Odor control while bicycle hunting

[yorketransport]

Here's a question for anyone else who hunts from a bicycle, or has to hike in a ways when they hunt.  I've been doing a lot of scouting on my bike this year since it's so much more efficient than just hiking. I can cover 20 miles, and be back home for lunch. My concern is how to manage my scent after riding in 6-10 miles.

I'll be honest, I'm not exactly in Tour De France physical condition. When I'm out there riding I break a sweat, since all of the good spots seem to be on top of the mountain. Even during deer season when it's cooled down I think that this will still be a problem. So now I'm in an area that looks good, but when I walk in there I'll stink the place up. I know that it's important to watch the wind, but what do you do if you've really broke a sweat coming into the place. Is it easiest to just pack in a change of clothes to actually hunt in? Or do you guys think that some scent eliminating spray and a cover scent would be sufficient?

Since I'm limited to day hunts only (no over nights) I can't just have separate sets of camp clothes and hunting clothes. I would need to pack them both around with me all day. This will add extra weight and bulk.

What does everyone think is the best solution?

Andrew

[flinger]

 you have to bike in, in your spandex spedos and then dress for the hunt when you arrive 

[HoofsandWings]

You are assuming you are the only one around. There usually are other bikers, hikers and horseback riders in the area.
Once you arrive at your spot, put some cover scent on. The animals are used to smelling humans.
Watch the wind. I have shot several deer at under 100 feet by keeping track of the wind.

If you get parinoid over scent contol, you will become self concience and ruin the hunt. Once you start worrying about yourself,
you stop looking. It is a distraction.

[MIKEXRAY]

I don't bicycle but I do hike up to my area. I wear shorts and a t-shirt for my hike & sweat all the way. When I get to my hunting area I change into hunting clothes after cleaning up & using some scent free products. I also bag up my sweaty clothes & shove down in my back pack. When I start hunting I am as fresh as I left the truck & not scenting up my area. I believe it makes a difference as my success has gone up with my efforts. Mike

[ICEMAN]

Use baby wipes to clean yourself up after your ride in...

[yorketransport]

you have to bike in, in your spandex spedos and then dress for the hunt when you arrive 

But how will I carry my 10" BFR if I'm wearing that?

Maybe I am just over thinking this. I imagine that the animals are pretty used to the smell of people out here. I'm just out in the Bald Hills area and I know that there's a lot of foot/bike traffic out here. Most of the people head down toward the Nisqually though, so I head the other direction up towards the GP National Forest. It's mostly up hill, so I think that's why there's fewer people on this side.

I'll try just changing clothes and throwing on a cover scent when I get to the area I want to hunt. One intersting thing that I've learned is that I see a lot more animals in the road when I'm on a bike. I don't know if it's the different sound that the bike makes or if it's because I aproach them so much faster. Either way, I never have time to get off a shot, I just see more animals. I sneek up on a coyote almost every trip out. I was within 25yds of running one over yesterday.

Andrew

[coachcw]

just count on the wind and stay fresh the unsented baby wipe are good . animals will smeel you garantied if the wind is wrong regardless , you guys see that sentlock is getting sewed , the stuff isn't what it claims . m ost guys get lazy with the wind due to the terain and get busted .

[BLKBEARKLR]

maybe you are just over thinking this, I have smoked now for 25 years, I have harvested everything from Grizzlies to deer. When you get into to the hunt, watch your wind and enjoy it. Learn your lessons on what you can and cannot do.

Here is another example, all the big hype about scent lok, and look at them now, people lived by that, to find out it was nothing more than skill and pure luck.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/hunting/2010/05/bestul-scent-lok-found-guilty-false-advertising

Enjoy your hunts out there, and learn.

Joe

[flinger]

if you are truly concerned these things actually work really well



 e3 ScentPrevent™ Field Wash Cloth (20ct)
 
Dead Down Wind’s bioengineered enzyme technology prevents and terminates odor molecules including human, smoke, and gas. It is the last line of defense against any alarming contaminant scent a hunter may acquire before and during the hunt. For best results, use the full ScentPrevent system of laundry, body and field products. Shake well before using. l

[robescc]

I use the Dead Down Wind wipes and love them.  I too hike in 3-5 miles to my hunting spots and I sweat a lot.

[hoyt5199]

Like everyone else says, pay attention to the wind. Ihave scent lock, took a shower in the scent soaps and use detergent on my camo and still have been busted. The wind is key! Good luck

[WSU]

I have zero confidence in any of the scent lok type stuff, including sprays, wipes, cover scents, etc.  Bottom line is we smell like humans, and the only sure-fire way to keep an animal from smelling you is to stay down wind and keep your scent from getting to the animal.

[yorketransport]

Thanks everyone. I was thinking about trying Scent Lok, then I found the story about them getting sued and decided to steer clear. I never thought that the stuff would be a magic scent eliminator. But I thought it might help. Then I found out how expensive that stuff was and decided it isn't worth it. The biggest improvement I ever saw as far as scent control was when I started using a cover scent. I never believed that it made me "invisible", it just helped cover my mistakes when I got sloppy with the wind. I did start seeing more animals instead of hearing them as the run away.

Andrew

[wapiti hunter2]

Look into the X Scent, X static line of clothing and base layers.  I love mine and I sweat like a pig.  I have several pair and wash one set each night in camp.  They use silver fiber to kill body odor bacteria. The more you research the product the more you will like it.  They are very affordable and is even available in some things at Wal-Mart.  Here is a quick link to get you started.  Just google X Static or X Scent.

http://www.bkkenterprises.com/xscent_products.htm

[HoofsandWings]

I have heard that if you stop eating meat 2 weeks prior and go on a vegetarian diet, the scent is much less offensive to the deer.
I heard this at a seminar by the author of blacktail hunting techniques at the Puyallup show.

[JPhelps]

Just keep the wind in your face. 

One thing that I do is always wear a smartwool/icebreaker base layer.  The merino wool does not build up the stench like synthetics will.

[rasbo]

we stink, period...watch the wind,my op...the only ones getting fooled is the ones that buy all that stuff

[stumprat]

we stink, period...watch the wind,my op...the only ones getting fooled is the ones that buy all that stuff

Well said!!!!

[THINK_N_ELK]

What you eat plays a big part of your BO.  Garlic, onion, alcohol, peppers, spicy foods.  It will eventually comes out of the pores.

[yorketransport]

What you eat plays a big part of your BO. Garlic, onion, alcohol, peppers, spicy foods. It will eventually comes out of the pores.

Maybe I'll start eating corn, apples and molases before each trip the.

[Cylvertip]

I cover a lot of ground during elk season either on bike or on foot, or some combination there of - and I sweat like a pig.  I take scent controll way over the top, but I have proven to my self time and time again that it works - see this thread:

Hunting Washington Forum > Big Game Hunting > Bow Hunting (Moderators: Ray, boneaddict) > Scent killers?

I have a long post on there on what I put my self through.  Even after ten days out, I've still gotten right in the middle of herds and not been detected even with the wind swirling every which way.

[Skyvalhunter]

That link didn't come up. Just how much does a pig sweat?

[Dmanmastertracker]

 Don't eat chili the night before.

[Cylvertip]

That link didn't come up. Just how much does a pig sweat?

Lots and lots - 

Here is that post -  Could not figure out the link but you can go to the bow hunting forum and search Scent Killer  - this is from August 09

I'll start by saying this - I do everything I can to put the odds in my favor. Oh yeah, and I've got a little OCD going on too. 

All clothes are washed in Sports Wash and then sprayed with the UV killer.  Everything is stored in water proof bags until I am ready to put it on - shirts, pants, coats, packs, hats, socks underwear, everything.  All of the bags get a good squirt of earth scent right before they are closed up  (just make sure it goes on pants or socks and not on a face mask or hat, or that will be all you smell in the field. I actually have an air tight closet that I built in my house to store all my gear in during the off season so that no food/ household odors get on anything. 

I usually go for two weeks during archery elk and hunt from my camper.  The towels, rugs, and bed covering get washed in sports wash right before I head out.  I have a strict no cook rule in the camper two weeks prior to season ( hopefully a month before).  The camper is thoroughly aired out for several weeks prior to going.  I use a lot of the earth scent on the rugs and some on the bedding to cover any residual smells.

When I leave the house, about the last thing I do is take a shower using the scent killer soap.  Forthe road trip, I put on "street clothes" washed in Sport Wash.  The only cooking I do is to heat hot water in the morning for oat meal.  The exhaust fans in the camper are on while the oat meal hydrates and while I eat.  For dinner, its peperoni, jerky, and crackers with various desert items added.  I take a lot of care to not touch anything I don't have to.  I keep a damp paper towel with scent killer soap close for whipping my hands off.  I actually eat using only one hand to keep the scent transfer to a minimum.


While in the camper, I wear these scent free street clothes, usually just shorts. My hunting gear does not go on until I am ready to hit the trail. All hunting gear is hosed down with scent killer right before I put it on. If I need to drive some were while in my hunting gear, I have scent free towels on the seats.  The towels get a good dose of scent killer along with the seat belt(s)and then some cover scent added.  The steering wheel, shifter, armrests all get wiped down with scent killer.  That goes for the bike seat and handle bars too....

All the gear that I have not worn is in the water proof bags in the camper. Anthing that I intend on wearing more than once including packs, calls, misc gear go in a big rubbermaid type container in the camper. I usually wear pants two days, shirts one day.   I keep a towel in the bottom of the container that is doused in earth scent  Before anything goes into the container it gets hosed with scent killer. Add a little more earth scent, and then the container is closed up.  When the gear comes back out it gets hosed with scent killer again and taken out of the camper.  I add cover scent to the outside of the packs and on the areas that contact my back.  Hats usually get worn for several days but will get rinsed out and really hosed with scent killer and that enzyme stuff... cant remember the name... Smiley face on it...

The only time gear is left out in the camper other than boots, is if I totally get drenched and the rain gear needs to dry some.  My sleeping bag does stay on the bed, but it gets hosed with scent killer and some earth scent right after I get out of it and right before I get in it.

Boots get scent killer powder in them every night when they come off at the door, along with earth scent.  I do put cow in heat (or doe in heat during deer season) scent on a scent pad on under the laces on the lower tongue of my boots.  I take several pairs of boots just in case they get too wet to dry over night. They sit in front of the heater on the floor of the camper.   By the end of two weeks of hunting everything has a real "woodsy aroma." my wife cant stand it, but I love it..

Every night before I turn in, i wipe down with damp paper towels with scent killer soap on them, and then wipe off with ones with no soap.  The same in the morning right before I put my gear on, after breakfast and making a deposit......

All gear that is done being worn - pants, socks, shirts, underwear - is put in thick black garbage bags with cover scent added.  The bags are tied at the top.

Once back home, everything that has been used gets washed and then put away, anything that did not come out of the waterproof bags is still good and can get stored right a way.

Garbage is thrown away if/ when I get the chance, if not it's in plastic bags between the bed rail and camper in the bed of the truck ( out side).


By taking these steps, I know I have done everything I can on the scent side to minimize my signature.  I still keep track of the wind, but sometimes the herd / animal will move around you.  I have prooven to my self with countless close encouters that the scent killer and UV killer work. 
I have actually walked, on purpose, right into the middle of a herd of 25+ animals during the middle of the day during early archery, in the middle of a clear cut, to take pictures.  I have two shots (pics) of a cow and calf from that heard at 5 yards.  I was 15 yards from the 4x5 that was running the heard at the time.  They all spooked when I went to take the third shot of the cow and calf.  The battery went dead on the camera and beep, beep, beep.......... end of story.   Did I mention this was in the Winston unit were there is a good amount of pressure to say the least.   Another day in Ryderwood, it was three bulls that were walking in line.  each stopped in turn to stare at the funny looking bush, me.  I had staring contest with each at 4 yds - too close to move/ shoot.   And many more.