Not worrying 'bout scent control?

[Knawbone]

Iv always used scent control to varying degrees. There is definitely an art to it. I believe the biggest problem most have in their attempts is not being able to smell their mistakes. I mainly use it to minimize the scent I leave in my hunting areas. I find it of great benefit. I also just like to go out and hunt without worrying about it, but I do that in areas I don't normally hunt. Iv never bought into the scent blocking clothes thing.

[DaveT1963]

This is what Rueters found when testing scent lok

sample time = 1 hour)      % Reduction Odor Permeation                
Fleece Balaclava w/out carbon              5%
Fleece Balaclava w/Scent-Lok®              99%
Base Layer w/out carbon                    19%
Base Layer w/Scent-Lok®                    98%
Hunting Jacket w/out carbon                11%
Hunting Jacket w/Scent-Lok®                97%
Hunting Pants w/out carbon                 32%
Hunting Pants w/Scent-Lok®                 98%

there does seem to be a rather large differnce between molecules trapped by carbon scent lok verses non-carbon clothing.  They also tested the other carbon clothing which did no fair near as well.

[hvyhitter]

rubber boots, watch the wind....... Deer where I hunt use caution when they contact human scent but they dont go into a panic. Lots of exposure to farmers, loggers, well workers etc. They will usually just change direction and sneek out of the area if they get a real nose full. If you didnt spot them first you never would have seen them..........

[hickstick]

omg.....so they basically won their case by challenging what definition of 'literal falsity' the initial ruling judge used.   this is laughable:

The judge presiding over the appeal ruled that ALS’s use of the terms “odor eliminating” and “reactivation” was not literally false. According to a press release issued by ALS, the judge ruled that “the district court had erred in ‘basing its determination of literal falsity on the most absolute of competing dictionary definitions of the word eliminate.’” Interestingly, the appellate court also gave substantial weight to the fact that ALS “introduced evidence of substantial customer satisfaction with ALS’s Scent Lok ™ products.” The court also ordered the dismissal of all claims for injunctive relief, stating “Plaintiffs failed to prove both the requisite irreparable injury and their core allegations that Defendants’ use of the terms ‘odor eliminating and reactivation’ were literally false.’”

[DaveT1963]

No the court had it tested by Rueters and it was scientifically proven to absorb 95%.... not sure what part of that you don't understand.The judgement was that the science proved that the initial claim was false and unproven.  Rueters had no pony in the fight.

[DaveT1963]

The reason I posted at all is that a lot of people are claiming that it doesn't work (myself included for years) and yet science is now actually proving it does in fact adsorb 95-97% of human molecules... think I'll keep an open mind and trust thst Rueters findings are probably a little more accurate then personal opinions.

[DennyK]

Wash my clothes in baking soda and dry outside. Other then that I just pay attention to the wind.

[Knawbone]

Originally posted by DaveT1963:
I am re-thinking this one on carbon suits.  Reason being is that most of what I consider the honest, public land bowhunter "celebs" that I put value in their mehtods (John Eberhart, Bobby Worthington, Pastor William Vale, etc.) ALL to a one of them uses carbon clothing.  Their track records on public, high pressured hunting lands speak for themselves.  Then the court actually through out the law suit against Scent Lok when they ordered them to send suits over to Rueters for testing and the results came back that Scent Lok was in the 95 and up% range for adsobing
odors.  They also found that re-activated carbon was still effective at adsorbing odors.

     

Now I don't believe anything will remove 100% but I have learned from trapping and hunting that it is concentration and newness of odors that usually alert animals.  Even if scent lok only removes 25% of your released body odor that is bettern than nothing.  Same with rubber boots, I know for a fact that my trapping canines is ALWAYS better when I wear rubber boots and rubber gloves.  Is it 100% effective - probably not, but I believe it removes enough of the scent contamination that some game animals are not nearly as alert.

And I know all about tracking dogs and their abilities - but I have also seen the same dogs not be able to locate an escaped convict and I have had a few coon dogs lose a hot track on a bare footed coon.

I am going to keep an open mind on this one and retry some of these products/methods.  Yes I will always pay attention to the wind as much as I am able but even if it works on only one P&Y buck is it worth it????

I still use (year round) scent free detergent and ivory soap.  I hang my clothes to dry, smoke them with a bee smoker at times and I store them in seperate containers.... adding scent lok base layers shouldn't be much of a problem.

It has been stated repeatedly on this post that if a deer is downwind of you they will smell you no matter what....this simply is not always the case.  There are eddies, updrafts and thermals that can carry scent right above that deers nose even if he is downwind. I have seen many deer downwind of me that should have but did not pick up my scent - sorry but it happens.  And I would like to know just how it was determined that a deer detected 10 day old scent.... that also would have a lot to do with the conditions voer that 10 day period.  If this was the case a tracking dog would always locate a missing person or escapee - just doesn't happen folks.  I have scene tracking dogs that were unable to pick up, and/or follow even a 2 hour old track.

and like mentioned above - it is not only the scent left while you are there - it is the scent left behind that also alerts wary pressured bucks.  A pressured mature whitetail that knows he is being hunted, at least where I hunt, is pretty much nocturnal even during most of the rut.

For the price at least, I'm not sure the carbon clothing is necessary,but nothing wrong with it for sure. The rest of what you said is a great summation and I couldn't agree more.

[monkeyball]

Why worry about something that you can avoid. I play the wind. If it is blowing the wrong way I change my  plans. If it changes while I am sitting, and I hunt the ground, I get out of there. It doesn't matter how long or how little I have been there, if the wind gets wacky I am out of there.

 I do take certain precautions, clean clothes washed in scent-free  detergent and hung outside to dry. Knee high rubber boots that get hosed down with scent killer spray. I try to not touch anything going into the area I am going to hunt and I will step in every pile of "wild deer berries" I come across heading in.

  I do get a little crazy with diet as it gets close to Archery season.
 I have not had any red meat since late August, I think your body gives off certain odors that are more alarming to deer when you eat red meat. Call me crazy, but I like getting close and this seems to work for me. I also eat a pile of apples this time of year, not because it is hunting season, I just like apples. Six or seven a day plus I am usually eating one on the way to my sit. I'm probably peeing apple cider.

  If you can't get past there nose........game's over!

                                                    Good Hunting,
                                                                    Craig

[CoachBGriff]

I think most of the people on this site do enough hunting that you start to realize you can only get away with so much, so you may as well just take care of the basics (don't put on fresh Old Spice) and PLAY THE WIND!

[jax]

If use use an ozonics you don't have to worry about it. Just ax Lee and Tiffany

[sheepdogreno]

I can't afford all that expensive stuff...I hang my camo outside for a day throw it on and hunt with wind on my favor...it works just fine

[bruinman]

Other then trying to play the wind, when I can, I do not even consider it. Of course I am not the most successful guy around either,lol.

Oops, just seeing that this is an old post,lol. At least I gave the same answer twice,lol.

[vintage-bears]

Yes its important to keep clean as you can just to minimize our scent.
Scentless soap and laundry detergent are a good thing.
But,
if the wind is wrong, they will smell us no matter what we do.

[TooManyHobbies]

I shower because I like to be clean. Same soap, same deodorant as any other time.
I washed my hunting cloths once last year...I think.
You can smell like a garbage truck if you're downwind, and any attempt to conceal your smell will fail if you are upwind. IMHO.

[Wallydog]

For me, rubber boots to and from the stand are effective to reduce the amount of scent left behind. I have watched deer repetedly walk over trails I had crossed a day before and not show any alarm. Thay also seem to show no alarm over tracks left by rubber boots just an hour earler. The claim of 97% effectiveness of carbon is fine except for one thing. That means 3% is still active and deer may find that just as scary as anything more too. I hang my clothes outdoors on a hanger when not in use. My hat too. I wont even sit in a stand thats wrong for the wind on a given day. Been busted so many times even back when I was real careful that I decided it wasnt worth the effort.

[YORNOC]

I stay as clean as I can, but not insane like I used to be. I do hunt smarter now, used the wind as best as I can and absolutely enjoy myself so much more.

[bentpole]

I wash my hunting clothes every time I hunt in them. After I take them out of the dryer I put them on the line for around 24 hours. Then in a Rubbermade container until I hunt in them. During hunting season I use Ivory soap on myself.

[Knawbone]

My best hunting spots are where my deer like to hang out, or near where they like to hang out. The reason the deer like these spots is for one huge reason....swirling wind! I hunt the Allegheny hills of NY. At least 75% of the time you can't just play the wind. How many of you guys that JUST play the wind get busted at least as many times as you don't?The other problem with this discussion is wind dynamics in the area or areas of the part of the country you hunt. Also the seemingly endless factors where scent and scent control is concerned. I believe too many guys contaminate their gear and themselves unknowingly. Ask any canine trapper how Important scent control is to their success!!! Like I said, scent control is a learned art threw trial and error.I understand also that it's a lot easier and less work to "just play the wind".

[warbird]

I shower with scent free soap,apple or vanilla shampoo, and spray on scent elliminator. My hunting cloths are washed scent free and hung out to dry then stored in plastic barrels with leaves. Still I get busted sometimes. Unless you can get delivered to your stand in a plastic bubble I dont think scent free or cover scents are foolproof.