deer and the human smell

Big Game Hunting > Deer Hunting

<< < (2/4) > >>

Palmer:
I use all the scent eliminating soaps and detergents. I eat light and not a lot of meat. I avoid anything that will give me gas or indigestion. I spray myself down a couple times during the day to eliminate all scent. I also drag a scent wick. When I see deer staring at me I do a nonthreatening doe grunt/bleat and I've been able to walk within 20 yards of does and yearling bucks.
Now older bucks are a step above that. I've heard of them staying well hidden and crawling away through thick cover while you are only 30 feet away from them and you probably won't even see them. I've also been grunted at and never seen them. I believe they stand in the cover and see me before I see them and then never come out except for the ones I've harvested.

Private land, areas close to town, and areas deep in the woods are best due to low hunting pressure. Cover your scent and get into a good spot before first light and sit still for the first couple hours. Try rattling once or twice.

Chesapeake:
This scent stuff has always interested me.

For instance "ones breath". All the scent lock clothes and spray you could have wouldnt cover your breath.

But..... I've used the spray and soap and had deer less than 15 yards down wind of me. So do they not care about your breath?

The thing I've learned and worked on is "Area of awareness". I try to move very slow, stop often, and sit still lots. During these activities, or lack of activity my area of awareness is greatly increased.

Think about it. A deer is far more aware of its suroundings than any human.

Think about this. If a guy stands still in the woods he will be aware of any other human moving around him far before the moving human becomes aware of him, if the moving human ever becomes aware.

How many times have you stood still and had others walk right by and never see you? Now you know how a deer feels.

They dont realy hide per se. They just stand still and let you bumble on by. If you sit still two things happen.

1: You become aware of everything within ear shot, and anything you see move.

2: Your not making noise for the deer to hear, and you arent moving for them to see you.

Kind of wandered there a bit. :hello:

Palmer:
Eat lots of parsely in the morning and evening. Watch what you eat and you won't have to worry so much about your breath.

stumprat:
Play the wind, not the scent free gimick stuff. After you shower with/and spray on that stuff you smell like everything you come in contact with. ;)

bow4elk:
Lot's has been written about this topic over the years. Lot's of diet-based theories. Specifically for deer, I do my best to reduce my human scent by showering with unscented soaps (even made my own douglas fir and cedar scented soaps with the aid of my wife's expertise is natural soap-making). I wash my clothing in scent-killer type detergents, and I spray down with scent (bacteria) killing sprays, such as Dead Down Wind. I never wear my boots in my truck and chose to wear scent free rubber boots most of the time. If you've ever watched a deer run into your scent trail and seen them spring into panic, you'll think twice about your choice in footwear. Finally, I use an old Elmer's glue bottle filled with corn starch as a wind checker. I use in constantly and hunt the wind first and foremost. All the other precautions are just due diligence to help reduce the scent trail that I might leave in my wake.

On the topic of behavior, I absolutely agree that deer pick up on eye contact and your reaction to seeing them. If you see a deer, the best thing you can do is keep walking and not break stride. Or move slightly away, pausing to pick a leave or two. They will watch intently but if you act deliberately, and are not sneaking or showing any sign that you see them, you have a good chance to raise your gun or nock an arrow for a slow turn and quick shot.

You always have to remember that a lot of old timers got by with wool pants from Sears and a Pendleton wool shirt. They smoked, drank coffee, didn't shower daily, and stood around smoldering camp fires all day long. They stunk! They hunted with the wind in their faces, and they killed game. Nothing will replace a steady wind in your face and honed hunting skills ;)

Navigation

 Message Index

Go to full version