"

[toddster]

Terry I agree.  Let me be clear, in my humble opinion there is only one 100% way to not be detected by animals with great noses and that is playing the wind!  I do also feel that the "smoke method" does help better than anything else to "minimize" the amount of detection for few seconds.
My rationale is that the "smoke" slightly disrupts the smelling process.  I know does me and dogs, can only imagine what it does to more tuned noses.  Again only temorarily for those crucial seconds for draw.  Without doubt animal not getting whiff of anything best and 100%.

[Sam McMichael]

I'm not saying that scent and wind don't matter, but I am saying that deer often are used to human smell in many locations. My small property is in an area that is surrounded by neighbors. With the wind being swirly most of the time, it is not possible to totally "hunt the wind", even though I try. These deer spend their lives smelling people all around them. However, when they smell us, they have a pretty good idea how far away we are. That is just my opinion, though. I know that many deer have come through the woods cautiously testing the breeze, then when it shifts directly from me to them, they leave immediately. Movement seems to be the big giveaway in being busted more often than not. He suspects somebody is close, but movement confirms it. I don't say that cover scents are useless. In fact, I have tried a whole lot of products and tricks (and still sometimes use them). I just don't really expect them to make that big a difference. But I surely don't knock those who believe in them.

[Terry Green]

Yeah Sam, not talking about neighborhood hunting.... 

[Sam McMichael]

Nope, Terry. I'm talking about land in the country that used to be all farmland that has somewhat grown up along the county road. These are not yard pets.