scent control over rated ??

[swampbuck]

Since folks are talking about scent control I thought I'd throw this one out to ponder...

Sure I go thru the routine of washing in sentless soap or baking soda keep my close's in plastic bags ect but genrally speaking even with scent lock (I have that too ) the wind is our best friend or worst enemy.

With that in mind I now carry coffee     on cold days and don't really worry as much about scent as I once did...it's not likely I'll strip down to my undies again anytime soon to change cloths just before reaching my stand it doesn,t seem worth it....I watch the wind and hope she's my friend that day and enjoy my stinky cup of coffee that warms my fingers thru the cup and my insides as I sip it down

whatcha think ??? could it be over rated

[Richie Nell]

Yes....trying to be scentless is overated.

Hunting with the wind is not overated.

[longbowman]

Well, I've been blasted for voicing my opinion on this subject before but technically I agree 100% with you.  The thought that the scent block stuff actually works like people think it does is a fantasy.  I hunt the wind.  I find out what the wind is doing from every direction it can blow from my actual stands from right under me to the bedding or feeding area that I expect deer to come from.  I've found that I can have the wind in my face in my stand only to discover that it gets pulled around or sucked under me and right at the deer on ground level when they near shooting range.  I've also had stands where the wind was hitting me in the back but it only traveled 5 or 10 yds. beyond me and curled right back towards my tree at ground level.  I believe these are the situations that the scent lock people are capitalizing on as having deer come in from striaght down wind.  Have your coffee, know the wind and enjoy the hunt!

[Curveman]

I'm with you and actually wanted to cover over my Scentblock clothing and packpack labels as I don't really want to advertise to others what I don't believe in myself. I was annoyed at my bear guide one year for smoking a cigar on the way to a hunt. He sent me a video of a bear coming in close then his lit cigar appeared in the view as he held it up to the camera! Bears know you're there anyway in my opinion. I think that coffee would just make the deers curious-not that I am recommending being upwind!

[swampbuck]

I use milkweed fluff to watch what the wind is really doing since it seldom blows in a straight line best of all it's free just keep it dry,I use a 35mm film canister.

[stuckum]

I don't care what you wear or do you are never sent free..

[Bjorn]

I spot and stalk so wind is everything. Sure I use the soaps, baking soda, and step in every cow pie-but the actual scent fabrics are a proven waste of time and money-plus they are clammy!

[swampbuck]

I use that stuff too just don't fret it as much as I once did.Sure I dress lite for walking in just a t shirt with my stuff in my pack.....which is on my back gettin all sweaty LOL

Don't get me wrong I try to stay as clean as I can most times but sometimes I just gotta wonder why

I do think it helps if ya go all the way but even then....  

[**DONOTDELETE**]

The American Indians didn't have scent-loc or scent blocker, dead down wind or any other scent killers. They just played the wind

[Shaun]

My very first bow deer (1979) I had to put down my smoke and bottle of beverage to pick up my bow.

Its all the wind and I don't hunt a stand if the wind is wrong. "Light and variable" is a curse, give me a steady 5-10 mph breeze and proper stand placement and I'm good to go.

Deer can smell where you walk, where you are and what you had for breakfast, with or without charcoal and silver.

[vermonster13]

The wind is everything. It is also important to be careful where you leave your scent. Plan the hike to your stand accordingly. If you cross or walk in on trails that the deer are using you have alerted them to your presence. Cover scents may buy you an extra second or two when the wind shifts at a bad time so aren't without some value, maybe. As far as the clothing and such, well you'd have to stop breathing to be scent free or wear a filter mask of some sort.

[wapiti]

Keeep your scent to a minium and hunt into the wind. I think scent block and scent eliminators help to some degree by reducing the didtance your scent line travels. I say this from watching wildlife at a distance and seeing the reaction both with and without. I think it will reduce spooking of game that is out of sight and out of range. With that said I don't use scent eliminators anymore just shower and try not to sweat up a storm. Observation has shown me that if the wind changes in their favor within bowrange your busted!PERIOD. If they don't run it is not because they have not smelled you.

The stuff helps at long range but I can't shoot critters at 150yds with my stick.Onthe flip side-if you believe it helps then it probably will as a positive state of mind is important.


Here is a thought for believers and nonbelievers of scent control. I can hide my ol 3 legged labs eyes and ears and pick up a stick from the forest floor and throw it 50 yds outs. When I say"wheres the stick? he makes a couple of circles and zeros in on it. Hand scent alone!

[Rick Perry]

being scent free is not overerated  ............. its impossible ! .............. there is nothing more important than playing the wind  ........ some days the wind is your friend ....... some days it is not  .


I used to smoke and I cant tell ya how many times I've had to put out a cig to shoot a deer.  .............. I have actually lit up with deer within 50 yards if I wasnt interested in shooting just to see what would happen  .............. If the wind blows the smoke to them they will spook  ....... just exactly like they do without the smoke !!!!! ....... LOL  


I do try to keep my clothes as scent free as possible and shower before going to the woods if possible .


BUT ..


some of my best deer have come on after work hunts or rolling out of bed late and rushing my stinky self to the woods  !!!!!! ......  

[woodchucker]

I use "Cover-Up" scents that are sold by our good friend,and fellow TradGanger Joe Skipp. I have had very good luck with these because I believe they have a strong vanilla scent to act as an attractor,and at the same time they are "non-threatening" and seem to put the deer at ease.

BTW, Here is another one to ponder.....

Years ago I was hunting and a woman walking a Golden Retriever walked by on an adjacent trail. She walked up the trail,then a while later came back down the same trail and was gone. About a half hour later I watched a group of 14 does and fawns walk down the same exact trail. Sorry,but I don't buy "scent control".

I belive that deer have a "sixth sense",and if something doesn't "feel right" they spook.

Just one Old Farts opinion.....

[Dave Lay]

I am with Richie, Personally I wash my clothes with the rest of the laundry, but try to air dry them, hang them in a closet with the rest of my huntin stuff, shower with ivory soap, But I do watch the wind very carefully, if its wrong, I dont hunt a stand, or if it switches while in a stand I get down and move.. you will never even be close to scentless, I never understood why that in 80 or 90 degree temps, I see guys wearing the same long sleeve scent lock stuff they they would in cooler temps,  and sweating thier butts off producing even more scent.. to me, its as important that ya need to be careful with spreading scent approaching a stand. by approaching from the right direction and trying to not touch much stuff..

[longbowman]

Can I say (pun intended) that you guys are a breath of fresh air!

[J-dog]

I try to wash my clothes in some scent free UV stuff, change when I am going in to the woods. then it is so hot that even w/T-shirt I sweat like pig going in so the rest is for naught. go figure.

I try to watch scent but wind is more important, if they get downwind nothing is gonna save you, not all the 200 dollar scent suits you care to buy.

Just my thoughts,

J

[SuperK]

One of the best "tools" for checking out what the wind is actually doing is buy a bag of cottonballs.  Pull one apart until you have a few fibers,turn it loose and watch how they swirl around tree trunks, stumps, etc. A real eye-opener on those days when the wind is "light and variable".  I'd rather hunt without camo than without a  few cottonballs tucked in my pocket.

[Steelhead]

Play the wind and watch where you walk in and out avoiding walking where you think the deer come from.

Alot of that scent free stuff is such a hassle I dont bother with it and it can get expensive as well.i like to do it the old fashioned way.If  I get busted thats part of the gig I figure and the way its supposed to be really IMO.sue I stay clean and take minimal precautions like hanging my clothes out and not walking though gas station parking lots etc.But dont go overly anal like some people do

i like milkweed as well to keep track of the wind.No better windicator.Remove the seed.It will tell you exactly what the winds doing.

[Winterhawk1960]

C'mon guys......your gonna cost the "scent-free" industry millions of dollars. With the economy the way it already is, are you sure that you wanna do that?

     :rolleyes:          

Winterhawk1960