Trad Gang

Hi everyone!
Pretty new to the forum. I've been reading a lot and learning a ton about traditional bowhunting so thank you for all the discussion.
I'm going to school here in Maryland and was given the opportunity to go out hunting last week on Veteran's day. Took my 60# PSE Sequoia longbow.
Got situated on the ground (leaning against a tree) at about 0500 and saw a buck at 0645. he worked his way into 35 yards and i was getting ready to draw on him. He stopped right at about 30yds behind a tree, put his nose to the air, and then turn tailed and ran. I guess he thought i stunk. how depressing.
Anyways my question is, What scent killers, cover scents, scent-lock clothing,scent killing detergent, shampoo, conditioner, soap, or any other sort of thing do you use to put the drop on a whitetail?
I've hunted mostly upland game and am new to trad hunting and big game hunting alike. Thank you very much for any tips you can give regarding scent control.

The sad but awful truth is that you not only stink, there is precious little you can do about it.  This is not to say don't try, but expect to get busted alot of the time.  I do wear the scent eliminating clothing, coat, pants and cap.  I think it  helps.  The best preventive is to get in a tree or in an area where the wind currents are going to sweep your scent up and away.  This could be next to the creek bank or next to the cliff on the edge of the creek.  If you have a choice try to position yourself where there is a natural funnel in the landscape.  For example, a break in the tree line or a place where there is a draw that goes up through the ridge.  If there is a gully in the pasture the air will flow up it just like it was in a pipe.  If you are in the woods and there is ground cover up to 3-4 feet tall all around and yet you can see an area where the ground is bare, check it out as this is enough to  make an air funnel.    There is much more to hunting the wind then just knowing it is out of the southwest.  I keep a small feather tied to the tip of my bow with sewing thread and really keep an eye on it.  Use your wind puffer powder religiously.  If you and your spouse can tolerate it, when you find fresh deer or any other animal dropings or fresh urine smear it on your hat.

I use hickory smoke,has always worked for me.They even offer a commercial smoker now I see.I just burn some hardwood chips,blow on it and wala,douse yourself in the smoke.I think it kills some of your scent and deer in my area are use to burning leaves and woodburners.I still always try to keep wind in my face of course.

QuoteWhat scent killers, cover scents, scent-lock clothing,scent killing detergent, shampoo, conditioner, soap, or any other sort of thing do you use to put the drop on a whitetail?

None of that .  I don't use much deodorant . . . ever.  No cologne, cake shaving soap and no aftershave.  I keep clean and don't need to cover the "perfume of society."

When hunting I just keep conscious of the wind and figure any deer downwind of me has my number, so I work into he wind.

Mr.Hoffman, thats some good info thanks! And erierik the smoke solution sounds pretty simple and effective. Kinda like methods that the Native Americans used (the original bowhunters).

"I don't use much deodorant . . . ever"

haha stumpkiller i hope that only applies to hunting season. Thats very true though all these artificial scents have really permeated our daily lives and are so unnatural in the outdoor setting.

Also it seems like the easiest way to get my scent "up and away" would be to utilize a tree stand instead of hunting on the ground. thanks again

I have tried cover scents, rubber rain suits which are major hot in warm weather, scent killing detergent, shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, and taking of chlorphyl tablets. Do it all, then put yourself in position for wind to be in your favor. To do that you need some wind checkers of some sort, powder bottle works great, also feather on lite line add to tip of bow, pieces of cotton, or seed pods found in the field also work well. Wind, check it often, with as little movement as possible.

Shan,

Hunting with the wind in your face is the best bet. That being said, anything you can do to lessen your body smell can help. I do use the commercialy available body and hair wash (the green stuff).

I don't use the scent blocker type suits simply because they are just too expensive for me.

One thing I know for a certianty you can do to help with keeping deer from spooking at your scent, is to keep your hunting boots VERY clean. I never wear mine for anything other than hunting. No oil or gas on them from the service station, no food smells (or slop overs) from the kitchen or other odd smells from the garage. I keep them in a plastic tub (from Walmart, Dollar Store or any other similar store- 5 or 8 bucks). Before I start walking in I spray them down until "drip-off" with scent killer spray and then spritz the soles with doe urine. I do this so I don't leave a trail of "human stink" straight to me.

Good luck with your hunting.

OkKeith

OkKeith and TommyRay thanks. That trick with the boots seems like a widely overlooked issue but is important nonetheless. All of this is helping out a lot.

i always wear rubber boots and keep the wind in my face. i also use the green stuff everyday.  the fact is that no matter what you do if a deer is down wind of you he WILL smell you.

Had a fun one this past weekend.  Rubber boots on, scent spray, clothes tucked in to boots and smoked clothes were all in play.

Wind in my favor to where I thought the deer would be.  When I walked in I have really no choice but to cross their path.  I did so in a place where I thought they'd come the other way so I'd have my shot before they hit where I crossed.

They came in the other way.  As soon as the lead doe hit where I crossed their path she froze.  She looked for me, but never found me.  She did not blow.  She turned the group of 4 quietly around and got out of town.

Other times I have had them walk all over my trails.

You have to use the wind and get out enough to catch a lucky break.

I hunt tree-stands pretty exclusively- new sets every time.  With that said- I have RARELY EVER beat a mature deer's nose when they are downwind.  In fact, I am not sure I can think of a time.  Wind does not stream in a straight line- think of water.  It eddies, swirls, moves around the trees, all sorts of stuff. Thermals add further complexity.  It may have a prevailing direction, but that is far from a straight eye-shot line.  The only time I think I may have beat a deer downwind was simply because the wind swirled or eddied in my favor at the precise moment.  Further to the challenging puzzle is figuring a way to get in to a stand  where deer won't cross your path- again with rubber boots, scent killer on them, never wear them in the vehicle, etc. etc. I have rarely beat a mature deer's nose.

Welcome to the supreme challenge!

Good hunting
Dan in KS

NEVER listen to the adds that say "forget the wind, just hunt". All these guys here are active hunters from all over. Listen to them, they know what works.
 When I stopped spending tons of money on new technical clothing and scent control systems, game scents, game calls..(with no increase in my deer sightings), I started hunting smarter, getting closer, scouting more, and paying VERY close attention to wind. I keep clean, use baking soda to wash my gear, no scented soaps, I DO use unscented deodorant!
I see more deer now in my life than ever before in my "buy, buy, buy days.
Skill will get you deer( with a bit of luck of course) buying products will not. People who claim deer walked right up to them while wearing a carbon suit probably had the thermals in their favor carrying the scent upward. There are also stupid deer, but they either learn very quickly or fill the freezer. They are usually young.

I shower the scent free soap and use the scent free deodorant.  I wash my hunting clothes in Scent free detergent, and dry them in the dryer with the earth dryer sheets or hang them outside.  Then I store them in big ziploc bags til I use them.  I dont get dressed til I am outside to go hunting.  No climbing in truck after getting dressed.  I keep my Rubber boots stored in a tote and spray them down with scent eliminating spray.  But you have to hunt with the wind no matter what.  You will get busted.  Everything you can do to lessen your scent is good.

And to think that I hadn't even given scent control a thought. I had thought that maybe all this talk about how powerful a deer's nose is was just hype on the outdoor channel.
Then, when i saw this beautiful stocky 4x4 buck stop dead in his tracks, put his nose to the air, and run away i knew there had to had to be something to it. He was at THRITY FIVE yards. the wind seemed to be not blowing at all (but it must have) and he didn't cross my entrance path.
Needless to say I'll be taking these words to heart.
-wind swirls like water in a stream
-rubber boots
-entrance
-face to the wind
-"never forget the wind"

Thanks to all for the continued help on my quest to get a deer with traditional gear.

I have used alot of stuff.  I that like everyone here that playing the wind is the most important part.  Washing you clothes in baking soda is a plus and works.  I also like the dead down wind wash and uv killer.  The rest of it is way over rated in my opinion for the money they want.  Had a buddy buy a high tech scent eliminator outfit, shot a nice deer and we tracked it through thick briar, guess what, got tore up.

i do the same as beetle bailey 1977

shower the scent free soap and use the scent free deodorant. I wash my hunting clothes in Scent free detergent, and dry them in the dryer with the earth dryer sheets or hang them outside. Then I store them in big ziploc bags til I use them. I dont get dressed til I am outside to go hunting. No climbing in truck after getting dressed. I keep my Rubber boots stored in a tote and spray them down with scent eliminating spray. But you have to hunt with the wind no matter what. You will get busted. Everything you can do to lessen your scent is good.

thanks to everyone for their advice and experiences. Just as an afterthought, does anybody actually stalk whitetails or is it a tree stand monopoly?

A deer will often stop and check you out if it detects motion or you just look out of place (and sometimes stamp a foot to get you to give yourself up).  It will get spooked and may trot off it it hears a noise you made . . like drawing an aluminum arrow back on a flipper rest.  May even stop or come back eventually.  But if it smells you it is gone.  Period.  They NEVER doubt their own noses.  However, if they are already antsy any noise or motion may put them to flight.

And it is not just the smells from your clothing.  You slough off skin cells constantly, waft phemerones, exhale.  You can not make yourself scent invisible to a deer or a dog.  So, work with the wind and, as an alternative, get up above them in a stand.  

I have been "made" hours after taking a tree stand when a deer crosses my trail in.  Coyotes even more so.

And then there are the deer that walk right up to you from downwind.  Deer sometimes screw up, too.  In fact - I count on those guys.  I know for a fact some deer are wise enough to have you figured but have the where-with-all to sit tight and let you pass.  Those are the truly smart ones.  The older bucks and does in areas that get regular hunting pressure.  The ones that will occasionally button-hook around behind where you have passed.

Could there be a more perfect creature to bowhunt than whitetail?

I have stalked up on a whitetail . . . rarely.  Have killed them in their beds.  If you cover 100 yards in half an hour you're moving at about the proper pace.  The deer in my avatar was arrowed as I sat down on a blowdown to rest after a still-hunt at about 11:30 AM.  He walked up to me and I arrowed him at 11 yards with not a bit of cover between us.  (He ran 35 yards and collapsed with two pierced lungs and a torn diaphragm - the perfect bowhunt).  I tried for several years to take one on the ground and that was my first success.  I can still visualize that shot.

I never gun hunt from a tree-stand and have killed over 30 deer from ranges of 5 yards to 120 yards . . . most at about 25 yards while sitting on a stump or ground level tree-seat.  (And for the last 20 years with a traditional flintlock or percussion muzzleloader).  The trick there is to be quiet, patient and put in a lot of time where the deer are.  Again, I pay great attention to the wind direction.

Tree stands are easier (IMHO) for two reasons.  Your smell is less of a factor and your movement is out of their general attention.

This is the first year I havent bought new scentlok and I am paying for it.  I have been busted several times and usually dont have much of a problem.  I know lots of people badmouth it but in my experiences I have seen it work more often than not.  Combine it with good rubber boots and good scent hygene and hunt the wind.  Then if he does come down wind you have a better chance.  But always remember that there is no way to contain all of your scent in a practical hunting situation.  Best of luck!

Shan,

Spot and stalk, still-hunting or just plain attempting to sneak up on a deer and make a good shot; is about the hardest thing you can do. AND, in my opinion the most fun/exciting!

When moving through the woods and stalking deer, the wind is the MOST important consideration! The suggestion of adding a small feather on a thread to one tip of your bow is an excellent thing to do. It can tell you instantly whether you are good to go or about to be busted. I have one on all my hunting bows.

My standard method is to take 3-5 steps and stop, listen and look. Mentaly disect the forest ahead of you. Tree trunks are vertical, most limbs and brush are vertical, grass is vertical. Watch for horizontal movement across the field of view. Pick everything apart piece by piece until you pick-out a piece of a deer, then put the puzzle of the whole thing together to see it.

After picking everything apart and not seeing a deer, take a few more steps and go through the process again. You really can not go too slow.

As far as deer hunting being a tree stand monopoly, NO WAY! I hunt stands when the terrain or conditions call for it (or I feel like it). I hunt ground blinds or pop-up blinds when the conditions require (or I just feel like it) and I love to stalk and still-hunt when I can (or I feel like it, getting the picture?).

There are as many ways to hunt deer as there are people hunting them. There are certianly some basics to pick-up on that can flatten the learning curve a little, but the BEST way to learn deer-hunting, is to go hunt deer. These wonderful animals that we are so devoted to are really the best teachers. They will let you know what works and what doesn't.

Just stay focused on the good hunt, not the final kill. That way you won't get discouraged. It will all come together in the proper time. Enjoy the journey.

OkKeith

Wow, you gentlemen truly have a wealth of information!
Congratulations to you Mr.Pearsall on your 'avatar' dear. That must have been quite the experience. I hope to emulate such a feat.
Mr.Owen, it's great to hear that you enjoy switching it up and the thrill of the stalk. It really seems like the purist form of the hunt, not to detract from any other method, but the skill required and the double dynamic aspect (both you and the deer are moving) really make it exciting. I've employed 'the stalk' successfully on rabbits back at home but I feel like the Whitetail is a slightly more formidable quarry.
Like you said, the best way to learn is to go out and do it. I don't get too much time off here at the Naval Academy but hopefully in the upcoming weeks I'll be able to squeeze out into those sacred woods again for a little soul repair and of course some deer hunting.

How much baking soda per wash load do you guys use?

just sprinkle in about a 1/4 of it in wash.  Like okkeith said.  I have stalked whitetails and turkeys.  Hard to do but fun as heck.  If you take your time and watch the wind, you will be suprised at how close you actually can get to a deer, but throw the clock away and take your time.  turkey's are a different story.  Main thing is to enjoy and have fun.

Thank you all for the informative discussion!

The most important thing is to play the wind.  It doesn't hurt to shower in scent eliminating soap and use deoderant and spray but that won't get you 100% scent free.  If you're breathing you're going to produce scent.  Don't waste money on scent lock clothing.  I buy my hunting clothes at wally world and shot my first deer from the ground at 8 feet and have actually had them closer than that.

I'm not an advocate of scent-control clothing. To use it effectively requires much more than jut putting it on. Total body coverage, breath containment, contamination free, etc. Also, it has a much shorter life span than most believe and certainly after one season it is no better than regular camo clothing. I say this after two years serving as the Chemical Warfare Training Officer, Surface Forces, Pacific Fleet.

Basic common sense scent control coupled with hunting skills, such as minding wind direction and thermals will put you 'in the hunt'. Usually after several days of hunting, I'm digging into the bottom of the dirty cloths bag to find something that doesn't smell as bad as what I have on. Last season I used the Silver Scent products for body order, hair, and breath control and noticed a real reduction in body orders and clothing smells after strenous hunts in Rocky Mountain terrain.     http://www.silverscentproducts.com/  

90% of ordor orginates with your breath. If you don't have $$ to spend on breath control products, just fill a squeeze bottle with Hydrogen Peroxide mouth wash and use it about every two hours to 'freshen up'.

Another factor to pay attention to is UV signature. Laundry brighteners can make you appear as a blue, glowing alien to deer. Check for UV signature with a black light. Eliminating UV signature from your clothing and gear will eliminate getting busted when the wind is in your favor.
  http://www.atsko.com/products/uv-protection/u-v-killer.html  
  http://www.atsko.com/products/uv-protection/ultraviolet-flashlight.html

I see you're 19 so women and having a lot of them around you is probably pretty high on you priority list...right?  :knothead:   Too much of this stuff, IMO, has got to permeate your skin and stick with you for days. Look for products that don't have perfume additives...there out there. They are usually marketed to people with sensitive skin. Even without all of these things you're still going to stink like a predator. So like many have said, watch the wind and thermals. If the wind or thermals change for your setup...move or you'll get busted and possible blow that spot for a very long time.

I carry two puffer bottles filled with sifted fire place ash. There is a feather tied to the tip of my bow and I carry milk weed seeds with me. The feather and the puffer bottle get used the most. The milkweed seed get used when I'm in a treestand.

Another trick that may help is vanilla. Carry 6 or so cotton balls soaked with vanilla into the field with you in a pill bottle or 35mm film canister. When you setup your ambush spot, place one or two vanilla soaked cotton balls up wind of where you want the deer to stop. This may get the animal to turn its head away from you and stand long enough for you to compose yourself and make the shot.

Here are directions for making homemade scent killer

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=078333

This stuff is recommended for use to get the skunk smell out of dogs after they have been sprayed, so it must have some scent eliminating properties to it.


Good luck brother and welcome   :wavey:  to the site. You've already made a great choice by signing up on TG. There are a lot of knowledgeable and helpful people here.

Another thing...always...always carry a camera into the field with you and take lots of pictures when you down an animal. Don't ruin you hunt by taking a picture of your trophy laying in the back of a truck, hanging from a rope or laying on a concrete slab. Be prepared. Clean up the animal and take the time to pose it and yourself in the field so you can have a memorable picture to look back at 20, 30 or 40 years from now.  :campfire:

Call me compulsive or OCD, but with my system, I have deer downwind of me (treestand), without being busted, on a regular basis, and have for years.  None of these were big bucks, but lots of does and medium - smaller bucks.  Here is my formula, basically the same as you will get from Steve Bartylla :

rubber boots, only used for hunting and stored and treated as has been noted above.  Shower with unscented soap daily, clothing washed in same, aired out outside, and stored in plastic bags, same with pack, bow haul line, rattle bag, etc etc.  Scent lok clothing on the outside, finally ASAT 3D leafy suit over top of everything.  I spray down my bow, arrows and quiver lightly with some type of anti-scent spray.  No: scented deodorant, shampoo, hair gel, etc.  Brush my teenth & tongue with baking soda before going out.  I keep everything in totes or scentproof bags and no matter the weather, strip to my whitey tightys while standing at the back of my truck, and redress from my gear boxes & bags.  LW climber treestand is stored outside starting in about August.

My conclusion is that my scent is reduced to the point where the deer conclude whatever human is responsbile is very far away.

Since I went to this system about 10 years ago, including the ASAT 3D suit, I have increased my deer sightings by roughly 50%.  My kill rate has also gone up.

Some folks, including my family, think this system is waaay crazy, but hey - it works !

Got two does so far this fall with my new Fedora HP recurve - shoots like a dream.  Keep passing up small bucks - maybe I will get lucky this weekend.

Good hunting everyone

Here is a tidbit...  If you are hunting farm country and horses or cows are present..  find a pile of #$%@& and step in it.  Really... get your boots covered a bit.  It is an odor the deer are aquainted with and will help cover your own.  Just an old country trick.

How did you get from CA to the east coast for school?

Two things come to mind, most of your scent comes from your head, hands, and your mouth. I use Dead Downwind body soap and shampoo in one, Dove soap for sensitive skin unscented for the rest of the body, then I use Arm and Hammer deodorant unscented. I wear rubber boots and spray everything with Dead down wind, or any of the other scent killer sprays, I wear a scent stopper type hat and face mask but still spray them with a scent killer, and I still try my best to use the wind.

Hope that helps.

Bump for an old thread as I got busted at less than 5 yards last evening by a mature doe. She couldn't see me but when she went straight downwind she blew, stomped and did everything she could to get me to move! I was set up properly and did not know she was going to go that direction- I'll re-evaluate next week when I go back out!

L.R.

QuoteOriginally posted by erierik:
I use hickory smoke,has always worked for me.They even offer a commercial smoker now I see.I just burn some hardwood chips,blow on it and wala,douse yourself in the smoke.I think it kills some of your scent and deer in my area are use to burning leaves and woodburners.I still always try to keep wind in my face of course.

Right on what I do.  I tried for years to be scent free...Its impossible we STINK to animals!  Anyhow hunt the wind and then use natural cover to your area I use smoke too a lot of woodburning stoves in my area so nothing to alarm them if the wind goes out of my favor.  If near apple orchard or hickory grove I rub those all over me too.

No matter what gimmick product of the day may claim, you cannot eliminate your scent.

I wash my hunting clothes in plain water, and hang them outside on the clothesline to dry. I keep them in a plastic tote, and do not wear them anywhere but hunting. When the leaves start to drop, I put a few handfuls of them in the tote with my clothes.

I do not use perfumed soaps, deodorants or shampoos. I dont want to add any extra stink, just reduce it as luch as possible.

I keep track of the wind. Take a couple milkweed pods, and open them up. remove the seed for the bottoms of the fluffy stuff. I release a couple of those from my stands, and watch where it goes.

Like water flowing around rocks and obstructions in a creek, wind does the same. It swirls and wanders as it encounters trees,brush, hills and dips. sunny areas vs shaded areas will effect the flow of air. Watch that milkweed fluff and see where it goes, you may be surprised to see it end up totally opposite of where you think your scent is blowing.

Reducing your stink may halp somewhat, but know that if enough molecules of you reach a deers nose, its game over. Every time.

But dont waste your money on scent killer soap, scent lock suits, scent killer gum, or other magicc potions.

One other thing that will make you stick out is your face. All the camo clothing in the world is useless unless you do something to reduce that shining face. It sticks out like a headlight.

I use camo makeup, or burnt cork. If I dont have any of that, I use a piece of blackened wood from the campfire pit. If you prefer, use a face net. But cover your face.

I wash my clothes in unscented detergent. Then I have a big zip lock bag that I store my clothes in. I hang them up at the barn. In the bag I use some cedar that I cut. You can also throw some hickory chips in there as well. I am a firm believer in the puffer bottles and keep a close watch on the wind. Some days its amazing what the wind is doing. I would say out of it all the puffer bottles are the best arsenal for me. Does any of the other stuff work? I don't know but it gives me a little more confidence and that keeps me more mentally in the hunt.

If I were close enough to apply any scent killer to a deer, I'd have a shot.

Other wise I rely on bathing and wind direction primarily.

I have been known to carry a small glass container with some cotton balls soaked with ammonia.

I know that all kinds of critters seem to get interested in figuring out that smell.

God bless,Mudd

as with all deer hunting ive done, the best scent block is being downwind of your prey. If YOU are upwind of the prey, you are in the wrong spot. Sometimes its avoidable with planning, but sometimes there is nothing you can do to outguess a nanny, or that big buck.

You might be able to mask your scent, and im sure the retail industry will tell you that you most certainly can. But its been my experience that even sometimes ive had deer trail me where ive walked in, but nearly every single time, they bolt at first chance. Play the wind into your advantage, not only will you be a better hunter because of it, you'll see more game even if you dont get a shot. a 2 yr old buck on a WMA will show you what he thinks of scent block, a 2 yr buck on priv property thats never seen a hunter, or even been shot at, may not spook and give you a second shot, or might even trail you up just to see what you look like.

Ok here's my take on this, take it for what you think it's worth. period. Yes I believe I CAN fool a deer's nose as for smelling me while in a tree stand. Maybe not 100% but 99% of the time. Nope not selling anything, and don't ask me how but it's entirely possible. It's a combination of several things plus my own homemade scent killer. Yes the same scent killer is sold on the market (nope it's got NO baking soda or any combo of) but to use it like it needs to be done you'd have a fortune in it and nobody uses at such. The same commericial spray is like $8 and I have maybe 30cents in it. But like I said it's part of a package. Now with that said I don't care what you wear for foot wear the deer can tell where you've walked. Some better than others. I compare them to dogs, some have a knack for tracking that you can't beat while others could care less. I've been using my system for about 5 years now and could care less how the wind is blowing while on stand. PERIOD.

I love watching those videos and reading books saying never hunt a stand if the wind is wrong. LOL Here in WV you'd either never hunt or be changing stands quicker than Obama says I won't raise taxes. lol

Please no PM messages for the "secret" potion just consider there is one!

I am not the most experienced hunter but I found that any type of scent suppressing system does help but if the wind is wrong they are no match for a whitetail's nose.

I gotta share this:

I've worn rubber boots for 25 yrs. Never wear them but in the field. Spray down inside and out and change boots if I come back to the truck mid-day before going back out.

Early in my rubber boot era, I was doing all that meticulously.  I walked in, set up a stand in a tree and waited. A red fox came trotting along 50 yrds perpendicular to my entry trail. When the fox hit the trail, it was like it hit a glass wall! That was 4 hrs after I came in!!!

Sniffed way I came in...then way I went...looked all around and spotted me and lit outa dodge

Ruh-roh!

Watch your rubber knee highs when you walk...they buckle and "bellow".

I'm surmising now, but I surmise in rubber boots, feet sweat... (my socks come out soaked wool or not) and with each step you're pumping out foot odor to spill onto the ground!

I stood still on a cool day...just rocked back and forth to mimic a step and could feel warm air pouring out t he top of the boot with each puff of the "bellows".

I now blouse my boots airborne style and keep the foot odor tucked INSIDE the boot.

Not foolproof, but it HAS made it that I've not again had any critter cross my path and bolt like before I did that! FWIW...

Another thought before I crawl down off da soapbox.

As 99% say, can't fool a deer's nose. Nope, but you can dilute your odor to the point where he thinks you're far away and no threat! That is my goal.

Here in the East, the farm country and public land is polluted with people near year round... they always are smelling people... but when they get a snootful, it's time to shag town!

By showering, dressing in line-dried clothing IN THE FIELD at the truck, never wearing my boots to drive, blousing them to stop foot odor pouring out, and using scent killer sprays, I firmly believe I've made my stink seem old or farther away.  

YMMV

As for hunting the wind... on small farm tracts, or pass-thru areas of only a few acres, you NEVER know which way a deer might come. That whole incredible notion of finding bedding areas, setting up enroute to food sources down wind or stalking into the wind... Wow...that must be sooooo cool!!!   :saywhat:  

I'd have crossed 4 sets of posted ground to even TRY that!  :knothead:

I personally don't think "humans" will ever understand scent as we just can't relate to anything that compares to it in the animal kingdom. I've witnessed too many times animals, (dogs, deer, foxes etc) responding to scent trails from humans walking regardless of foot wear. Lately I've been training a "mutt" to blood trail deer, as time goes on I'm convinced you can't leave a training trail no matter what you do without human scent being dispersed also. But the good news is that the dog is  smart enough to realize what we are tracking and  it's not the rubber boot smell!

Believe me when I say it IS possible to beat a deer's nose after your in a tree stand and no not a nose bleed height.

try Dead Down Wind products.I've used them with great success.However,nothing beats having the wind to your face!!

However,nothing beats having the wind to your face!!

I agree 110% but here in WV wait five minutes and it will change five times on a slow day.

I am going to go against the grain here. I always shower with Sauve green apple shampoo before hunting. I think it makes me smell tasty to them   :biglaugh:  I have been doing it for 15+ years and it's worked for me so I'm not changing. And no there are no orchards anywhere nearby and I hunt only public land.
I try to keep the wind in my face as much as possible or at least get the stand downwind of where I hope the deer to be when I take my shot. All of that said I firmly believe no matter what you do,wear,or douse yourself in, killing a mature whitetail downwind is virtually impossible. ymmv

x2 on the rubber boots and cow pies.

I also have begun "smoking out" meaning...I stand in campfire smoke with all my clothes on. It's free and it works great in my neck of the woods.

I'll throw in my 2 cents.

Bathe well with unscented detergent. I use whatever I find on clearance at Walmart right near the end of hunting season and save for the following year. Never really thought one was any better than the next. I do use unscented deoderant, I also keep a box of arm and hammer and will put an ounce or so in my hair.

I wash all of my hunting clothes in unscented laundry detergent, in a pinch I will use arm and hammer baking soda or extra body detergent. I also keep 3 or 4 wash cloths and towels washed in the same manner for bathing and for drying off after I shower.

With my clothes clean I keep them in ziploc bags and use various natural cover scents in the backs. Pine needles, crushed leaves of oaks, hickory and sweetgum. An old pair of the wife's panty hose works well (waashed with hunting clothes of course) to fill with forest litter for a natural "Earth Scent". Another good cheap scent is plain old pine-sol. If I am hunting in pines I will even wash my clothes in the stuff.

Wear rubber boots, use scent-away or other scent neutralizer and always hunt the wind. In all honesty I worry as much about the scent I leave behind as I do about spoiling my hunt. Spray down my stand, tree steps, and anything else I come in contact with before I leave the woods.