Scent Control/Attractents

[smitty8202]

Not sure if this is the best place to ask this but here goes. What is the best cent control products out there. i currently us the scent killer laundry detergent to wash all my hunting clothing and i mean all, pants, coat, boxers, socks, gloves, base layers. then i spray down myself with scent killer spray as soon as i get out of the truck. As far as attractents go what do reccomend. Where i hunt there are alot of clear cuts that i will sit on the top of an glass. I am a modern rifle hunter and dont use a tree stand or blind. i have thought about putting out some scent sticks on some trees that are in the clear cut before light and go sit in my spot and see what happens, but am unsure on how effective it is for blacktails. i know it works for whitetails. Any info/input will help thanks

[jnevs23]

Last year was the first year I really took my scent control serious.  I washed all my clothes in the scent control dtergent and double rinsed them.  I hung dried them then put them into plastic garbage bags, then into plastic totes.  I didnt put on any hunting gear until after I ate breakfast and also did not put on coat/backpack etc until out of truck in the woods. Once out of the truck i sprayed the scrent killer as well.  We were using alfalfa and that stuff smells strong so i rubbed that on me as well  I ended up shooting a white-tail doe at 14 yards from a ground blind i built in the brush.  It basically circled my blind and never winded me.  Also had a big 4x4 mulie all around my tree stand for over and hour and never caught me.  I figure if you can get past the nose of a white-tail doe from that range on the ground it must work.

[PolarBear]

I swear by the stuff!  I have litterally had deer walk over the top of my legs while sitting against a tree.  I prefer the sports wash for my clothes. it is cheap and works well.  I clean absolutely everything including my bow and treestand with scent eliminating stuff.  I keep my hunting clothes in vacuum bags and won't put them on until I am out of the rig and ready to hike to my spot.  I don't think that it makes a huge difference for rifle hunting but when it is a matter of feet as in archery, every bit helps.  Now let's hear from the folks who hunt "with a cigarette hanging out of their mouth" saying it is all crap.  LOL!

[Hornseeker]

I use the "Scent Killer" product a fair bit while bowhunting, but probably not religiously enough to be effective.... However, this years elk hunt was miserably cold and wet and we did a LOT of standing over a fire trying to get dry and warm and drying clothes. Our clothes smelled 100% like heavy smoke. On day 4, with no showers or baths, the wind was steady to the south...we had a herd work around us within 30 yards, bull, couple cows and a calf, NO SPOOK... we couldn't believe it... to go further though...the calf fed into us, calling very calmly to keep in touch with her mommy, till she was about 4-5 feet from us, with the wind right in her face...  it was amazing.

[rasbo]

its all in what ya believe in...called in a 3 point muley within 2 feet of me,no scent..Could hear my partner{step dad} laughing at me knowing I was tense about it being so close...

[Skyvalhunter]

Let me guess "Comere Deer, Comere Deer"!!

[rasbo]

Let me guess "Comere Deer, Comere Deer"!!

no screaming for yotes

[Skinnyman]

I make sure to wash all of my stuff in scent free detergent. I also shower in scent eliminator soap. I wear scentless doedorant, and I am very careful if I cook anything in my hunting clothes or not (I never cook bacon or the like).

All of scent elkiminating stuff is good and I think necessary to some degree. But I think it has way more to do with the manufacturers and retailers trying to convince us we need all of these different products that they have made. With that said, I definatly think some of it is good, just not to the extend of the products that are out there. It is much more necessary for bow hunters who need to get close. But for modern firearms, be careful and use scent eliminating soap on clothes and body as much as possible, but following the wind plays a much larger part than anything else. I personally think that a lot of the scent eliminating products and the way too expensive clothes gives people this invicible feeling that they can march into woods with complete disregard for the wind because their clothes and such will prevent any smell. Which is totally not true. Good hunting practices still need to be used. hike a 1/4 mile up a steep hill, you work up a sweat and you smell again.

Scent eliminators are a good tool, but they are not the end all/be all to hunting.

Something else I liked, is someone had mention platic bags and totes for their clothes, get some pine or fir branches and other organic material (native to where you are hunting) that smell and put it in with them so your clothes with pick that smell up and blend into the woods a little better.

I am curious how Doe in estrous works as an attractant, anyone have any experience??

[Sumpnneedskillin]

I used to use Robinsons earth scent laundry soap but they discontinued it.  I also put my clothes and everything else in tubs with the primos earth scent disks.  When you open the tub you get blasted with dirt smell.  After parking the rig I'd spray down with earth scent cover spray. 

I showered with scent free soaps and used scent free deodorant.

Bow hunting I usually pin a disk to my hat and one to my pack.

I had good luck with animals coming close and not getting spooked.  Had two muley bucks get within 5 yds of me once while I was sitting next to a tree, the bigger one sure tasted good!  My hunting partner at the time did the same routine and had a bobcat walk past him at about 2 yds.

[wapiti hunter2]

I keep my hunting stuff in Rubber Maid totes during the off season.  Have to take them out a month before to air them out.  They smell like rubber.  I then wash them in scent free detergent and hang them outside in my shed till needed.  Cedar branches dirt and other scents help. 

Women are so lucky that they  don't sweat.  They only glow.....

[PolarBear]

I have found that elk and mulies are not as spooked by smells as whitetails and blackies.  Whitetails are far and above the worst.  As said before, crush up some fir or pine needles and put them in your storage container.  I avoid using scents of any kind on myself even earth, urine or attractants.  I even go as far as using scent free oil on my bow and guns.  You can't always hunt with the wind in your favor so anything can help.

[BlackRidge]

Got the whole scent-killer pack, trying it out for the first time this year, so we'll see 

[Bean]

I strictly bow hunt. I picked this up from an old timer down south. If there is something that has a good strong smell in the area of my tree, I fill my pockets, take it home and boil it. Put it in a spray bottle and use it as a cover spray. Always used rabbit tobacco down south but this year up here I took moss off of the tree where I hung my stand. Seen does regularly and took a nice buck, never busted. I still wash my clothes with primos wash, soap, D.O., everything. I even get a good bit of mud on the tread of my boots before heading in. Anal? I know, but it gives me the piece of mind to sit in a tree for 12 hours.

[KillerBeee]

Anyone tried cedar essential oil to pack in with their clothes? Seems like a natural around here.

[Cylvertip]

I swear by the stuff!  I have litterally had deer walk over the top of my legs while sitting against a tree.  I prefer the sports wash for my clothes. it is cheap and works well.  I clean absolutely everything including my bow and treestand with scent eliminating stuff.  I keep my hunting clothes in vacuum bags and won't put them on until I am out of the rig and ready to hike to my spot.  I don't think that it makes a huge difference for rifle hunting but when it is a matter of feet as in archery, every bit helps.  Now let's hear from the folks who hunt "with a cigarette hanging out of their mouth" saying it is all crap.  LOL!

X2  

Sports wash for clothes, all new gear gets treated with UV killer ( from the same company as Sports wash and some times packaged together) Scent eliminator or scent killer for all clothing and gear, and dead down wind for especially sweaty areas - pits, hat brim, crotch....
Don't forget deodorant also - I did compare the Primos deodorant to DDW and Scent killer, and the Primos stuff useless.

I have walked right into the middle of elk herds in clear cuts during hunting season using these products.  With animals as close as 5 yds amd that was after being out in the feild for a week.

[Elk hunter4ever]

 I as well wash my clothes in the scent free soap hang dry and put my clothes in totes. I use the scent free shampoo D.O. and bar soap. When I get out of my truck before I hunt, I douse myself with the Primos Siver XP, and carry a small bottle of it in my pack and spray down once more just before I reach my blind.One thing no one has mentioned yet but I use is scent free gum. Works great on getting away the beer breath,morning breath, etc... When youre sitting in a blind for all day, chewing it keeps my mind occupied and awake. Not the best tasting in the world, but it works. Also I have seen at cabelas they now sell scent free toothpaste. I've never tried it yet not sure if it's any good or not.

[BlackRidge]

I as well wash my clothes in the scent free soap hang dry and put my clothes in totes. I use the scent free shampoo D.O. and bar soap. When I get out of my truck before I hunt, I douse myself with the Primos Siver XP, and carry a small bottle of it in my pack and spray down once more just before I reach my blind.One thing no one has mentioned yet but I use is scent free gum. Works great on getting away the beer breath,morning breath, etc... When youre sitting in a blind for all day, chewing it keeps my mind occupied and awake. Not the best tasting in the world, but it works. Also I have seen at cabelas they now sell scent free toothpaste. I've never tried it yet not sure if it's any good or not.

I was looking at those last night... saw they had flavors like cedar/pine... I understand it isnt going to taste amazing, but is it any better than chewing on a branch?

[carpsniperg2]

  thats a great question

[smitty8202]

thanks for all the info. has anyone tried any of the attractants that tinks makes or any other brands.

[bmccalister]

 This is a very interesting topic. I have used a variety of scent control products and prefere Primos and Wildlife Research. Like most I practice changing my hunting clothes before and after I get into my vehicle and I never wear my hunting clothes in camp. I have had mixed results but still practice good scent control techniques. No matter how good or poor my scent control techniques are I never give up the wind.