Vanilla extract cover scent

[Duckslayer89]

So I was thinking about what I could do for a good cover scent and was thinking about taking a large spray bottle, dumping a bottle of vanilla extract into it and filling the rest with water. Then spray myself down.  Do you think elk/deer would just smell that and run like human scent or how would they respond? Would be for archery season.

[vandeman17]

Why not just buy some regular scent blocker? If anything, just hang your clothes out in the trees for a day or two before you guy then break of a few branches and rub that over them. 

[Woodchuck]

I have never heard of vanilla, but have heard of folks using anise.

[HUNT-HARD]

The bears will love you!!!

[gaddy]

There are reasons that Bigfoot's tend to be more visible to, or have more interactions with women than men. One of them is the fact that that a lot of Women tend to use vanilla scents as perfume. I myself find it attractive on certain females. I am not sure that deer and elk will find it appealing because, they find anything that is not natural offensive, or a threat. Let us know if it works and I might invest in the vanilla market.

[Evil_EdwardO]

The bears will love you!!!

Would that be considered baiting??   

[RadSav]

I have never heard of vanilla, but have heard of folks using anise.

Vanilla X been used for over 50 years under the name "Cover Up".  Probably more to it than just vanilla x but my nose sure can't tell the difference.  Maybe I should bake some cookies with it and see what it tastes like

Only use if you aren't sensitive to bee stings.  Friend in Oregon used to make his own diluting in river water 10:1.  Sometimes letting it brew like sun tea with fir needles or cedar.  Eventually he quite using it because of all the bees he said it attracted.

At one point I read an article saying if you brew it with fresh cedar shavings the cedar oil would repel ticks.  Don't personally know anyone who has tried that, so   Found it interesting though.

Never heard of Anise being used as a cover scent, but it is used a lot as an attractant when bear hunting.

[hollymaster]

Anise is good for steelhead.   

[RadSav]

Anise is good for steelhead.   

ProCure - Crawfish Anise  =  My go to on jigs and plugs.  They made me some with extra crawfish and wholly smolly did the winter fish pound it.  Not sure if it produces more strikes but the ones I do get are absolute slammers!  Almost worth $130 a bottle

[ridgefire]

Hunt into the wind. Cheaper and works 

[Woodchuck]

Anise is good for steelhead.   

My dad discovered it attracts lots of critters, sort of by accident, but swore by it after that. My mother swore at him for it. 

[bowNarrow]

I make my own. Do a Google search..it's way cheaper than buying it

[Duckslayer89]

Why not just buy some regular scent blocker? If anything, just hang your clothes out in the trees for a day or two before you guy then break of a few branches and rub that over them. 

Well that's a given for me, I just don't like buying all sorts of products all the time. Maybe I'll pour a bottle of elk urine in the spray bottle then dilute it with water and spray that. Aha sure my brother would love to share the tent after

[Jonnyjammer]

I have never heard of vanilla, but have heard of folks using anise.

If you do this be very and i mean very careful,I use anise in spray bottle a few drops then 44 oz. of water.


You cant get the smell out of the bottle even with Bleach.It works,hunting and fishing,anise is very natural.   

[huntnnw]

I always use the wind, but if you can eliminate a ton of scent with sprays, washing clothes, body in scent free stuff and try to mask what scent your emitting it may save a hunt. This is in regard to sitting in tree stands where you are stationary and animals are coming to you.. a lot of deer may be coming to you from your downwind side if your high enough the deer cant smell you as your scent moves over the top..the issue is when your scent gets to the level of the deer nose however far that is down wind which can be 100 yards or with a good wind it might be 200 plus. If you dilute it enough and mask it the deer may not recognize it as a threat and continue on. Deer and elk have the ability to measure danger with their noses and where it poses a threat to them.

[Bango skank]

I would think anything that can smell your scent would be focusing on finding it with vanilla smell.  An attractive cover scent seems anti productive.  Just wash your clothes in perfume free detergent and put them outside in a pile of tree limbs.  Then shower with perfume free soap and immediately go outside naked and get dressed.  After that, play the wind.  Nothing much else to do.

[RadSav]

I always use the wind, but if you can eliminate a ton of scent with sprays, washing clothes, body in scent free stuff and try to mask what scent your emitting it may save a hunt.

If you could add just two seconds to every potential shot opportunity from your past - How many more trophy quality animals would you have on the wall?

I think it would double my take of trophy quality animals.  It would probably triple my mule deer count!  Even a one second advantage could have effected my success in positive ways.  That's why I continue to be a believer in scent, cover scent, camo and face paint.

[huntnnw]

And how many more deer came by due to taking the steps to eliminate your scent? that I will never know

Covering your face and hands is huge to me...both your hands and face move the most yet so many people dont camo them. I see people decked out in camo, but not covering their face or hands and the first thing that gives them up is there glowing face. To me its even more important in the stand if a buck is 20 yards away and looks up at you

[RadSav]

I flew low over a popular duck hunting spot years ago.  It was shocking how all the white faces glowed and popped up like magic white pumpkins suddenly filling a pumpkin patch.  I'll never forget that.  Been a true believer in face cover ever since.  It's too bad there is so much garbage face paint out there.  I think it sours hunters on using it.  I like Larry D. Jones, burnt cork and the powder stuff. 

[Duckslayer89]

I flew low over a popular duck hunting spot years ago.  It was shocking how all the white faces glowed and popped up like magic white pumpkins suddenly filling a pumpkin patch.  I'll never forget that.  Been a true believer in face cover ever since.  It's too bad there is so much garbage face paint out there.  I think it sours hunters on using it.  I like Larry D. Jones, burnt cork and the powder stuff.

I was going to post something earlier about face paint causing skin break outs so I don't use it anymore. Especially on backcountry trips where I don't have showers for over a week straight. What would you suggest for paint? I'll check the Larry d jones stuff. But ya duck hunting I always have a camo face

[huntnnw]

i wear a first lite merino face mask if I am not wearing paint..its super thin

[RadSav]

I was going to post something earlier about face paint causing skin break outs so I don't use it anymore. Especially on backcountry trips where I don't have showers for over a week straight. What would you suggest for paint? I'll check the Larry d jones stuff. But ya duck hunting I always have a camo face

If you have a sensitivity the powders would likely be best.  Hard to find in a hunting store anymore.  http://camofacepaint.com/shop/ is something I am going to try for the first time.  Not sure what their powder is like.  Past few times I have gotten Black powder at a costume store.  Tink used to have a great multi color package and a nice piece of foam to apply.  Not sure if anyone has continued to market that stuff or not.  Whackmaster would know for sure.  Maybe he will chime in.

Wine corks would also be good!  Burn the end with a Bic until good and chalky.  Important: Wait for it to cool!   Some lessons we learn the hard way   Then rub on.  Really sticks well.  Takes me four or five burns to get good face coverage.

I like to have a good bit of facial hair before season starts.  Really helps keep face camo in place even if you are hiking a lot.  My wife has to reapply a couple times a day.  Sometimes I can go multiple days before reapplication.

I'm not too worried about it in a blind.  If you keep windows closed it's usually plenty dark in there to cover the face.  Sometimes if it does get bright in the blind I will put a gaiter over my lower face when animals are coming in.

I despise masks.  Make my glasses fog up, don't care to rebreathe my last breath and most cover up the ears and that REALLY bothers me!

Then there are times your face is almost camo enough.  Hunting wheat, and aspens sometimes my facial hair is enough.  Maybe a few stripes of black across the nose and a cheek does the trick.

[RadSav]

This cow was taken in dark timber as you can see.  I shot her just a little after noon on a wet day.  Had to sneak past five bedded bulls to put an arrow into her at 35 yards.  She was bedded amongst maybe ten other cows.  One bull stood up to check me out as I came to full draw.  He was less than 20 yards from me when I shot.  Late season after the Winston rifle zoo and he seemed more curious than scared.  I had Dead Down Wind on, elk pee and poo that I rubbed on my shoulders and hat when I hit their tracks, and then as you can see a very dark face paint job being in the timber.  I would normally have a darker hat on too, but that was the only water proof one I had at the time.

Notice my camo!!   I think shade is more important than pattern.  Especially in dark timber.

I love hunting them in their beds!!

[RadSav]

This cow was also shot while three 2X2 bulls slept within 20 yards of me.  There were more than a dozen cows in this herd.  Some of them sleeping and some of them feeding on the edge of this clearing.  None knew where the shot came from.  This cow went down about five yards from where she stood.  Rest of the herd milled around for about ten minutes before finally bugging out.  Again, this is late archery after the Fall River rifle zoo!  Dead Down Wind, fresh elk pee and poo on hat and shoulders.

[Duckslayer89]

That's a sick pic. I feel same way about the shades, I killed a nice white tail in my flannel jacket year before last. Sometimes I feel like the new camo patterns just look like big brown blobs they are so detailed. Looks good up close but further out the more simple stuff looks better. I'll try the powder. Still can't grow enough facial hair to cover up I'm going to have to find a solution for a few more years haha

[RadSav]

I'll try the powder. Still can't grow enough facial hair to cover up I'm going to have to find a solution for a few more years haha

You could always go Duck Dynasty   Should be showing up at a Wally World Halloween display near you!

[rasbo]

I used to use the paints and stuff,then I started using mud or dirt to dull things down,that works fine and is easy to clean off...as far as scents,I used to use them also,but found using and knowing the wind and thermals was best for me..any scent that's not natural to an area would seem to me to alert an animal..folks will swear by what works for them,and that's great,,last bear I shot was thirty feet away, I was smoking  when I shot it,so perhaps you should smoke,lol...

[Jonnyjammer]

i wear a first lite merino face mask if I am not wearing paint..its super thin

this is what i do as well. 

[Jonnyjammer]

I used to use the paints and stuff,then I started using mud or dirt to dull things down,that works fine and is easy to clean off...as far as scents,I used to use them also,but found using and knowing the wind and thermals was best for me..any scent that's not natural to an area would seem to me to alert an animal..folks will swear by what works for them,and that's great,,last bear I shot was thirty feet away, I was smoking  when I shot it,so perhaps you should smoke,lol...

just about every animal i have ever harvested including fish was done during smoking or right after