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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: str8sh2ter on October 17, 2008, 07:43:00 AM

Title: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: str8sh2ter on October 17, 2008, 07:43:00 AM
lol,No I don't mean roll your own and smoke them!
 I've been hearing alot about using wood smoke for a cover up scent.The Scent Smoker is the thing for sale.i used a small fire in a patio fire box to do it. Got everthing smoked and went out to spot for deer yesterday afternoon/evening.There was a firly steady wind.Four does smelled the smoke and turned and ran .No hesitation and the were 100yds off when they winded the smoke.
 I've been reading how everyones been within 10yds and no bust.Anyone out there had good results from this method?I'm ready to wash my duds and go another route.Maybe it wa just an isolated thing but no sure what to do.
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: captaincaveman on October 17, 2008, 07:57:00 AM
I just got my scent smoker yesterday. Gona give it a shot this evening.  I'll let you know

Josh
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: MI_Bowhunter on October 17, 2008, 08:08:00 AM
At 100 yards how do you know it was your smoke that scared them off?

Could possibly have been something else they picked up in the wind
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: Jeremy on October 17, 2008, 08:25:00 AM
I don't understand smoke as a cover scent.  It either means the forest is on fire (danger) or there are people around (danger).  I could see it if you were hunting an area where the deer were around houses with woodstoves alot (similar to using diesel on farms) but not in the woods.  It's not a smell that belongs in the woods.
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: Whip on October 17, 2008, 08:50:00 AM
I've heard of it, but haven't tried it myself.  My own idea on scent is that there is nothing that will completely cover up your own odor.  I try to keep as scent free as possible, but even then, by far the most important thing is to play the wind.  

If the deer get downwind of you the game most often is over.  Occasionally there may be updrafts or swirls can work to your favor. It may seem that the deer are downwind of you and don't react, but in reality for some reason they don't catch your scent stream.  This doesn't mean that the cover up scent worked.

Just my opinion, but there is no such thing as "Forget the wind and just hunt"
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: Winterhawk1960 on October 17, 2008, 09:22:00 AM
There are some by-products that are produced when wood is burned, that inhibit the growth of bacteria. Odor is caused by bacteria, some more offensive than others. Carbon is also a by-product of wood being burned.

Let me say, at this point that I DO NOT believe that ANYTHING can totally eliminate the human smell that we produce, just by living our lives. I believe that our breath is something that gets us busted a lot more than we realize.

Take a shower and wash with perfume free soap, smoke yourself and all of your gear that you are carrying with you. You might be surprised at the results.

I am absolutely sure that the animals can smell the smoke, but don't seem to be afraid of the smell, or associate it with danger. I know, doesn't make sense, but here in WV and Ohio, there isn't any place that I hunt that doesn't have the smell of wood smoke in the air in the fall and winter.

This has been beat to death on another forum that I spend time on......the truth is, it works and it really doesn't matter why to me.

Winterhawk1960
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: 44charlie on October 17, 2008, 09:34:00 AM
i used to smoke my clothes and if nothing else it smelled good to me. lol. really though i don't think it had a negative affect at all. i've actually thought of doing it again. mostly i just like to hang my gear out side and love it when it gets rained on!
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: Tioga on October 17, 2008, 10:10:00 AM
I'm on the fence with the Scent Smoker. I hurt my back the first week of our season and was forced to hunt on the ground in a blind, so I showered before each hunt and got smoked up before each hunt. I had deer blowing at me all week.

 I'm in a tree these last few days, and hunted a few spots that I shouldn't have because of bad wind. I figured I'd see if the smoke theory works in situations like this. No dice.

 Had some action last night while wearing freshly washed gear that wasn't smoked. Go figure.

 It's gonna take me a while to decide whether or not it works. Knowing that I had to extinguish a cigarette in order to shoot the last 6-7 deer that I harvested, I thought it might be a good idea. Only time will tell.
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: beachbowhunter on October 17, 2008, 12:51:00 PM
No, I'm trying to cut back...  :D
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: ChuckC on October 17, 2008, 01:31:00 PM
I personally wouldn't PURPOSELY smoke up my stuff, however, as can be seen on nearly all of the old videos (and some not so old), guys like Fred Bear, and (won't name more.. but   many) are seen sitting around the campfire in their hunting duds.  I think, if you play the wind correctly, they won't smell the smoke either,  if you don't, well they will smell you and the smoke.
ChuckC
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: Gaff on October 17, 2008, 01:56:00 PM
i had a friend that used to get "smoked up" before he hunted!!  :banghead:  
i dont hunt with him anymore!!
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: woodchucker on October 17, 2008, 03:18:00 PM
adkmountainken's mom "smoked" his hunting clothes behind the woodstove one year.(to dry them)

The kid went out the next day and killed the second biggest buck of his life!!!!!   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: Bear Heart on October 17, 2008, 03:52:00 PM
The areas I hunted in Colorado had fires about 5 years ago.  Still have burnt stumps and stuff.  If you don't have anything like that or houses burning wood in the area don't use it.
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: Flesner on October 17, 2008, 04:10:00 PM
My hunting clothes aways smell like smoke from my woodstove at camp or the campfire outside or the essence of Marlboro.

I really can't claim that it helps or hurts. Some deer just pay more attention to scents than others I think.

I've had deer dead down wind of me that flipped out and others that ignored me. Go figure.
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: Biggie Hoffman on October 17, 2008, 04:13:00 PM
The "essence of marlboro"?

YUUUCCHHHHHHH!!
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: tradtusker on October 17, 2008, 04:25:00 PM
i dont smoke my cloths or do anything to try cover my scent. there are ways of helping reduce sent but nothing to illuminate it so if the animals gonna smell you he's gonna smell you.

i know a lot of guys burn zebra dung in the hides in South Africa but where animals are not used to the smell it dont work, i tried it in one of the hides iv built and almost killed a few really nice animals but not with my bow ...but because  the animals almost running themselves dead on the trees trying to get away    :D
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: **DONOTDELETE** on October 17, 2008, 08:21:00 PM
When it starts to get cold that ppl start their fireplaces then it's time to smoke the hunting clothes. I have done this in years past and have gotten deer at 5 yards. The trick is to use it where deer can smell smoke from houses.
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: Broken Arrow 1 on October 17, 2008, 08:26:00 PM
Ive never actually smoked my clothes. However Ive sweated in them stood around campfires and cooked alot of smelly but good food and have never been busted from that YET!!!! I would give it another try if I were you.
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: adkmountainken on October 17, 2008, 09:01:00 PM
i'll tell ya i sit high up on a ridge and i can smell wood smoke from the only house at the base of the mountain with ease. i do not purposley smoke my clothers but i can see where in certain situations it could be a great cover scent if wood smoke is in the area. as Chuck said my clothes STUNK of smoke from sitting behind a wood stove. i killed a SLAMMER that day.
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: Billy on October 17, 2008, 09:50:00 PM
Mountainmen and Indians smelled of sweat,wood smoke,whiskey,bear grease,coffee....
I think it's motion and wind that hurts us. JMHO.
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: T Folts on October 17, 2008, 10:01:00 PM
All this talk about scent elimination, smoke as a cover ect... I can tell you I wash my clothes in scent eliminator and use the earth dryer sheets wear rubber boots get on stand everthing is right then I fart and ruin the hole deal. I still have had deer this year walk across my tracks and never blink a eye, pass down wind (Im about 12 feet up and never lift their noses to smell me. I think the thermals must be perfect for this stand. I dont know it makes me wonder.
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: Arwin on October 17, 2008, 11:19:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by T Folts:
I can tell you I wash my clothes in scent eliminator and use the earth dryer sheets wear rubber boots get on stand everthing is right then I fart and ruin the hole deal.
:bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: T Folts on October 18, 2008, 05:57:00 AM
Arwin now thats funny  :biglaugh:
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: heydeerman on October 18, 2008, 07:48:00 AM
A good fart with the right tone can sound like the best buck grunt. I am trying to get the deer can sound down now.
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: Plug on October 18, 2008, 09:10:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by heydeerman:
I am trying to get the deer can sound down now.
It's doable but with the required harmonics one risks speckling his drawers.

I guess that's okay... if wood smoke doesn't scare deer, bacon strips shouldn't either.
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: Autumnarcher on October 18, 2008, 10:26:00 AM
Ok, I would think it quite simple that you can never eliminate the human odor. So if you smoke your clothes, the deer will think that there is a burning human nearby. I'd run too.

I have all but given up using any scent cover or elimination products. I've over the years used scnet lok suits, fancy body washes and shampoos etc.Vanilla. Fox Pee. Coon pee.  I skipped the scent elimination gum and toothpaste.

I shower in scent free soap, keep my clothes clean by wahing them in water and bakingsoda and hanging them outside. I put dry leaves in the bottom of my clothees tubs to add the smell of leaves to them. Last I knew, the only time a deer would spook from leaves is if it was still attached to the tree when it fell on them.

No smoke.No Vanilla. Nuthin. I do not get busted any more, or any less. And I have a few extra dollars left over after hunting so I can stop at Cousin's Bar and Restaurant and get a burger and a beer and watch the Red Wings after the evening hunt. And I don't stink when I go in there, and scare off the waitresses.
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: 357max on October 18, 2008, 10:37:00 PM
I just started smoking everything this year. On thursday night i had a fork horn come in to about 30 yds. To get him to come on in i tried the "pee on dry leaves" call. It worked. He came on over to 10 yds down wind and stood there for 5min. trying to figure out what was going on. He licked his nose and the sides of his mouth numerous times trying to collect my scent but could not nail me. He never spooked or ran, just gave up and went back to feeding. I know it was just one deer, but i was impressed.
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: Curtiss Cardinal on October 18, 2008, 11:55:00 PM
Green aspen is the best wood to use for this pratice. you build your fire with dead wood and then put the green Aspen on the fire and stand in the smoke and turn. I've done it and it works; but it isn't magic. It adds to the time it takes you to get busted. It doesn't keep you completely safe. It is pretty amazing though.
Title: Re: Anybody "Smoke Their Clothes"before a hunt?
Post by: str8sh2ter on October 20, 2008, 11:49:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by 357max:
I just started smoking everything this year. On thursday night i had a fork horn come in to about 30 yds. To get him to come on in i tried the "pee on dry leaves" call. It worked. He came on over to 10 yds down wind and stood there for 5min. trying to figure out what was going on. He licked his nose and the sides of his mouth numerous times trying to collect my scent but could not nail me. He never spooked or ran, just gave up and went back to feeding. I know it was just one deer, but i was impressed.
Ok ,I'll ask.What's the 30yds."Pee on Dry leaves"call?Did he giggle while you were doing it?  :archer: