Thoughs on Scent

[jim p.]

After reading over the thread about "funny things that happened while hunting" - I figured I would start a new thread and see what everyone thinks
about scent.
I have mixed feelings - one time you get busted due to a deer catching your scent. Then I've had young as well as mature deer that I felt sure would bolt due to my scent and they haven't
I agree that masking your scent is important - I dought one can completely mask it unless you live in a bubble.
What are your thoughts or experiences on this

[jdawg240]

I try to be as scent free as possible. I wash all my garments in scent free detergent.I wear scent-lok base layers and coveralls. I spray down several times both before the hunt and during. But there still is no 100 percent scent free method. It's important to stay scent free but playing the wind is more important in my mind. If the wind is wrong I wont hunt a stand 95 percent of the time. Ive had mature deer downwind and not wind me at times as well. Mostly during the rut. I think you can press the scent thing when the breeding phase is on and the deer are that sex crazed mind set.But any other time its tuff to fool their nose.

[Daniel Boone]

I know I can spray my hands and not smell them. I do liike spraying my hat down due to often walking in I sweat. I like to spray my boots as well. We often pick up smells on the bottom of them. I try and wipe alot of natural dirt on them before getting into the tree.

I love doe estrous during the rut and have had success with it.

Hunter Specialities is the brand I have been using.

[jim p.]

I agree it's a good idea to try to stay as scent free as possible. That being said, I to sweat while walking to stand or as the day warms up. Many times I have carried my hunting cloths and put them on before I climb up to my stand. My buddy can't understand, he says he never sweats Now, he does wash everything in scent free soap, sprays down from head to toe and has been picked up more than a cheap date. Personally I think he can't sit still but that's a different thread.
Agreed, during the heat of the rut things get crazy - not always a good outcome for Mr. Big. Sometimes I think a mature doe is harder to hunt than a mature buck - before, during and after the rut.
Thermals have to be taken into consideration - swirling while on stand is something you have to decide if your going to stay up or get down

Then there are the many different reactions to doe in heat scents. I had the chance one morning to observe 3 different reactions to a scent bomb. This took place over an hour by 3 different bucks. I stopped using a scent bomb after watching this.

Ever think the more you know, the more confused you get

[Daniel Boone]

Originally Posted by jim p.

I agree it's a good idea to try to stay as scent free as possible. That being said, I to sweat while walking to stand or as the day warms up. Many times I have carried my hunting cloths and put them on before I climb up to my stand. My buddy can't understand, he says he never sweats Now, he does wash everything in scent free soap, sprays down from head to toe and has been picked up more than a cheap date. Personally I think he can't sit still but that's a different thread.
Agreed, during the heat of the rut things get crazy - not always a good outcome for Mr. Big. Sometimes I think a mature doe is harder to hunt than a mature buck - before, during and after the rut.
Thermals have to be taken into consideration - swirling while on stand is something you have to decide if your going to stay up or get down

Then there are the many different reactions to doe in heat scents. I had the chance one morning to observe 3 different reactions to a scent bomb. This took place over an hour by 3 different bucks. I stopped using a scent bomb after watching this.

Ever think the more you know, the more confused you get

I agree each buck reacts different to scent bombs. But I would say if not for doe estrous during the rut. I would have less deer on the wall. I do think the curiousity gets them. I have had bucks run to my scent bombs.
I do drag trails, actually I place the scent on branchs nose high all the way to the stand. Then I place scent bombs down wind. If wind swirls I place them on all three sides. Code Blue and natural doe estrous has worked for me. I have a local guy that extracts from his deer.
DB

[hunter2678]

I rarely use estrous/tarsal/dom buck scent anymore. I've had one too many adverse reactions from bucks when using them...For myself and my clothing I go scentless.