Scent Control... how far do you go?

[bow_man_66]

I try to control my sent as much as possible without breaking the bank. I buy sent free soap/shampoo at the end of the year at marked down pricing. Same with the spray on sent killer stuff. I do not believe it makes me scent less but do believe it helps. Wash my clothes in sent free soap at beginning of the season and store in a fairly air tight tote only dressing in the field. One odd thing I have used for years is a deodorant salt rock. I found it years ago in a health store and thought I would try it. Kills bacteria which is what gives you body odor. That is the one thing I swear by, has worked for me for years. Can't cover it all but try to eliminate what I can and play the wind the best I can.

[longbowben]

Scent control is a must when you are going after mature animals the first hint of a human scent and its over.But sometimes they walk downwind of me and they dont react.But 98% of the time it is over.

[MikeNova]

After field and stream published a articale that proved all scent control meathods had zero effect on trailing dogs I quite stressing it about deer other than trying to play the wind.

[ddauler]

What Ryan said. Only problem where I hunt you can seldom figure out where the deer will come from. But certain areas can only be hunted with certain wind direction for sure. I figure my breath smells worse than my body anyway. Kinda hard to hold it for 4 hours!

[MikeNova]

Thinking about that articale the authors thought that  scent killing sprays and carbon suits would have at least slowed the dogs a bit from picking up the trail but it didn't as a matter of fact they said the intentionaly smelly subjuct did just as well as the subject using the best scent control products we have.

[ddauler]

Originally posted by Burnsie:
If it's good enough for Mr. Rothhaar its good enough for me - plain plaid wool and play they wind.  And to be honest, I don't have enough ambition to go through all the scent control rigamarole every time I go out - easier to throw some milk weed silk in the air and see where it floats.

I 2nd this!

[Bighornangler]

I am with those who say that playing the wind is the only thing that really works, however taking precautions such as keeping clean (you and your clothes) will help. On the issue of wearing rubber boots, I beleive this will also help, BUT I have watched deer follow my footsteps with their nose to the ground right up to my tree stand and I was wearing rubber boots. I have picked up my boots and and smelled them. What do I smell. I smell the smell of rubber. If I can smell them than the deer certainly can. Has anyone else besides me experienced this?

[Tom Leemans]

They'll smell your breath before they smell your clothes. I like to eat an apple as a snack. Gives me apple breath and the core is now an attractant. I just wedge it in a branch.
That said, the more pressured the deer, the easier they spook. I hate it when I see the TV hunter saying "I could've never gotten this monster buck if I wasn't wearing my scent free suit and spraying myself with my magic scent killing spray." That's a bunch of hooey.
I am a believer in attractant scents, but I've also seen does blow out of there as soon as they smell doe in heat lure. That's another subject.

You have to hunt the wind, no matter what you wear, use or do. That is an undeniable fact.

[traditional beagle]

Knawbone made the comment that the proof was on his wall by using scent control and wind. Just one thought about success. Wonder if those old has beens had any success without the gadgets/scent blockers. Fred Bear, Howard Hill, Glenn St.Charles, Wenzels, the list goes on a lot farther. Maybe they just worked more on hunting skills and not so much on getting ahead with products.

[mrjsl]

I camp in the woods, end up smelling bad and stay downwind. End of story!

[Hoyt]

I don't know what a deer smells and what it doesn't or why sometimes they seem to react one way and next time the opposite.

 I've hunted in hot, wet, sweaty, stinking,  tennis shoes and had deer walk all over my fresh tracks and pay no attention what so ever and had them cross my back trail when I was wearing knee high, rubber boots, blow and run off in the other direction.

I've used a lot of cover scents over the yrs..but never found a way of knowing if they worked or not..so just decided I could find more meaningful ways to waste my money.

[Knawbone]

I agree playing the wind is the single most important thing you can do to keep from getting smelled. I also think there are many contributing factors which enter the equation when it comes to trying to limit your scent. Like I said before, you ask any canine trapper how important scent control is. Some of you may even trap fox or coyote, can you or do you not use some of the same messures while hunting deer? I used to trap, so I use some of those woods crafts when I hunt. To me it only makes scents.{ pardon the pun }Scent control is not a substitute for hard hunting and figuring out quarry and never will be. Just another trick in the hunters bag.

  When done properly and I mean PROPERLY limiting your scent can give you a chance { at times }that you my not otherwise of had. Believe me if it didn't I wouldn't bother. To me I would be a fool not to.

[Knawbone]

Trad Beagle, No maybe about it they did. And if I had the time and resources they had to hunt I probably wouldn't take the precautions I do.And its' not a matter of trying to shortcut or get ahead of the game. If that were the case I probably wouldn't be a tradional bowhunter in the first place.

[Tsalt]

Well, this turned out to be a lively topic.  One this is certain...  100% of us agree that you have to play the wind and none of us believe in the hyped products that make ridiculous claims.   Beyond this it seems like there is a variety of approaches.  
All the big name hunters on TV who talk about using the scent control products... well, we all know it's all about advertising dollars.  I would love to know about the Wensel brothers or Mike Mitten.  Any body know if these guys do anything beyond playing the wind?

[Charlie Lamb]

Don't stand downwind of the Wensel boys!!  

[Running Buck]

I have had better luck using a cover scent like fresh earth then trying to eliminate human odor. I have washed and stored clothing in scent lock bags, showered before a hunt etc. and still got busted when the animals came in down wind. As long as you are alive and well your body makes odor regardless of what you wear or wash with. I think the use of a good cover scent mixes with your scent and gives the animal a feeling that you are farther away then you really are.

[Knawbone]

Running Buck, They think your further away than you really are. Your dead on, agree with you 100%. Ground and air moisture makes a big difference also.Hunting dogs have a harder time picking up scent when the ground is dry, so too with deer ect.I do believe what close you wear, or lack off can make a difference also.It's not good to sweat,or for that matter to even get too warm if you can avoid it. It all adds up to the AMOUNT of scent you put out.

[Shaun]

Try not to light a cigarette during the last 40 minutes of shooting light on the stand is as far as I go. Not because they will smell it but because I want the bow in my hands during that time. Down wind is down wind. Deer can smell where I walked in rubber boots two hours ago - you can't fool their noses.

[STUMP THUMPER]

I want all the help I can get. I try to stay clean and do use scent free soap on my body and my camo and under garments. Play the wind is the biggest factor.
As far as the successful hunters of the past there soap didn't have anywhere near the purty smelling stuff of our modern soaps, shampoos and laundry detergents, that we all have to have to smeel good in todays society.If we used now the same products they used back then we wouldn't need the new marketed stuff either.
guest my thoughts!

[Tsalt]

Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:
Don't stand downwind of the Wensel boys!!      

That's funny!    

Ok Charlie, besides staying upwind of the Wensels, what is your approach to scent control?