David Peterson of Traditional Bowhunter magazine knocked it out of the park this month with his article in the Traditional Wisdom feature. I enjoyed Mr Peterson's like minded views on scent control. I say a must read for all trad deer hunters. What say you!
1. Prey animals play the wind.
2. If we do not play the wind it is hard to be in the correct spot.
3. If you breath, scent loc suits cannot work. 4. I am glad others ignore the wind, deer assume people are stupid.
And generally the deer are correct. :biglaugh:
Yep! Wind is the only sure fire way to beat them. Best hunting product available. It works and it's free!
Methinks you will not change their minds. Do what needs to be done, and laugh when you kill an animal most guys could never approach with their current philosophy of hunting the wind.
For a solo predator, that's pretty much the long and short of it. Play the wind, try to get into your stand/ambush site undetected and move as little as possible when you get there. Most predators stink to high heaven and that's the philosophy they hunt by and are far more successful than any human hunter that uses scent control.
-Charlie
I hunt the wind every time, spray down some but don't count on anything but proper stand placement and wind consideration.
Trumpkin, I know, I know, Just wanted to point it out that's all.
Best of luck to your season Malichi, my PM box is always open.
I have one spot. If I played the wind I would never hunt there and it's the spot I killed more deer. I think it also has a lot to do where you hunt, big woods, small plots going through developments. On my own property where they are used to my scent. But most cases you should play the wind.
Never forget about thermals either. They are rising as you head into the day and sinking as it gets colder into the evening. That can tell you whether to hunt a bottom or a ridge. I have had deer dead down wind, but the rising thermals took my scent right over their heads. Otherwise these deer should have been in the next county. I guess thermals are still considered part of playing the wind and they can do some interesting things with your smell.
-Charlie