Scent control

[Caboose]

Who make the best scent control clothing, Scent-Lok or ScentBlocker? Issues that concern me are:

-effectiveness / longevity of carbon layer
-quailty of material used
-quietness of material
-wearability, will it last, will every burr in the bush attach itself?
-weather resistance

Is there any other options other than clothing with activated carbon as the scent controller?

 

[BCWILL]

I replied Gimmick........
Humans stink.....Animals have Great senses of smell.
It's highly doubtful anything can Absorb the odours enough that a critter with a Nose like a deer or dog etc.. can't still pick up the Human stench
I don't even give Cover scents anymore consideration for the same reasons.

Use the Wind

 

[xeon]

Just remember that many years ago Natives hunted with bows. I dont think they had carbon suites back then, and no deoderent. But somehow they fed their villagers.
IMHO:
If you want to remain scentless, buy your meat, otherwise theres no way to be withought enough scent, that the deer cant smell you. Like BCWILL said, use the wind, thats your best bet.

 

[BIGREDD]

I disagree... many of these products work well to help control human scent, and I currently use Scent Blocker. The clothing works well when it is new and should be washed once before you use it. I have found that you should wash it as little as possible as this slowly deteriorates the fabric and the carbon diminishing the effectiveness. I don't spray any other scent control or cover scents on any of my scent control clothing as the carbon will just absorb these odors and chemicals as well.
My boots, hats, face masks, inner layer layer clothing, gloves and packs all get the scent shield spray treatment.

You can make your own scent shield spray easily!

2 cups hydrogen peroxide
2 cups distilled water
1/2 cup baking soda
1 oz scent free shampoo

I have been approached from downwind by adult deer that could not smell me many times and I have been busted by deer enough to know the difference.

 

[Buckeroooo]

The best scent control is this: take 1 large garbage bag, go out in the bush and cut some small branches off of different trees like pine, spruce, and fir. Throw an armful in the bag and then throw all your camo in there including your pack and fanny pack and anything else you might need. Shake it up and leave it in your shed for a few days and see hoe it smells. Works great!

 

[WCTHEMI]

The best method of scent control is using the wind to your advantage, just like the animals do.

 

[Levi Garrett]

The best method of scent control is using the wind to your advantage, just like the animals do.

You got it Brother Good hunting

 

[cdngunner]

The best method of scent control is using the wind to your advantage, just like the animals do.

x2

It also depends where you hunt and what time of the year it is. I have been in my bush in Jan/Feb walking the trails and scared up a bunch of deer. I followed their trails only to run into them again 100 yards later. I did that one more time before they decide to kick in the after burners. They were down wind they must have known what I was. Mind you this is souther Ontario and deer are used to human scent!

Up in northern Ontario I would deffinately take more precautions with scent.

I would also use a cover scent even if I had "de-scented".

I have always stated that deer need a few of their scenses tingling before they take off. Human scent by itself will make them cautious but not necessarily take flight. Take the scent and add a movement or noise and they will be gone. Again most of my experience is in southern Ontario.

Remember as soon as you say deer don't do that or always do that, they will prove you wrong.

Scent controll is not the end all, but it is one small thing less to worry about

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Prior to taking up bow hunting, the #1 ploy I used, as mentioned by WCTHEMI, was to be aware of and use the wind direction to my advantage as much as possible. For me with archery, I figured I'd need all the help possible to get within my effective range. A friend of mine has an archery shop and at his recommendation I wash my clothing with Scent Shield Huntres Body Guard Clothes Wash. I then spray it with Scent Shield The original Clothes & Boot spray extra strength and store in a cleaned & sprayed garment bag. I try to shower using very little soap and rinse well. I also take a face cloth soaked with the spray in a Ziploc bag for face & hand touch up and use a face mask/net with scent shield. Originally I was pretty doubtful all this prep would be effective but that changed. One evening hunting, on a local farm where I have permission, I ended up close enough to a couple of Deer I could've slapped them. There was a very slight breeze and even when a couple moved off behind me, they gave no sign of realizing I was there. By the end of the evening, when nothing with 'bone' presented itself, I thought perhaps they were just really used to people. So, I stood up, stretched and yawned and the eight or so Deer still in the field suddenly came 'unglued' like a $2.00 guitar. I have to assume the 'stuff' works. Perhaps there's something to the saying "half the fun of the hunt is the prep".

 

[BCWILL]

I have been approached from downwind by adult deer that could not smell me many times and I have been busted by deer enough to know the difference.

How do you "cover" the smell of one's breath ?

Any Deer worth it's weight will smell what you ate for breakfast if the wind is right IMO

I still don't think it's possible to "Absorb" the Odours from a Human body with a charcoal suit or spray enough that an animal won't detect the Human smells.

FWIW: I too have had Deer walk right beside me.....you could reach out and smack thier ARS.....I don't wear any Scent Block...ever

I am however usually very aware of the wind when I'm moving or still hunting....

Some Deer react to Human scent with great alarm...others do not, just the way of things.

GIMMICKS I SAY ! but if it Gives the Hunter Confidence then certainly it can't hurt

 

[grouseman]

I wonder how many of the guys that voted "save your $$$ this stuff is a gimmick" also smoke in their stands.....or watches....

I would love to see the numbers...

 

[Caboose]

Washing my hunting clothes in scent free detergent / storing them in airtight containers / getting dressed in the field / using appropriate cover or attractant scents and playing the wind all ended up in an unsucessful WhiteTail bowhunting season. On one particular occasion a large buck was coming right for my stand. The wind was in my favor, but swirling like it always seems to do. Just out of bow range, the buck sniffed the air, stomped his foot, snorted, turned and walked back from which he came. I can't help but wonder, would the outcome be different if I was wearing Scent-Lok?

Guess that'll teach me for passing lesser deer earlier in the season .

 

[BIGREDD]

How do you "cover" the smell of one's breath ?

Any Deer worth it's weight will smell what you ate for breakfast if the wind is right IMO

I still don't think it's possible to "Absorb" the Odours from a Human body with a charcoal suit or spray enough that an animal won't detect the Human smells.

FWIW: I too have had Deer walk right beside me.....you could reach out and smack thier ARS.....I don't wear any Scent Block...ever

I am however usually very aware of the wind when I'm moving or still hunting....

Some Deer react to Human scent with great alarm...others do not, just the way of things.

GIMMICKS I SAY ! but if it Gives the Hunter Confidence then certainly it can't hurt

One mans gimmick is anothers grail Will...

I was shooting deer before the advent of camo and scent control too... I still shot my deer. It is not rocket science to hunt with the wind and move slowly... every good hunter is aware of this.
But I stand by my statement that good scent control garments and practices will help you shoot deer. I am certainly not going to give up my light, breathable, water proof, scent blocking garments that have increased by enjoyment and success any time soon just because you don't understand the technology involved.

 

[xeon]

just because you don't understand the technology involved.

!!!IMHO!!!
Dont take this the wrong way, but it is not possible to reactivate it in your dryer... unless you dont empty your lint trap and the thing over heats. To reactivate it you need a bare minimum temperature of 250'C, while your everyday dryer reaches no more than 150'C on its hotest cycle.

The way that they activate the carbon initialy, is by rasing the temps between 500-900'C in a near ZERO oxogyn enviorment. I think I understand the technology, but I feel that activated carbon is more suited to purifying the water in my fish tank, than getting rid of my smell.

I dont want to tell you what to do, as im not your mommy, but I would rather use scent control products, or something that masks my smell, or nothing, than spending money on 'Scentlok'. Its an EXCILLENT concept, I mean, whoever thought of that was thinking straight, but they just wont last long enough to justify the cost.

Do a bit of looking around for yourselves, and if you can point out somewhere in what was said that is incorrect, you can have the satisfaction of knowing im wrong.

 

[BCWILL]

I am certainly not going to give up my light, breathable, water proof, scent blocking garments that have increased by enjoyment and success any time soon just because you don't understand the technology involved.

I don't really remember asking that you give up anything.... but Thanks for the assumption.
Find me ONE STUDY that proves scent block clothing eliminates human odour to the point that a Deer would not smell the said odour ?

 

[Johnn Peterson]

I don't really remember asking that you give up anything.... but Thanks for the assumption.
Find me ONE STUDY that proves scent block clothing eliminates human odour to the point that a Deer would not smell the said odour ?

I've found that while it will not totally eliminate human odour, when used properly it does minimize it.

 

[BCWILL]

I've found that while it will not totally eliminate human odour, when used properly it does minimize it.

I conceed that it may "minimize" the odour but my point is this.....

You reek scent from every pore on your body....unless you're sealed up from head to toe in a Rubber suit animals will smell at least "some" human odour..........no ???

If a given Deer is such that the mere scent of a Human would send it bounding away how can we measure "How much" smell of a Human does this take....
You either smell like a little bit of Human or alot of it...I'm guessing same diff to an animal that may or may not be predisposed to run from the scent of a man

The Thread asked for one's oppinion and Vote.......I said Gimmick & still do.
But then I don't understand the Technology involved....or so I'm told

 

[BIGREDD]

If a given Deer is such that the mere scent of a Human would send it bounding away how can we measure "How much" smell of a Human does this take....
You either smell like a little bit of Human or alot of it...I'm guessing same diff to an animal that may or may not be predisposed to run from the scent of a man

You are obviously not a biologist nor have you given this much thought at all. Deer do not reason nor do they have a switch that makes them run at the first molecule of airborne human scent. They do have a threshold level within their scent receptors and that will determine how much scent will trigger the flight syndrome. Less scent is a good thing.

Your opinion is not in question... it is the facts on which you base your opinion that I question.
Your motives are clear.

 

[catnthehatt]

I've never used any of that stuff so can't comment on it.
I do wash my clothes in baking soda to get rid of the brightners and stuff, but rely on the wind , watch my movement , etc.

Cat

 

[gth]

I agree deer don't necessarily bolt at the first whiff of human scent but have you ever seen a coyote almost turn himself inside-out to run away after picking up your human scent up to 100yds away.......... Makes me think there is a little more scent flaoting around out there than a piece of clothing can take care of.......

I say Gimmick. Unless you dont walk to your stand and hunt in a vaccum. Of course I cant be right because someone got close to a deer wearing one of the magic suits and no one has everr done that without one.