Author Topic: Descenting? (Read 921 times)

JonnyReb · « **on:** October 25, 2012, 01:51:05 PM »

Just wondering what lengths you guys go to when descenting/cover scenting for deer. I've kinda always been of the mind that a downwind deer is going to smell you no matter what and that ones best chances are found by strategic stand placement taking adbantage of prevailing winds or the morning heat uprise/evening low pressure. My longtime hunting mentor always said he never killed a deer without a cigarette burning for cover scent. It was true in his case because he was/is a chainsmoker, even when hunting. I have to say he killed plenty. I try to wash all my stuff in no-smell then take a no-smell soap shower but I know a deer can still scent me. Just wondering how far ya'll take it or how many more deer do you think you see since wearing the carbon scent suits or other high tech ways of descenting? Anyone not bother with it at all? J

Poopers · « **Reply #1 on:** October 25, 2012, 02:39:25 PM »

I store my hunting clothes in a sealed bag with grass/pine to keep that woodsy smell fresh. I wont even go near smokers with my hunting clothes on.

JonnyReb · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2012, 02:47:41 PM »

I can DEFINITELY understand that, I don't want to either, and i'm a smoker. For anyone who smokes I recommend the new electronic cigarettes, $6.00 at the convenience store and are only a flavored water vapor nicotine delivery system. No smoke, no smell any worse than the bacon egg and cheese biscuit still on your breatth. And a further question, do deer smell "You" and run, or is it your tide fresh scent, your trucks upolstery, your breakfast or the gum your chewing that scares them? Undoubtably anything out of the ordinary would make them cautious but i'll bet the smell of people themselves scare deer far more than the other scents around us.. J

Ranger99 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 25, 2012, 02:49:39 PM »

my hunting clothing and boots get
used for hunting only and get washed
with sportwash. it goes a long way, and
doesn't cost any more than regular detergent
when used judiciously. i hunt in pine trees,
so i don't use any cover scent. i like to take
a deer within bow range or closer if i can, so
i try to use cover and cammo and scent to
my advantage when possible. i don't think
scent and such is as critical at 100 yards or
beyond as much as concealment and movement.
but i still like to stack the deck in my favor
when i can. i also like to see birds and animals
acting natural when they don't know i'm there.
best show in the world.

Casull · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2012, 04:50:37 PM »

It doesn't make a bit of difference. Take a look at the latest (I believe) Field and Stream. They tested this on a bomb sniffing dog and it made NO difference when scent killers and unscented soaps were used as opposed to the guy who used scented soaps, shave cream, etc. Well, actually it did make a small difference. The "scent free" guy was found FASTER than the smelly guy (13 seconds compared to 20 seconds). I've shot deer while having a smoke and shortly after too many times for it to be an accident. If you hunt the wind, you're going to be fine and if you don't, you're going to be busted. Save your money and just hunt like the early peoples did.

JonnyReb · « **Reply #5 on:** October 26, 2012, 02:15:21 PM »

Lol Casull, thats about what i'm used to hearing. In spite of it all, tomorrows opening day muzzleloader and my 1st time out this year. I've got all my gear hanging in the wind outside where its been for a few days following a no-smell bath. Tomorrow morning, only the smell of coffee, pb&jelly, gun oil and chicken crap(can't miss it in the yard) will be pooling around me in my stand. Hopefully the deer won't be offended. Jeff

jhm · « **Reply #6 on:** October 27, 2012, 06:26:41 AM »

When I was running cattle I spent alot of time in the fields and woods and I honestly believe the deer get used to the human scent, I remember when we only had pipe feeders and had to re-fill them on nearly a daily basis and the deer would be standing just inside the woodline waiting to eat, I wear muck boots when out on the 4 wheeler or pick-up that are only used to go and load the feeders or check the cameras, also hunt in them when weather permits when its cold I go to warmer boots, my bride dont like me having cold feet, as far as smoking goes I havent in over 35 yrs. but have killed my share of deer when I smoked, I had a friend in Mich. who only smoked cigars when he deer hunted and he said the deer didnt mind so much, I believe the anti scent business is booming because they have folks believing they need all the stuff they sell to deer hunt, just stay clean, hunt with wind, and save your money. Jim

52bagman · « **Reply #7 on:** October 27, 2012, 07:11:56 AM »

I used to go through all the descenting ritual and still was getting busted. Now that said, when deer were down wind they would go on alert but wouldn't turn inside out like with no scent control. Best I can figure is my scent was reduced to like me being a couple hundred yards away as to being right on top of the deer. It works but not 100%. The only way to get totally scent free would to be in a plastic bag and if your breathing outside the bag your still putting out scent.

Buckskin · « **Reply #8 on:** October 27, 2012, 08:58:43 AM »

You can't get rid of all your scent, but you can reduce it enough that deer will not spook or even be alerted. I wash all of my clothes, underwear, socks etc, even my towel. Shower before I go out. Spray every piece of clothing. I do have some carbon clothing, but have found that I can be just as clean using the sprays. Outer layers and boots are sprayed and not put on until in the field. My bow is sprayed down and all equipment. I use a head cover and usually have an apple or a cob of corn or handful of soybeans that I chew on to cover my breath.

I play the wind but deer do not always play along and I cannot remember the last time I was busted. I had a little 6pt last week come from directly down wind of me, follow my trail right under my tree and was never alerted at all. This happens many, many times every season. 3 years ago shot a 140" buck directly down wind of me that had no idea I was there until I stuck him.

Guys that say it can't be done usually don't want to go through the effort that it requires. And a bomb sniffing dog is really not a fair comparison. That dog is trained to search for things, sniffing out every little speck of scent. A deer walking through the woods does not have it's nose to the ground sniffing trying to find something. In saying this, I have never fooled a coyote. They pick me up every single time they are even close to down wind.

Casull · « **Reply #9 on:** October 29, 2012, 10:26:04 AM »

If it makes you happy or feel more confident, then go for it. I just learned that I didn't need to go that trouble or expense.

curteric · « **Reply #10 on:** October 29, 2012, 12:15:48 PM »

I don't think that deer are to concerned about human scent. I/We (My group) have never been concerned about descenting. That being said, we eat breakfast, get dressed, milk cows, and go hunting. We all stink like barn/livestock. We always take as many deer as we want. I think that unnatural is the worst thing.

Buckskin · « **Reply #11 on:** October 29, 2012, 03:42:39 PM »

taking a deer with a firearm and taking any deer that walks by is a whole different world than bowhunting... And stinking like barn/livestock is a cover scent without much effort....

Casull · « **Reply #12 on:** October 29, 2012, 04:28:27 PM »

Quote

taking a deer with a firearm and taking any deer that walks by is a whole different world than bowhunting...

Well, my last three deer have been by handgun, two of which were at bow range. Also, I hunt on the ground, not 20 feet up in a tree. I think it probably evens out a bit.

JonnyReb · « **Reply #13 on:** October 30, 2012, 03:00:04 AM »

Thinking back to all the 1970's-80's deer camps my dad took me to, we would leave out in the morning REEKING of every man made scent there was. To mask ourselves, we put fox pee on our boots lol. Scent control then was putting on right gaurd. We saw/took many deer. J

8uck5nort · « **Reply #14 on:** October 30, 2012, 03:18:47 AM »

Descenting is a myth contrived by "hunting industry experts" to seperate you from your money. I know prior posts have already stated the dogs with comprable noses to a whitetail bust "scent free" gimicks every time. I too fell for that BS and used to buy into all the hype and now I just hunt the wind. I kill as many deer as I did before. I actually enjoy going hunting again. I concentrate on the experience of being in the woods rather than worrying about what a hunting celeb says I should be wearing.

Sorry if this sounds a little cynical. It is sad, but true, there is more money to be made in "hunting the hunter rather than in hunting itself". Spend your money on what makes you comfortable in the cold, rain, etc... Practicing with your chosen weapon and putting the time in the stand or stalk. This is what pays off.

Buckskin · « **Reply #15 on:** October 30, 2012, 04:37:31 AM »

Quote from: 8uck5nort on October 30, 2012, 03:18:47 AM

Descenting is a myth contrived by "hunting industry experts" to seperate you from your money. I know prior posts have already stated the dogs with comprable noses to a whitetail bust "scent free" gimicks every time. I too fell for that BS and used to buy into all the hype and now I just hunt the wind. I kill as many deer as I did before. I actually enjoy going hunting again. I concentrate on the experience of being in the woods rather than worrying about what a hunting celeb says I should be wearing.

Sorry if this sounds a little cynical. It is sad, but true, there is more money to be made in "hunting the hunter rather than in hunting itself". Spend your money on what makes you comfortable in the cold, rain, etc... Practicing with your chosen weapon and putting the time in the stand or stalk. This is what pays off.

LOL. I don't worry about what a hunting celeb says, I do what works for me. In my basement hangs proof of what scent control (not decenting) can help achieve. Not only does it help the day that you are hunting, it also prevents contamination of a stand. Big bucks are not stupid and will avoid areas that are overly impacted with human scent. If your just out to shoot whatever walks by, then yeah why bother... If you are hunting the big boys, good luck with your methods. Sure lots get lucky every year and have a big boy make a mistake, but the guys who are consistant in killing big bucks are aware of their scent and do what is possible to reduce it as much as possible. Some years it costs me upwards of $400, I can live with that. Although most of that is taxidermy fees...

8uck5nort · « **Reply #16 on:** October 30, 2012, 08:25:56 AM »

I am not saying that you should not pay attention to scent. In fact, very much the contrary. Playing the wind is your best and probably only real defense against a cagey bucks nose in the first place. I too keep clean, but do nothing other than that. No point. A deer, if the conditions are right, (wind blowing slow enough or down drafting right to them) will sense something wrong or out of place, like you, and get nervous or just plain leave. On the other hand, ground contours, wind speeds, etc.. can creat eddies, mini up drafts, dead spots, etc... that even with a deer coming in down wind of you still does not mean he has intercepted your scent stream, thus alerting him to your presence. You can get away with it with or without the carbon based clothes, spraying down, etc... I have seen it happen. To me it does not matter one way or the other. However, if it boosts your confidence and makes you a better hunter then it is a good thing. I personally don't think it matters. My biggest point is there is a lot of hocus pocus out there claiming to eliminate scent and make you "invisible" to the deers nose. That is just not possible. The only way to do that put on a sealed plastic hazmat suit and breath oxygen from a bottled source. Kinda hard to draw a bow with that on.

I still see and get plenty shot opportunities on some nice bucks. When I have done my part scouting, stand placment and practicing with my weapon of choice, which is primarily my bow, I have put some nice racks on the wall from years past. I meat hunt as well for several does a year. I also would say an old doe is just as much a formidable scent hound as a buck. Worse they tend to alert every deer in the county if they catch wind of you.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #17 on:** October 30, 2012, 08:59:45 AM »

Not to pizz people off but lots of deer were killed long before speical suits , sprays , speical soap etc. Could it help maybe but IMHO it is marketing at its best. And yes I have tried it and noticed no difference other than my bill fold was thinner. If you want to kill deer DON"T LET THEM SEE YOU MOVE !

Buckskin · « **Reply #18 on:** October 30, 2012, 09:47:29 AM »

Maybe you guys just stink more than I do...

Casull · « **Reply #19 on:** October 30, 2012, 10:26:20 AM »

Quote

Maybe you guys just stink more than I do...

Actually, that would be LESS than you do (since we don't seem to need all the gimmicks).

Buckskin · « **Reply #20 on:** October 30, 2012, 04:51:32 PM »

I doubt that since I cannot even remember the last time I was busted because of scent. Last night I was chuckling while in my stand thinking about this topic as I was watching a doe and a fawn walking up the trail that I walked in on down wind of me. Feeding right along, without a care in the world. You're right, there's nothing to scent control, I'm wasting my time...

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #21 on:** October 31, 2012, 01:33:40 AM »

I have been able to touch 2 deer in the woods while hunting ( I don't hang in trees) and have lost count of the ones that passed by with in a few feet or yards. But then I don't smell like a metro man or drunk either nor do I smoke. I don't use perfume soap only unsented same for other stuff other than shaving soap but that has a light scent ( yea I still use a brush , why put propane on my face

). I don't ever recall being busted from smell but there are many from movement.

mechanic · « **Reply #22 on:** October 31, 2012, 01:39:49 AM »

I sometimes hunt a public area surrounded by sub divisions. I have had deer walk within 10' of me and look me over. I had a six point get closer and closer because he was obviously curious. He was not legal to shoot, and to be honest, I couldn't have anyway he was too much like a pet. He only backed away when I spoke to him.

In a wilderness setting where deer are not around humans, it might make more difference, but in a place where deer live in people's backyards and drink from their pools...not so.

Ben

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #23 on:** October 31, 2012, 01:50:02 AM »

I think you hit it with they get curious . until they get trained by sloppy hunters they don't know humans are bad for them. Ask any farmer he can pass by with in feet on a tractor.