Scent control pre-season?

Got Fish? · 08-24-2006, 10:36 AM

I've been meaning to ask this for some time now but what to some hunters do pre-hunt to prepare camo and equipment? Is it the typical wash with scent lock detergent and put in a plastic bag or are there some other more helpful methods out there?

ehunter · 08-24-2006, 11:44 AM

Good question the one thing I have the hardest time cleaning I think is my packs since I don't want to wash them. I basicaly spray them down with scent spray especialy the shoulder straps. Then I leave it out to air dry for about a week. The rest of the stuff I wash in non scented soaps and air dry the clothes for a couple of days out side and bag them with fir boughs since I hunt the west side. The bow I wipe down with no scent cloths. Boots I spray them and air them out... Put every thing in a bag. Be interesting to see what others do? I also wash all my undies and socks in a no scent soap so all my clothes are soap smell free...

I know just stay down wind but that doesn't aways work :grin:

Then of course the last couple of days I shower with non scented soap and continue until hunting season is over.

bajadan2000 · 08-24-2006, 12:01 PM

Ehunter hit it dead on. Being an archery hunter, I am more than anal about scent. Here are a few other things that I do to get ready.

After washing everything including undies in scent/UV free soap. RINSE-and RINSE again. I run the just washed clothes through another complete wash cycle. Instead of adding soap, I add baking soda or vinegar to the wash cycle.

Drying clothes in the dryer can add scent back in. So I take my clean carbon suits and run them in the dryer for about an hour before drying my hunting clothes. Yes, I know that many of you do not believe in the carbon suits, however, I believe they have helped me in the field and also help to remove scent from the dryer.

RAGHORN! · 08-24-2006, 12:15 PM

What ehunter said

I do everything he said, also I use Mitchum roll-on unscented deorderant, it's good stuff, I switched to it permantly a few years ago!

Hunt'nFish · 08-24-2006, 02:24 PM

I'm not an archery guy, but still just as anal about scent. That's most of the reason why I hunt alone.

clothes washed in HS soap and bagged. Hat/Boots sprayed inside and out. I bath in HS soap and then use unscented ARID XX deoderant.

And 2wks before the season, I start taking zinc 30mg morning and 30mg evening. This will keep you from smelling when you sweat.
Hint.....Moss-B-Gone...the stuff you put on your roof...it powdered zinc, I sprinkle a little of that in my boots to help kill oder causing bacteria throughout the day. WORKS. Also a little of that sprinkled on unscented baby wipes will help with wiping down in the field. Mix Moss-B-Gone w/ water/alcohol and add to small travel pack of unscented baby wipes.

Observing scent control has helped me walk up on blacktail. Once while bear hunting I walked right through a herd of elk...yes it was turning dark and they didn't know what to make of me, but that's the point....not to smell like human.

Something else I've done is toss a bit of pine tree in with my clothes. Mixed opinions on that.
good topic BTW.

Hunt'nFish

kodiakfisher · 08-24-2006, 02:26 PM

I just put oder eaters in everything I figure that should cover me pretty good.

I actaully have scent killer stored in a camo bag close to my tree stand so I can spray down when I get there. Don't forget to wash those nasty hats and releases. I do the standard wash and put in plastic bags, but the night before I use scent free soap and in the morning scent free deoderant on arm pits and feet. I would also be conscious about your breath I bet a high percentage of scent comes from our breath.

No matter what there will be an area around you that contains scent and is carried by the wind. You can only make this area smaller and you will never eliminate it. With the above process I have had blacktail deer walk right under my treestand less than 10' below me. Granted any of my scent was drifting away which brings me to the second point. Cover scent. I always have a scent vent with cow scent open this will be easily detected by an animal and make them less sensitive to slight foreign odors for two reasons. One olfactory receptors keyed in on desired scent and searching for more/source (focused on the cow scent), second a sense of comfort reducing the natural heightened sense of awareness. The lead cow is generally responsible for identifying danger while traveling to and from bedding. Ever notice that elk will allow you to get really close before deciding not to follow the one in front of them.

Kodiakfisher

Hunt'nFish · 08-24-2006, 02:33 PM

Quote:

I would also be conscious about your breath I bet a high percentage of scent comes from our breath.

Has anyone tried that scent eliminating gum?
I don't have bad breath so I wouldn't know if it works or not.

....yea, right.

ehunter · 08-24-2006, 02:45 PM

I think your hair is the number one culprit I have read that those mint tablets for breath don't really work but who breaths when your within 10 yards of a elk any way

Irish Pennant · 08-24-2006, 04:15 PM

I use the non-scent soap and then uv block then baking soda, hang dry outside under the fir trees. Put in a paper sack with scent blocker. Dont take them out until the morning of the hunt. All for not :depressed: my hunting partner smokes, So I just hunt into the wind and don't worry about it. I'm not as anal compulsive about it anymore. As a back up, I spray my self down with scent blocker after I get out of the rig.

bajadan2000 · 08-24-2006, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Hint.....Moss-B-Gone...the stuff you put on your roof...it powdered zinc, I sprinkle a little of that in my boots to help kill oder causing bacteria throughout the day. WORKS. .

Hunt'nFish

Moss-B-Gone,,,,wow now I have learned something. Going to give it a try. Could pull double duty, kill the scent and the moss that grows on me after sitting in a tree stand for 2 weeks.

Seriously, thank you for the tip. My hunting partners will get a good laugh out of it...

Has anyone tried that scent eliminating gum?

 Have some on back order with Cabelas now for almost a month. Not sure how well it will work, but the stuff is hard to get... Just called and they said it would ship tomorrow...

sooslaw · 08-24-2006, 08:21 PM

wow, its nice to see you guys going all out, it says alot about how serious you take your hunting. I spray down my gear with scent block, and UV killer and they are sitting outside all week. Other than that, I am counting on my continued use of the area I am hunting throughout the year to acustomize the animals to my particular scent, stinky or not. Their pattern changed throughout the year to most recently showing up in fromt of my camera within an hour of me being there. Maybe I am crazy, or maybe I am on to something. Only time will tell.

Coastalfisherman · 08-24-2006, 08:47 PM

I take a shower and wash with the normal shampoo and soap every morning before I hunt. I am not into spraying everything down with scent control, however I do use UV killer on my camo. I believe that hunting into the wind is the best bet. No matter what you do, you can not completely eliminate human odor. If an animal smells you its game over, whether you smell just a little bit or a whole bunch. 15 elk in 17 years says something.