Scent control (or not)

Crossbow Hunting

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TPM
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Location: Kitchener, Ontario

Scent control (or not)

Post by TPM »

What kind of scent controls do you guys practice (if any). I always give my wife a hard time (jokely of course) as I think she's a bit obsessive. Typically she'll wash all her clothes in a scent free detergent and then leave them hanging outside for at least a day before she hunts. She then bags them all in plastic and changes into them when she gets to the farm she hunts. Before she heads out she showers with scent free soap and dries off with a towel washed in scent free detergent.
Me? I do the washing my clothes in scent free detergent but that's about it.
Ronster
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Post by Ronster »

I wash everything in scent free soap. Then I put it all in large plastic bins with some fresh pine shavings. The morning of the hunt I wash myself in scent free soap , slip my camo over a Scent-Lock suit, and put on rubber boots. Then just to be sure, I hunt into the wind.
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wabi
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Post by wabi »

I wash my hunting clothes in 20MuleTeam Borax, but the main scent control secret I've learned to practice is to hunt downwind of where the deer are going to be!
wabi
crazyfarmer
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Post by crazyfarmer »

I dont wash mine in anything special.. whatever the wife uses.. Ive nevered believed in washing your clothes with anything, since when you take them out the scent from anything around them goes right back into them. I just spray my clothes down with scent a away before enetering the woods..

so i save alot on that special soap and still see anywhere from 8-15 deer everytime in the stand..

just hunt the wind;)

Hell, I usually wear my blue jean pants under my camo pants and go right off the tractor when im working. Maybe deer are use to farmer scent LOL

so save your money on washing the clothes in that scent stuff.. just by a scent blocker jacket and pants. Wear those over your plain hunting clothes. Hose down with scent blocker or cover scent and you will be fine
Ben S.
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Post by Ben S. »

Nothing special for me. I ask my wife to stay away from the fabric softeners but other than that, I don't worry about that stuff. I've got 8 deer in the last 4 years so I figure I'm doing something right. If it makes you feel more confident though..... It sure doesn't hurt.
crazyfarmer
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Post by crazyfarmer »

Ben S. wrote:Nothing special for me. I ask my wife to stay away from the fabric softeners but other than that, I don't worry about that stuff. I've got 8 deer in the last 4 years so I figure I'm doing something right. If it makes you feel more confident though..... It sure doesn't hurt.
Its some locals around here that go through all the high tech special scent soaps and etc... They never even see any deer half the time LOL. They always wonder how I see deer when I dont go half what they do. I just tell them, its not what you put on, its how you hunt. Granted scent has some factor, but its one of many..
tkstae
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Post by tkstae »

wabi put it best when he said hunt down wind. I don't think you can do anything better or cheaper. Just my two cents worth. Seems if I'm going to get busted it's because they see my movement first then get down wind and scent me.
NZ Hunter
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Post by NZ Hunter »

The wind is important, Deer cant smell against the wind. I have never used any scent block. Hunt wise and quiet, you will get results. Save your money for better toys. In fact no one here uses scent lock stuff. If a deer is down wind you will need to hold your breath until you shoot. You breath even has scent. Im sure there is big money in scent free stuff.
If it feels good, DO IT.
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GaryM
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Post by GaryM »

Nothing special here. You can kill deer if you smell like an old goat if the weather conditions are right. Light winds, high pressure, and some sort of ravine or drop off downwind directly behind you that will catch your scent.
If you hunt in more marginal conditions, I doubt if all those preparations would hurt. I've never been able to completely beat the nose on a deer with scent lock suits, or soaps and scents, when he had everything in his favor. I'm not sure it can be done.
Hoss
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Post by Hoss »

NOT
Dedicated.... ta all the sweet Bucks yet ta die!
Partikle
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Post by Partikle »

I go all out with my scent control but still play the wind. What have you got to lose except some extra time getting ready?
Population Control Specialist
00 Buck - Licensed to kill
WRC
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Money

Post by WRC »

MONEY
TPM
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Post by TPM »

What have you got to lose except some extra time getting ready?
MONEY
Not really. Between laundry detergent and shower soap we probably spend less than $5 a season. Negligable...
Partikle
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Post by Partikle »

TPM wrote:
What have you got to lose except some extra time getting ready?
MONEY
Not really. Between laundry detergent and shower soap we probably spend less than $5 a season. Negligable...
Yup. Baking soda is also cheap. Changing from your street clothing into your hunting clothing after you get out of the car is cheap too.
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BigUgly
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Post by BigUgly »

I do use the soap and cover scent. Not sure if they where not to concerned with me but the last two deer I got where both down wind of me. And then sometimes I'll use the same product and I swear they smell me from every direction blowing and snorting wherever I go. :D
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