I hunted my stand on a private farm this morning with no luck, I didn't even see a deer. In previous years this stand had been very productive---not so this year! After a few hour break for lunch I headed back to my stand. As I began to climb my tree I Got a whiff of an odor that smelled like the inside of a laundromat.I knew it wasn't my clothes because I only wash mine with baking soda.
         I started walking around a bit and the odor would come and go. finally I dropped down on all fours and smelled the earth--- There it was!!
Some one had saturated a large area around my stand with some type of detergent or fabric softener smelling stuff!!!
I'm Pretty sure I know who did it but can't prove it.
      I was wondering if I should invest in a trailcam to positively identify this guy and conceal it really well? If so, what make and type of camera is advisable?
      I'm also wondering how I could neutralize the smell and taste of the stuff from the area -----maybe baking soda diluted in water and applied with a sprinkling can. I would appreciate any thoughts on this matter. Thanks, Wayne

wow,, I love to hear the resolve to this.. Probably are correct in your suspicion. What a shame. Kinda reminds me of the show grumpy old men..Arra,, seems somebody in your neighborhood is jealous of our passion to pursue big game. Keep us posted on this one. Carma is one to not underestimate,, Best wishes.

The prices of trail cams are dropping.  I picked one up for $69 on sale, though I haven't used it yet.  I am just going to hang it up by the apple tree in the yard to get some wild life pics, maybe.  You might want to get one with an infrared flash, so the SOB doesn't know his/her pic was taken.  You could try spreading a bag of lime around your stand, but until the rain and snow dilute the smell, you may need to locate another stand site.  Best wishes - Ron

Oh, by the way... I hate to see anyone hurt, but maybe they will have a car/deer collision and have a high deductable on their car insurance.  Then maybe they will appreciate hunting as a useful tool for controlling deer populations.  My brother hit a big buck with his 1956 GMC pick up truck and did lots of damage.  He appreciates my hunting a little more as a result.

Many states have laws against interfering with legal hunting. I would make a call to the game department once I have a trail cam photo and see if they have a law to apply to the creep who is sabotaging your stand.
Let us all know how this works out for you.
Joe

This is terrible.

Work hard and get a deer somehow.  Take it to your tainted stand and take some photos.  Share them with this individual.  Tell him deer were like a magnet to you this year and you have no clue as to why.

Be a little vague on your explanation and he'll draw the conclusion that you were hunting from your tainted stand.  The reaction should tell you all you need to know.

I would think that the deer would grow accustom to the smell and disregard it

Is the property posted? Do you have a lease? If so, these things will help you if you get a photo pf the perpetrator. Report it to your game warden and see his/her advice.

As for the odor, maybe some powdered lime and a hopeful rain? And, very carefully, maybe a controlled burn of some leaves over the infected area might help. The smell of smoke is normal to most deer that live near humans. At least it is around here. Folks burn yard waste all the time around my parts.

Check out  www.Nachez.com  they have good prices on all kinds of T Camera's.

FWIW property doesn't have to be posted in some states to nail folks for trespass.

Can you say.. Environmental Protection Agency?

Those folks are fanatics, don't believe it, set one old rubber tire on fire...lol

I think you might even get them to clean up an environmental spill or an illegal dump site.

I like how ceme24 thinks!!...lol

I am sorry that you're being harassed.

Good luck on finding a solution!

God bless,Mudd

I hate to hear that.  Is the person you suspect a hunter or a leaf eating tree hugger?

Unless you get a high dollar non-flash camera, if he comes in at low light, you'll simply have your camera broken or stolen as the flash immediately lets them know what happened and where the camera is.  

I like the idea of killing a deer elsewhere and leading that person to believe they created a "deer magnet" for you.

In all honesty though, the scent will wear away like any other odor in the woods.  It will just take some time.  Trying to "fix" it will likely do more harm than good.

Ipcjon2, your link took me to some Tennessee Real Estate offers.

Wayne, When you set your camera up don't set it low. set it in an ajacent tree 10- 12 feet updirected to the base of your stand. They won't look up for cameras only around at their level. Otherwise they may steal it.  Good luck at catching them.

get a regular flash type camera and set it for daytime only or cover the flash with duct tape.  then set it up off the ground about 10-12', angling it down.  i busted a trespasser using this technique one time.  i left a note on his chair and actually got pics of him walking to his chair, picking up and reading the note, and packing up and leaving.  he had a very surprised look on his face while reading the note.

"Burning tires is horribly polluting BTW and the laws that prohibit that are good ones."

I couldn't agree more!

I may have chosen the wrong agency but the idea is still one worth looking at as it is illegal to dump waste(not supposed to be there stuff) into the soil.

As far as being ignorant.. of well everybody has to be something. You have a very blessed day john.

God bless,Mudd

PS: John please know that I have already forgiven you for what feels like a personal attack. I do wish for you a blessed day.
With the love of Christ, Roy

Wayne,
     One of the popular scent killers would probably put that smell to rest.Deal is they still know you are hunting there,even though it is "Private". They would probably continue to bother you.
 Trail cameras would work to see who it is,as long as they do not see the camera. Then you would have a hunting area that smells like "Tide" and be missing a camera.
 A few years back I would have left your situation make my blood boil. Hunting season is to short to leave some clown ruin it for you. Find another location and go fill some tags.

                           Good Shooting,
                                  Craig

I didn't even check..but I knew you were from NJ. Too much of this BS goes on here in this state. I saw a nice camera at Dicks Sporting Goods for fitty bucks.

Good luck