Scent Control Question

[OutdoorsJen]

I'm going on my first deer hunt with my dad and brother this fall.  They've never hunted with a woman before which has me asking them questions they're not entirely sure of the answers.  My brother told me they play the wind and don't do anything for scent control, so I shouldn't need to either.  Being a girl with long hair that holds in the smell of hair products, I feel like it would probably be wise that I do use scent control products.  Looking at articles online, I've found people on both sides for using and not using it.  I want to do everything I can to increase the chance of me getting a deer.  So I'm wondering if the men on here who hunt with their spouses or the women on here that hunt notice a difference if they use scent control products or not?

[Jolten]

Just don't use smell good hair products.

[bowguy]

Wash ur hair with a scent killer shampoo. Also to help cover some scent look up pistolarrows.net match the gmu to the bottle and your good to go. Stuff is amazing really smells like the area.

[Bean Counter]

If you are rifle hunting and not bow or muzzy hunting scent control is not that big of a deal. I don't smoke or wear cologne in the field, but sometimes work up so much of a sweat and body odor that I find MYSELF to be offensive.

There are far more important things to spend your money on in a hunt, namely glass (optics) and good boots. As was recently discussed in another discussion, there is TONS of markup in a lot of trivial stuff like scent control, game bags, coolers, etc. If you're just going to rifle hunt this one year you might do well to see how you like it without expensing thousands on top of the line everything. Id buy a non scented, fragrance free soap and shampoo, spend an extra amount of time rinsing, and call it good.

Same goes for clothing. Plenty of fragrance free stuff on the market today with allergies and what not. Use an extra rinse cycle and you'll be good to go.  If your drier is permiated with the smell of drier sheets, line dry them when you're sauteeing some garlic and onions in the house or outside when your neighbor is smoking. Ok just kidding about that last part. 

[300rum]

Put on anything you want, smoke, stand by a fire.  Then stay with the wind in your face......

Put me in the category that nature (wind) works better then anything else you will find and the stuff you can buy is snake oil. 

[RadSav]

First of all there is no way to completely control scent.  So playing the wind is an absolute must when big game hunting.  However, there are reasons to use scent control products even when playing the wind game.  Here are my top two reasons;

#1 - applies to everyone, but seems even more so with the ladies.  The less you smell the less you are targeted by biting flies and mosquitos!  Female soaps and hygiene product really get the mosquitos worked up and going.  So a good scent reducing soap like Dead Down Wind really helps.  Those who are on blood pressure medicines, especially niacin, will benefit a lot too and the side effects of those can really put bugs into a crazy frenzy.  Wearing silk weight longjohns with either silver thread or spandex also helps keep mosquito bites to a minimum

#2 - The wind is never a given.  And while an animal with a nose as good as elk, deer and bear will still smell you if down wind from you often it is a game of seconds.  If you reduce scent to a point it does not pool around you the ability of these animals to catch your scent is reduced.  And often times you get just a moment of opportunity to get that shot off before the wind changes, especially in that early morning transference from downward thermals to upward thermals.  If reducing your pooling scent can buy you even a second's more time in a shot opportunity it can, and more often than one might think, give you that trophy you might not otherwise get.

Anyone who tells you they never have animals down wind of their position has either hunted very little or rarely gets out of the truck.  Thermals and wind always change when you least expect them too.  And add to that the animals don't always play your game.  Even the best prepared hunter with the best glasses and hearing of a beagle will eventually have an animal show up in the worst possible spot at the worst possible moment sooner or later.  A little preparation and an extra second could be all the difference you need.

Good scent products like Scent Shield and Dead Down Wind are really very reasonable in price.  Even if they make no difference 95% of the time wouldn't that 5% be worth the investment   I've always thought so!

[OutdoorsJen]

I will be rifle hunting.  I'll look into getting a scent control shampoo and soap before this season.  If I do end up bow hunting eventually I'll probably look at other scent control products too.

Thanks for all your input!

[billythekidrock]

I'm going on my first deer hunt with my dad and brother this fall.  They've never hunted with a woman before which has me asking them questions they're not entirely sure of the answers.  My brother told me they play the wind and don't do anything for scent control, so I shouldn't need to either.  Being a girl with long hair that holds in the smell of hair products, I feel like it would probably be wise that I do use scent control products.  Looking at articles online, I've found people on both sides for using and not using it.  I want to do everything I can to increase the chance of me getting a deer.  So I'm wondering if the men on here who hunt with their spouses or the women on here that hunt notice a difference if they use scent control products or not?

As a former "hippie" and as a guy who takes his wife hunting, I would say find a scentless shampoo and conditioner, play the wind and go for it.  Pay attention to everything your father and brother do and you will be fine.

[RadSav]

As a former "hippie" and as a guy who takes his wife hunting, I would say find a scentless shampoo and conditioner, play the wind and go for it.  Pay attention to everything your father and brother do and you will be fine.

Unless they have been hunting their whole life and never killed nothing.  Then do the opposite of what they say...obviously couldn't hurt

I'm very partial to the Dead Down Wind hair and body soap.  Still dries your hair out a bit, but not nearly as bad as most.  Is some dang good scent control formula too!

I knew billythekidrock was a hippie in a past life

[billythekidrock]

As a former "hippie" and as a guy who takes his wife hunting, I would say find a scentless shampoo and conditioner, play the wind and go for it.  Pay attention to everything your father and brother do and you will be fine.

Unless they have been hunting their whole life and never killed nothing.  Then do the opposite of what they say...obviously couldn't hurt

I'm very partial to the Dead Down Wind hair and body soap.  Still dries your hair out a bit, but not nearly as bad as most.  Is some dang good scent control formula too!

I knew billythekidrock was a hippie in a past life

I was going to say the same about their experience, but didn't want to call out their skills (or lack thereof).

And I should have clarified, I was more of a long haired hippie" and not the "granola eatin' tree huggin' hippie".   

[OutdoorsJen]

They've been successful hunters, but we're a competitive family.  I'd love to get a bigger buck than they have!  I don't expect that to happen first time out but it's definitely a personal goal of mine to accomplish.  So maybe scent control will give me a little edge.

I plan to follow their lead on everything but this I was more asking because they're both bald and I've got hair enough for the three of us.  Not sure scent control shampoo is their expertise. 

[turkeyfeather]

My wife uses the Dead down wind products for women. She seems to like them.

[RadSav]

And I should have clarified, I was more of a long haired hippie" and not the "granola eatin' tree huggin' hippie".   

I've never had long hair.  But I did have a VW Hippie Hauler for a hunting rig once.  It was pretty dang sweet!

[RadSav]

I plan to follow their lead on everything but this I was more asking because they're both bald and I've got hair enough for the three of us.  Not sure scent control shampoo is their expertise. 

That's good stuff right there

[REHJWA]

They've been successful hunters, but we're a competitive family.  I'd love to get a bigger buck than they have!  I don't expect that to happen first time out but it's definitely a personal goal of mine to accomplish.  So maybe scent control will give me a little edge.

Hey there is beginners luck, and its awesome your already thinking about how you can improve your chances. I cherish the hunts I have had with my kids and can't wait until they a done with college so we can get out together again. Spend a little extra time on the range and get completely confident with you gun so that when the big on does give you a chance at bragging rights your ready instead of having to eat crow...