Scent

[4Falls]

With opening day of archery right around the corner, I was just curiuos what products everyone uses to manage their scent.

spray on products? clothing? etc.

[crazy4COUES]

When i do use it i use the scent shield earth scent, it works good. Recently i have used c'meer deer in the spray bottle to spray on the ground blind etc. as a cover scent. Otherwise keep the wind in my face.

[Outdoor Writer]

With opening day of archery right around the corner, I was just curiuos what products everyone uses to manage their scent.

spray on products? clothing? etc.

 

You know you guys can save a LOT of money if you make your own very good "scent shield" products from easily attainable goodies. It's very simple to do, too.

 

Here's how:

 

First, head out to boonies and collect either FRESH -- needs to still be moist -- deer droppings or cow dung. The wetter the better. Also, if you're hunting mule deer, be sure you gather mule deer droppings; same goes for Coues deer. The cow dung origin isn't important, however; it can be from Jerseys, black Angus, etc., but it's best if you get the stuff where the cows are feeding on native growth rather than in a pasture somewhere. A few cupfuls of the stuff with be sufficient for several applications. BUT, IT MUST BE FRESH, otherwise you're wasting your time. You should also refrigerate the unused fresh droppings/dung for later use; it will keep for at least two weeks if you store it in the meat drawer of the fridge where you keep cold cuts. DO NOT FREEZE!

 

 

Once you have gathered the above, get your home blender out and dump one cupful of either into the bowl. Then add just enough water to cover it. You can always add more water, but the aim is to come up with thick paste that's about the consistency of good spaghetti sauce. Use either the puree or liquefy setting of the blender. Add more water as needed. This will be your concentrate that you will use for several applications.

 

Now, get a five gal. bucket and put the clothes you will hunt with in it. And don't forget your socks! Barely cover with water because the less you use the better the effect when you add the two tbsp. of concentrate. Refrigerate the unmixed paste. Stir the bucket contents thoroughly and let soak a minimum of six hours. The longer the better. When you're ready, hang the clothing outdoors so it can drip dry.

 

You will also want to get a small spray bottle and fill it with some of the bucket contents. This is what you'll carry into the field with you.

 

If you're hunting from a treestand, this step is fairly easy, but if you're doing spot-&-talk, you might have to repeat a few times during the day, depending how much you perspire.

 

When you reach the spot where you have your stand, strip naked and use the spray bottle to throughly soak under your arms, your crotch and especially your smelly feet and butt.

 

This next step is optional but much better than not breathing while sitting your stand.

 

Open the bottle and take a good gulp of the liquid, but DO NOT SWALLOW it because you might get germs. Instead, just carefully gargle it like a mouthwash. You can then either return the unused portion to the bottle or just spit it out. Now, you might think this will taste like $**t and it probably will because it is $**t. Don't let that discourage you, however.

 

Although you can also soak your boots in the bucket, especially if they're waterproof, I suggest just spraying them inside and outside at this point in the scent-proofing operation. Now get dressed and start sitting.

 

NOTE: IF you are a consummate walker, though, you'll probably need to repeat the "get naked and spray" part at least once every hour, especially if you sweat like the proverbial hog.

 

Good luck with your hunting. -TONY

[Coues79]

That's frickin' sick man. While your at it though, if you're really gonna do this, you can't forget to pack in a plastic bottle to urinate into. All that hard work with the poo would go to waste if you contaminate the ground with liquid human waste.

 

I thought I was a die-hard hunter. Anyone who does that has me or anyone I know, beat by a mile. I hope you're joking and just drivin the point home about using the wind correctly.

[Arizona Griz]

I will stick to the spray bottle on the shelf Tony.

 

Scent Shield for me.

[COOSEFAN]

THat was too funny Tony! As I read through the first part I was thinkin' you were serious!

 

I honestly use the wind no matter what, and if I actually use a scent it is almost always one of "Moccasin Joe" scents like sage, earth or pinion. The cow in heat scent is outstanding for the archery elk hunts. I think that unless you go to extreme measures like Tony describes, you will almost always be detected by a Coues downwind. I have seen Coues and other critters get my scent downwind and not pay attention to it.....but usually it's during the rut and they are so pre-occupied they don't care as much about the unfamiliar smell. One thing I've noticed about scent-loc clothing and all the other brands, is that they do not keep the smell in or neutralize it to a point where a critter can't smell it.........I don't care what anyone says.....that stuff is a waste of money unless you have a ton of it laying around and don't mind spendin' it.

 

I have a test for anyone that disagress with me.......Wash yourself from head to toe with a non-scented scent killing soap........next, put on an entire, head to toe, scent-loc suit that you've had in a scent-loc bag...........now.... fart and tell me if you can smell it! I know you can and that is with the human nose detecting it.......imagine how strong that smell is to a deer! Don't waste your time on expensive scent-loc suits and stuff. Just buy a good bottle of cover up spray that matches the terrain you hunt, and ALWAYS watch the wind.....and hold your farts in The only good thing I can say about scent-loc suits and scent-killer spray is that it does give you a boost in confidence and we all can use some of that, but, agian hunt the wind no matter what. Jimbos $.02>

[Outdoor Writer]

The cow in heat scent is outstanding for the archery elk hunts.

 

Geez, Jim, aren't you the least bit concerned using that stuff?? You probably should have someone watching your back at all times just in case a lovesick bull sneaks up on ya.

 

And...what makes you think I wasn't serious?? That recipe was a hand-me-down from my dear departed uncle from NJ. Right up until he died at 35 from e coli, he swore it worked to perfection.

 

He was the same uncle who invented a homebrew to keep lions away. He tested it on his property in NJ for 10 years and never once had a lion come near his place.

 

Anyway, everything you said is dead-on. Scent control products are pretty much a waste of money, but if it gives a hunter a warm, fuzzy feeling to use them, they should by all means do so. And just as long as they don't breath too much, they might gain an advantage, albeit a very, very teeny one. -TONY

[TREESTANDMAN]

I agree the scentlock is a waste of money. I do however, wash my camo clothes in non-uv brightener soap, wash myself with wildlife research soap, and use non-scented deodorant. I'm sure the coues can still smell me but the scent won't be as strong and they may be less spooked. I also think these manufactured scent elimination products may help hunters psychologically.

 

Yes, keeping the wind in your favor is by far the most important. But why not go to a bit of extra effort to keep your scent down so perhaps a deer's instinct may tell it a human may have been here hours ago, but is not here anymore. If the wind is going to swirl on you, then be prepared. I believe the stuff works to some degree.

 

I also believe less scent is better than cover scent.

[crazy4COUES]

While your at it though, if you're really gonna do this, you can't forget to pack in a plastic bottle to urinate into. All that hard work with the poo would go to waste if you contaminate the ground with liquid human waste.

 

 

Yes I agree, it took me one time in the stand having to take a piss and no where to do it. I carry a small plastic can in my pack now. it works great, the mouth of it is large enough to just tuck it in and let her rip.

[ultramag]

I have always belived that if the wind is wrong your gonna get caught. no matter what kind of clothes you wear. I do know that carbon does contain certain chemicals, but any kind of aerosl spray use will ruin it as well as gasoline fumes.

[Outdoor Writer]

I do however, wash my camo clothes in non-uv brightener soap,

 

Now with that, you're on to something that CAN make a difference.

 

When the UV issue first began nearly two decades ago, I was deeply involved with it and actually was there when they tested LIVE deer on a special machine at the U of Georgia deer research facility. I also attended the Southeast Deer Symposium in Mississippi where the biologists presented the research.

 

As a result, I wrote the definitive and FIRST article on the topic -- about 6 full pages in OUTDOOR LIFE magazine. -TONY

[COOSEFAN]

I agree the scentlock is a waste of money. I do however, wash my camo clothes in non-uv brightener soap, wash myself with wildlife research soap, and use non-scented deodorant. I'm sure the coues can still smell me but the scent won't be as strong and they may be less spooked. I also think these manufactured scent elimination products may help hunters psychologically.

 

Yes, keeping the wind in your favor is by far the most important. But why not go to a bit of extra effort to keep your scent down so perhaps a deer's instinct may tell it a human may have been here hours ago, but is not here anymore. If the wind is going to swirl on you, then be prepared. I believe the stuff works to some degree.

 

I also believe less scent is better than cover scent.

Hey Standman, I was a bit narrowminded in my post, You are correct. I also use the non-UV soap and scent killer body soap as well as the deodorant. You are correct it lessens the amount of smell and I should have pointed that out in my earlier rant about scent-loc suits I like your hypothesis about the deer thinkin' a human had been there, but not at that moment.......makes sense!

 

As far as the cover scent....I don't know for sure. I have had mixed experiences.......one that stands out, and Tony reminded me of it was when three stinky hunters were layin in the grass waitin' for an elk that we had just arrowed to lie down. The bull stayed close and the shot was lethal so we planned to not spook him and just let him pass. The wind started blowing toward him and I feared he would run so I covered all the foliage and branches around us with that "Moccasin Joe" Cow in Heat scent. No more than 3 minutes later......with the wounded bull still close, we had 3 separate bulls ( all bigger than what we shot) come from downwind up to within feet of us, and they were trailing the smell like a hound dog! They came in one after the other, walked up and looked down at us and then nonchalantly left, constantly looking back wonderin' why we smelled so sexy! I believe in the stuff based solely on that experience. As far as deer.....I have no clue....I just match whatever vegetation I'm hunting in when using scent for deer. JIM>

[azhuntnut]

If you plan on hunting where there are elk in the area, I had very good luck on my 05 hunt drying my cloths with the cow elk urine wafers. WARNING, do not do this at your house if you are married. It is a good cause for divorce. This year I will be drying my cloths at a laundry mat. David

[mattys281]

I haven't tried it yet, but I got this recipe off of AT.com. A bunch of those guys swear by it.

 

 

Here is my scent-elimination spray “home brew” recipe:

ED NOTE: Though all of the ingredients listed below are considered basically harmless and can be purchased anywhere, the author of this article makes no guarantee that the end result of the mixture to be safe. If you want to make your own “home brew,” do so at your own risk.

· 1.5 quarts hydrogen peroxide (3 percent)

NOTE: Do not use the product contained in brown colored bottles from the supermarket.

· 2 quarts distilled water

· 0.5 cup baking soda

NOTE: I use Arm & Hammer brand baking soda

· 1 ounce of unscented laundry detergent

NOTE: I use Sport Wash laundry detergent

Mix everything together in a large mixing bowl and then pour into a clean, white-colored plastic bleach container. Don’t use a clear plastic milk jug. You will understand why as you read on. Also, let the container sit for a day or two with the cap off. Some oxygen will be released when the ingredients are mixed and the build up of pressure could blow the cap off. The contents must be allowed to equilibrate before tightening the cap. Fill spray bottles that you take into the field when needed.

 

Baquacil brand Shock and Oxidizer is nothing more than 27-percent strength hydrogen peroxide (read the label). It can be found at most swimming pool supply stores.

Hydrogen peroxide slowly breaks down to water when exposed to light, so store your home brew in a dark place such as a closet. This is why hydrogen peroxide is often sold in brown colored bottles.

 

This next part is very important: Do not use ordinary hydrogen peroxide that comes in little brown colored plastic bottles. The stuff at the supermarket has stabilizers in it and contains a slight odor. Pure hydrogen peroxide is odorless. I purchase pure hydrogen peroxide from a local swimming pool supply store. Baquacil brand Shock and Oxidizer is the product I use. It comes in a one-gallon size blue colored plastic container. It is pure 27-percent hydrogen peroxide (no additives or stabilizers). You will have to dilute it with distilled water, down to 3 percent strength in order to use it in your home brew recipe.

 

This equates to nine parts distilled water and one part Baquacil product.

WARNING: Pure 27 percent hydrogen peroxide can burn or irritate the skin, so be careful.

A jug of this stuff should cost less than twenty dollars and should last for quite a while. In fact, one container should produce about twenty-six (26) batches of home brew. I spray home brew on my boots and apparel, on my hands and in my hair. It works great for deodorizing deer decoys! However, I do not spray it on my bow or other equipment. The home brew formula effectively kills bacteria and chemically deodorizes malodors and can also be used around the home for cleaning and sanitizing surfaces.

[mattys281]

Another trick I've read, but not tried yet, is to put your treestand (if you're using one) a little closer & higher. For example, instead of setting up 12 ft. high at 30 yards, you'd set-up 15-20 ft. high at about 15 yards. The theory here is that scent travels on the wind much the same way as debris floats on a creek, the further from the source it gets, the more it disperses, so if you're sitting higher & closer, your scent is more likely to blow over the animal before drifting to the ground. I can see where this would be beneficial in a spot with swirling wind (& we all know those are reeeaaaaalllly rare in Az. ), but it also comes with an obvious problem: the increased shot angle. When you do the math, though, a treestand hung at 20 ft. & placed 15 yards from the expected shot translates into a shot angle of only 24 degrees. That's certainly no worse than most of the inclines on hill sides around my house.

 

As I said, I've not tried it & I've yet to shoot anything other than targets out of a treestand, so take it for what it's worth.

 

p.s. My javelina I shot this year was standing at 8 yards, directly down wind, staring right at me & sniffing like crazy, but didn't spook until after he had 28 inches of carbon in him. That was from washing the clothes in nothing but baking soda & cold water, & using unscented Scent Shield spray & soap.