Wood smoke for cover scent

[riverrat 2]

I have heard some old timers here in Michigan would make a small fire when there was a bit of snow on the ground,then set up with there shotguns around 60-80 feet from it. The old boys I talked to said they always had curious deer coming around within an hour of sitting down. A bit off topic I guess,but interesting. I doubt the DNR would find it interesting though.  rat'

[ishoot4thrills]

Originally posted by Sam McMichael:
Like GreyGoose I probably have gone to the woods smelling like woodsmoke. I have heard a lot people talk about it working, but whenever the winds is wrong I get busted no matter what I smell like.

Exactly.

I don't believe in "cover scent". It may possibly help to smell like something else, but you're still just gonna end up smelling like a human being with another scent mixed in. If a deer gets downwind of you, you're busted, period.

I'm definitely no expert but the above statement is what I have found to be true, based on my own experiences in the deer woods. But, I haven't tried everything either!

[Jasper2]

I suggest that you at least try it. It is cheap and what do you have to lose? I was skeptical at first but own a bee smoker now and will not hunt deer without it. I can't explain why for sure....but it works around here. I still play the wind but I have to respectfully disagree with those above who claim that you are busted if a deer is downwind of you. I've gotten away with it too many times to believe that. Do they smell "something"...yes, Do you get busted...not necessarily! They almost act confused around here but just keep coming, like they can't confirm the danger.

[shag08]

I'm sure it can't hurt....probably even helps. But I HATE the smell of smoke clinging to me. That's why I quit smoking and I don't fry bacon in the house. I just can't stand smelling it on me all day long.

[spider64]

Well I am giving it a try this year ! Ordering a bee smoker today! Thanks guys for your input !

[Bowwild]

Smoke-free for me.

[Rustic]

Yes every year, I use smoke as a cover scent.
I rake/burn a pile of leaves into the fire pit, hang my huntin clothes onto a coupla shepherds hooks nearby.

[Knawbone]

There is no definite yes or no here. Deer are usually not alarmed by the smell of wood smoke, but can be curious or become attentive if they smell it WHERE they don't usually smell it. Around areas where wood is burned to heat homes ect., then they become accustomed to smelling it in or near those areas. The opposite might be true for areas they never or almost never smell it. I believe hardwood smoke to be of the most benefit for scent control, a chemical agent produced from the burning of hard wood is known as a scent eliminating agent. Like anything, repeated use of the method on the same deer groups can be patterned by them. As with any hunting measure, all relative factors must be taken into account. When used wisely, it can be an extremely successful scent control method on a variety of ungulates and game. Smell intensity is a big factor to consider. Keep it natural and  relevant to the hunting situation.When I smoke my hunting close I like to then let them air out so the perceived smell is of a natural concentration.

[Butchie]

Obviously you still want to make wind direction your primary concern while on stand or setting up stand location.  However, I'm sure that many deer each year cross downwind of me that I never get to see.  Maybe using this will allow some of those deer to not spook and move into within my effective shooting range??

For those of you who have used this tactic before.  Do you think it would be beneficial to leave a "smoked" cloth/rag in your stand to let deer get accustomed to the smell each time they enter the area?  Curious to hear your thoughts.
 
Thanks!

[Knawbone]

A case in point as it relates to this subject. Two years ago I went through my usual de-scenting process and then also smoked and aired out my clothes before going deer hunting. I make no claims on being totally scentless, but I do know that lowering your level of scent is very beneficial.So anyway, I get to a spot where I want to hunt, and three minutes later a Doe leading a buck comes trotting my direction.The Doe comes from across wind and then go's below me down wind at a distance of 15 to 20 yrds. As soon as the Doe got directly down wind, she stoped and smelled the air, sniffing with her head in the air, with the Buck stopping some 35 yrds behind her. I thought this is it I'm busted. She's going to sound the alarm and the Buck is going to turn and run. It never happened. The Doe looked my way as she sniffed, but then continued on her way with the Buck in tow. I killed the 16 in. wide 8 point as he continued behind his mate. You can dismiss it to whatever, but when these like scenarios happen repeatedly, there's only one conclusion I can come to.

  I was sure that Doe smelled the wood smoke from my close, yet my total scent output wasn't strong enough to trigger a fleeing response from the deer. I was hunting in the middle of a 500 acre tract of solid wooded forest where the smell of wood smoke from other sources would be slight and/ or very occasional, if at all.  

 I believe the smell of wood smoke in that area, being somewhat unnatural for the location, caused the Doe to ponder it's source or potential threat, but wasn't unnatural enough to raise a flag.( pun intended )

[locohunter]

I have always wondered what happens to body odor on really cold days?  given that heat rises, and i can see my breath rising from my stand, one would think that scent is rising with my body heat??  Thoughts?

[Sawpilot 75]

I have had a scent smoker in the box for 5 years and never used it yet. I wash my clothes in a carbon based material, air dry them outside then i dip them in a carbon bath, hang them out again to air dry then store them in a scent air tight bag. I also wear a carbon mask to help with my breath. I have used this method for a few years and it seems to work well for me.

[emfunk]

I will chime in on this, as you spider I had been reading up on this last season. It made a lot of since and went ahead and jumped in. Being in the area here in Tennessee there is smoke in the air either from tobacco barns or fire places. Something deer are very used to plus the carbon in the smoke neutralizes the human odor. I had an old dog house blind that I use, and purchased a bee smoker, I have used hickory chips, and also apple wood. I fill the bee smoker up about 1/4 of the way and hand my cloths in the blind, and let the smoke roll. I close the blind and come back once the smoke stops coming out of the edges of the it.
To say the least I was more than impressed with how the deer reacted, they would smell where I would walk in and just calm down, I still play the wind but it worked, I was able to take 9 deer last year, one 165in buck taken during Indiana firearms season down wind at 45yds, Will be setting up my smoke shack in a few weeks, good luck and everyone hunt safe.