scent control

[devildogg]

i don't think there is sucha thing as scent control if a deer comes in downwind and didn't smell you he really didn't smell you its not because you sprayed your clothes down or stored them in a scent tight bag its because your scent was blowing over the top of him just as tbusch said its about thermals some push your scent up and some down the closer something is to you while your in a tree the better the chance your wind will blow over the top of him try all your scent control while hunting from the ground and see how many animals get by down wind if people did that they would take there dream season suit and turn it sideways and stick straight up the drury boys a$$ no just kidding but this is a touchy subject for some people i myself will just play the wind and buy cheap camo

[Dcoy]

Well wasted 40 minutes on this last night and lost it but will try a shorter version again.
First of all as I mentioned before,and as I see Devildog mentioned as well,this is a hot subject and normally I just stay away from it but since Coyotehunter challenged me,I’ll throw out my opinions.Please remember though opinions are like assholes-everyone has one and most stink so…..
I’ll start with the carbon clothing.It simply can’t work as advertised and the ongoing lawsuits about them may or may not shed light on the ‘truth’ cause they are just the usual ‘battle of the experts’(hired guns to sing your tunes in court)and not likely to change many minds.Research carbon and the subject and make up your own mind.Its your $$,buy what you want with it.Furthermore though,IMO,this crap is the reverse of ‘help’ for most that use it.Why?Because they use it,foul it out,then cram it in some ‘scent container’ and reuse it and on and on.What happens when you put stink in a bottle(air tight container)?It gets worse!They’d be better off airing it out but…..Again,its your $$$.
As to some of the other new ‘scent clothes’ coming out,like say the ‘silver’ lined or silver impregnated stuff,can’t give you much there cause I’ve never used or researched it but I know I have no intention of buying it.
As to the Scent Sprays,well that’s a little different and I’ll go into it a bit but I actually know quite a bit about the subject so…I’ll be very brief but I really was there ‘at the beginning’as the saying goes.In the Spring of 1988 I was partners with a well known bowhunter.We had a company that sold ‘scents’(deer piss etc),camo clothing,tree stands and so on.That spring we had a booth at a bowhunters shoot and Show in Indiana and ran into a guy there selling basically a cat piss deodorizer as something to help hunters reduce their odor.Briefly,I ended up negotiating a contract that made my ‘partner/friend’ affiliated with the company and a recipient of 5 cents a bottle sold for the use of his name for promotional purposes. That ‘friend’ and I soon parted company because of that but he did well lets just put it that way.(it wasn’t long before every store-even mom/pop operations had bottles of it all over and away went the whole new SCENT industry.How many were sold?just imagine and do the math at 5 cents a bottle)I’m over it-honest.My wife isn’t though.Tough for awhile is all I’ll say.
Bottom line is I know a bit about the subject.Do the sprays work?IMO they can help-a little.Just remember,the claims are usually made based on tests using ‘replicated human odor’.Huh?What is that?Well its not human odor.The science claimed would take a book but I actually think it can help.Again,I won’t argue about this subject but I’ve tested this stuff many times,many ways,and my results have been different than tests done by some others.My dogs always make me if downwind and I’m within reasonable bow range unless I’m elevated and even then they make me 99% of the time.Despite near saturation with the stuff.Many times I’ve sprayed an arrow,my hands,my bow string etc and then shot the arrow into grass-my dog(s) find it every time.Now,is it because of my odor-or the odor of the spray?(they ALL have an odor)Don’t know,just know the results.IMO only fools ‘forget the wind and just hunt’.
Nevertheless,I think they help and I use them a bit as I’ll hopefully remember to mention below.
OK, before quitting I’ll answer the Q of what I do ‘scent wise’ .(remember about opinions though).Well I should say first of all I’ve been a lot like I see Terry was in that I’ve gone to extremes in the past-probably worse or more extreme actually.I’m not there anymore but still pretty dam careful about my ‘scent’.My view?Study how scent disperses(really a widening scent ‘cone’ going downwind)and it just makes sense to minimize it within reason if you can.In many situations-like around stands I use over and over again-I’m more concerned about the scent I leave after departing than I am about while there cause if I’ve played the wind right,they shouldn’t ‘make me’ while there.(there’s a good example of spray use-your tree steps)
My practice?Well I’m pretty careful(fanatical?)about all my hunting gear-clothes,stands,steps,weapons,whatever.Year round its all either exposed to the elements or in a separate shed used only for that purpose.Scattered around that shed are open(and often replaced)boxes of baking soda.Access to the shed is limited-never dogs and only occasionally anyone but me.As to my bow hunting clothes,(I have too much)they are either hanging or closed in containers.(pretty ‘scent proof ‘plastic ones)About 30 days pre season all are washed and then aired out for at least 3 weeks.Some remain out all season-others are put back into freshly aired out containers.Some go into containers that contain ‘scent’ other than baking soda.For instance If I’m hunting ‘big woods’ or Canada that year,it may contain cedar branches,or spruce,or sage ,or anise,or recently thawed tarsals,or-well as you can see I’m weird and I have some unmentionables and secrets too.Work?Who knows.I think it helps or I wouldn’t do it.
When hunting?Well I always dress outside-or in my shed.I wear my interior clothes in my truck but always put my exterior clothes except pants on at or in my stand.I put my hunting boots on when I get to my area(usually rubber but that stinks too of course)cause nothing ,sprays included,can keep gas and that type odor off the floor of your vehicle.
Spray use?I use it liberally on my truck seats and backpacks,on gloves,steps,hat bands,face masks if used,boot tops where my bare hands have gripped while pulling on,weapons,etc.on many occasions.Not always.I believe it does help.
Occasionally I’ll eat apples on stand-to make sure they get a whiff of bad breath laced with apple-but only if I’m hungry.
In short I’m careful to reduce my ‘cone’ but PLAY THE WIND.RELIGIOUSLY.
Well Coyotehunter,is that enough ‘Coy’?
Please remember: I refuse to argue about this stuff anymore;I know I’m weird;and most of all remember what I said about opinions and assholes.And,while I’ve been accused of thinking my sh__ doesn’t stink,my wife assures me it does.

Good hunting-and stinking!

[Dcoy]

Forgot a couple things.
When coyote hunting my clothes start out clean but after that rarely do anything unless they get too muddy/dirty.I play the wind and that just means when accessing/leaving the area and trying to have a clear downwind shot when calling.If its an area I'm going to come back to,I try like hell to leave as little evidence I've been there as possible but I know better and always try to do something different at least slightly location wise when I come back.

I'm a bow fanatic(used to hunt 3-5 states annually for deer alone).I've had the opportunity to hunt with SUPER bowhunters all over.Some are extreme scent freaks,most are just careful,and some could care less-EXCEPT for being smart and VERY careful about the wind.
One of the best I know,(one year we shot 10 big bucks around the country between us)most of the time uses a red/black plaid wool jacket and jeans-or dirty work Carhart bibs if cold and he's killed literally hundreds of nice deer.And elk and....
Good hunters get er done.Period.
Good hunting!

[Coyotehunter]

Dcoy, that was a great post. I understand when you know the sun sets is the west how tough it is to continue a debate that is just fact and not an opinion. Everyone needs to listen and realize what is being said here. This is just great info. Dcoy this would be a great place to post some of the pics of those monster frick'n bucks you have shot over the years. I have hunted with a bow for deer since 1979 and have shot my share. I have done it all. like most of you guys that take bowhunting seriously. You name it I have done it. I was packing leaves, tarsal glands, pine bows........etc with my camo back in the early 80's and got nuts with the suits, and sprays for years as well. my conclusion is that if you do it all, and baking soda is the best tool for most of this stuff. you will see a difference. not scent elimination but like Dcoy says, Cone reduction. Bowhunting in trees, and blinds can be enhanced by the effort to reduce your stink on stand. And by the way......I think it is all a big wast of time when it comes to hunting coyotes. I hope all the obvious reasons will allow me to forgo explaining my opinion on that one point. Loved your post Tbush as well. I could not agree more.

[bucksnbears]

hell of a post dcoy!!! i agree with all you said, you to tbush. in my original post i said i'm not afraid to sit with a bad wind. i should have said with an iffy wind and thats only as a last shot effort. as for my sucsess rates as of the last 4-5 years since i've been going all out on scent control, it has been amazing!!! i hunt from the ground alot and i'm afraid of heights , my stands are usually only 8-10 ft.i live and hunt in FLAT land so thermals arn't an issue. i've had literaly hundreds of deer down wind within 30 yards while hunting on the ground and when i'm as clean as can be many-many have not even glanced my way.i just love it when a old doe comes out first and goes through my scent cone without blowing, them old does have ruined more hunts than anything. i kinda assume you all think i'm bull-shitting but i'm not much of a b-shitter so i'll leave it be, just posted what works for me maybe it's the chloryphl tablets that are helping, trust me when i say "my shit don't stink" when i use them

[Dcoy]

Bucs,
Go with what works for you is my motto.I suspect you're one of those guys that 'get er done' regardless.

[Tbush]

Dcoy Very well stated...I to have a special place for all my hunting gear, an old camper that flooded out so now I have to build a new "hunting shed" I learned a long time ago to hang my clothes in the shade and not the sun as the sun only fades the crap out of them but then you get to buy more On side note to the guys trapping whats your thoughts on lures and scents being stored or sold in plastic verses glass, ....... another great, great post by Dcoy

[Coyotehunter]

the stuff that is stored in glass jars doesn't stink as bas as the stuff in plastic but I just broke my second glass jar of LDC this spring. the plastic is just more durable.

[LeviM]

the stuff that is stored in glass jars doesn't stink as bas as the stuff in plastic but I just broke my second glass jar of LDC this spring. the plastic is just more durable.

Hope you didn't break that in your truck or in your house!!!! Even though it would be pretty funny

[RandyRoede]

TBush, the glass preserves and encases the odor much better than plastic, actually not many lures are even offered in anything but glass, baits are still available in plastic. Dogs luv my refrig. in the garage, stocked to the brim with all kinds of lure baits etc. Clears out unwanted guests by just a quick opening of the door!!!!

Jamie, I 've been there, broke a 4 oz. bottle of Canine Call on the floor not to long ago. Used up a bunch of Nutra Alfa and odor off on that deal. I usually wrap them with black electrical tape to reduce the chance of them breaking somewhat when I have them in my small cooler rattlin around in my truck or four wheeler.

D coy scent control or elimination what a misleading topic for most. I think a lot of folks believe they can become invisible, it reduces but does not eliminate and then only when used correctly, which is rarely done. It can lead to some lazy hunting scenarios.

[Dcoy]

Amen Randy.

[devildogg]

smelling a little bit like a human is like being a little bit pregnant

[LeviM]

smelling a little bit like a human is like being a little bit pregnant

Very True!!

[Coyotehunter]

Randy great idea with the electrical tape. I was useing a 4 oz jar for my LDC (just some Vasoline, beaver castor and skunk as a call) that I use on my M44 line. I was checking on the 4wheeler in a 12 section pasture up in the cedars, the jar just did not like all the bounceing around. To make matters worse, I went storming down a drainage and the strap the holds my M44 box on the 4wheeler came undone, the box fell off as I was going down hill and I ran over the whole works. Crap flew everywhere. Got all the pieces picked up and continued on but what a mess. I love the tape idea and will be useing it in the future.

[Dcoy]

OK,my last post on this ******* subject.
Devil dog I hear what you're saying there and agree to an extent but scent and pregnancy are a bit different.You're either pregnant or you're not I guess(haven't been yet ).But a critter can detect human odor and not spook.In fact in many populated areas they 'smell' humans daily.The real issue is,is it of the magnitude that it spooks them immediately.IMO often not.Many a deer-and other critters-have died after getting a whiff of me,going on alert even,sometimes even complete with the quick 'head ups','stomping',putting noses up and licking repeatedly(their 'smelling'),swinging or trying to swing downwind and yet dying.Reducing the 'cone' makes a difference in the number you take IMO.
Good hunting!