Don't make the Ivory soap mistake!!

Sliver Sticks · October 05, 2010, 09:08:00 AM

Last year I saw a post touting Ivory soap as a good soap for us to use since it was "98.44% Pure". There's a problem here though guys. Ivory soap is made from rendered animal fat and in fact, it's a STRONG DEER REPELLENT! Cornell's Cooperative Extension even suggests using Ivory soap on a stick to repel deer from your gardens! YIKES! That's good enough for me to stay away from the stuff.
I personally use one of the commercial unscented "hunters soaps" and enjoy the sweet smell of success.

Caleb the bow breaker · October 05, 2010, 09:57:00 AM

interesting, never thought about it that way.

C

Bjorn · October 05, 2010, 10:08:00 AM

Relax y'all-it did not keep the deer out of our garden at all. Nor did lion urine, nor music.

Davt · October 05, 2010, 10:09:00 AM

Well, rendered animal fat. Now that is what I want to clean up with. Perhaps Ivory soap on a stick all over the woods except where you're at would concentrate the deer for you.

Bigkid · October 05, 2010, 10:10:00 AM

hmmmm...

that could explain a lot!

for years I only used Ivory soap just a soap that I liked to use. Most of my hunts are morning or afternoon Hunts. that would explain why I don't see near as many deer as my Buddy that can sit 30 yards away from me and he will see 2 or 3 deer and I won't see a one!

thanks for the Tip.
No more Ivory for me!

lpcjon2 · October 05, 2010, 10:11:00 AM

Garlic keeps deer out of the garden.for bathing Lava brand soap and a green scratch pad.

Bjorn how did you get lion urine? will it keep coyotes away.

RAU · October 05, 2010, 10:11:00 AM

Thats all soap is. Fat and Lye! Its gotta be better than irish spring, dial, lever, etc. with the scents added

Kevin Dill · October 05, 2010, 10:22:00 AM

I'd recommend you bathe with Dove or maybe Nivea soaps. I'm pretty sure any deer that smelled you would have absolutely no fear of being shot...

;-)

Apex Predator · October 05, 2010, 10:25:00 AM

Never had a problem with ivory! It rinses off scent free. Try it yourself.

Zmonster · October 05, 2010, 10:29:00 AM

I like 3Rivers Hunters Mask and camp soap. Not only does it smell great, but effective at keeping you clean. Im not sure about how it does to a deers nose, but my dear says I smell good.

Kingstaken · October 05, 2010, 10:31:00 AM

Always have used pink Dove..
Ivory dries out the skin. That's probably why some don't see deer as you are loosing skin that's floating around everytime you brush up against something in the woods.

October 05, 2010, 10:41:00 AM

Go with Cal-Ben soap, it has a nice almond smell. Deer love almond patties from the local bakery.

bornagainbowhunter · October 05, 2010, 10:55:00 AM

Hmmm, seems all soaps are bad. maybe you should just use a wire brush, they don't smell.

Really guys, you can't fool a deers nose. Hunt the wind. I try to keep as scent free as possible, but it is not possible to be totally scent free. I just use unscented soap and hunt the wind. If i am in an area with cedars, I will usually rub some branches on myself before I get to the stand.

Cover scents and scent free as possible is a good idea IMHO because wind sometimes swirls, but nothing beats hunting the prevailing wind.

ChristopherO · October 05, 2010, 10:57:00 AM

Nutragina unscented cleansing bar works well.

stagetek · October 05, 2010, 11:01:00 AM

I used Physoderm for a long time. Somewhat expensive and hard to find. Now I use one of the non-scent hunting soaps available. They seem to work ok.

October 05, 2010, 11:02:00 AM

Bjorn, can I hunt in your garden? Those sound like the perfect deer. They cannot smell or hear.

Mint · October 05, 2010, 11:06:00 AM

I use arm & hammer unscented soap, a lot cheaper than the hunters soap.

Mudd · October 05, 2010, 11:11:00 AM

I like good ole lye soap.

No scent in it that I can detect.

I know the deer in front of me won't smell it either since the wind will be coming from them to me..lol

God bless,Mudd

Bear · October 05, 2010, 11:12:00 AM

Jeff Strubberg · October 05, 2010, 11:29:00 AM

Almost all soaps are rendered fat and lye in some proportion. Been that way since, well, the invention of soap.

Lye soap is wood ash and animal fat. Been used by hunters for hundreds of years, if not thousands.