Post by: vaz,,66 on May 27, 2011, 12:26:44 PM
not busted during the hunt, I now that the most important thing is to keep the wind in your face, but when you go to that dark timber there is not much wind down there to keep.
What I learned ( and it works pretty good for me) that before I leave my house for a hunting trip especially on the archery season I go to sauna a few times. What it does it cleans not only your skin but much deeper your whole system. We all now that the perspiration is our enemy, no matter what kind of soup or body wash you use, you'll stay clean till you start climb that hill . When we take shower we just clean the surface of our body but the staff which is deep in our skin stay untouched and as soon as we start doing some physical work its get out. Simply why is a swamp is smelly and the river is not? When you use the sauna you clean your self from inside out and riplace that liquid your body supposed to keep to prevent your skin from drying out, you can see the difference from your first session in the souna to the next one, at the first the presporation is very salty its even irritate your eyes if it gets there but ofter while it turns out just like a water, It helps me stay clean longer.
Now what is your trick?
Post by: Button Nubbs on May 27, 2011, 01:00:32 PM
Post by: JPhelps on May 27, 2011, 01:05:08 PM
Post by: rasbo on May 27, 2011, 01:07:45 PM
Post by: rotty33 on May 27, 2011, 01:21:36 PM
Post by: vaz,,66 on May 27, 2011, 01:37:02 PM
What is your opinion for that practice, does it help?
Post by: pianoman9701 on May 27, 2011, 01:40:52 PM
I had a chance to meet some guys during the hunt they been stink like they just cover themselves with elk *censored*, at the first i didn't now what to think then i got the idea they literally covered themselves wit the elk *censored* to cover their own smell .
What is your opinion for that practice, does it help?
Did they get any elk? I think before i rub poo all over me I'm going find out if it works for someone else.
Post by: OlympicElkJunkie on May 27, 2011, 01:50:01 PM
Post by: vaz,,66 on May 27, 2011, 02:00:08 PM
Quote
Did they get any elk? I think before i rub poo all over me I'm going find out if it works for someone elseI think to use urine its OK i do that too , but that smell is absolutely unnatural, i mean when you find even a fresh pile of droppings it doesn't smell like that
Post by: huntnnw on May 27, 2011, 02:18:20 PM
Post by: rosscrazyelk on May 27, 2011, 02:20:20 PM
Post by: iRem on May 27, 2011, 02:22:38 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 27, 2011, 02:38:02 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on May 27, 2011, 02:43:19 PM
I don't know if you can ever 100% beat any animals nose. Other then being on the right side of the wind :IBCOOL:
Listen to him because of the elk picture in his avitar. Holy bagoly!
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 27, 2011, 02:45:35 PM
I don't know if you can ever 100% beat any animals nose. Other then being on the right side of the wind :IBCOOL:
Listen to him because of the elk picture in his avitar. Holy bagoly!
Well it's a stag :chuckle: But close enough :IBCOOL:
Post by: vaz,,66 on May 27, 2011, 03:08:33 PM
Quote
Well it's a stag But close enough
I absolutely agree with you guys the wind is everything in this case, but some times you get to a rely thick timber at the bottom of a deep draw and seems wind is never down there its just as dead as it can be.
carpsniperg2
Nice looking stag where did you get em?
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on May 27, 2011, 03:14:59 PM
I normally wash clothes and body in scent killer or baking soda. And use scent killer periodically throughout the day. Prior to working a bull I will spray down if possible. I also cut my hair extremely close since this is a huge source of scent. It also cuts down on perspiration reducing scent even more.
Post by: pianoman9701 on May 27, 2011, 03:24:03 PM
Seemingly obvious, but something I've never thought of. Thanks.
Post by: runamuk on May 27, 2011, 03:26:10 PM
I found sitting on a hillside glassing for bucks and bears to be the best way to attract or at least not repel a bull.....of course it wasnt yet elk season so :dunno:
Post by: Arrowhead on May 27, 2011, 03:26:37 PM
Try not eating the largely spicy and smelly foods, focus on carbs and basic starches. Experiment prior to, your wife or significant other, will even be able to tell you after a good days work. And most importantly, drink a lot of WATER. Not beer, not soda, not gatorade, or anything else --- just good ol water. Water naturally cleans your system, starting at the liver and kidneys and all the way thru to your sweat glands. :twocents:
Don't focus on the scent suits, they can be effective, but are not 100%. Most are based on the carbon suits from military use, and while they are effective when brand new, they become less effective with every use. I'm sure there are other military personnel on this site that can attest to this also.
As stated numerous other times, the wind is your #1 controller. It can make you or break you. Also don't forget that being downwind not only helps hiding your scent, but also masks your sounds, which can be just as important if not more.
Post by: bwhntr2819 on May 27, 2011, 03:52:04 PM
Post by: Elknut1 on May 27, 2011, 04:04:43 PM
ElkNut1
Post by: vaz,,66 on May 27, 2011, 04:07:18 PM
Quote
The cover scents are definitely an addition to the tackle box of tools. But you must also look at the other issues at hand, and in my opinion, the simpliest. Your smell is directly affected by the food you intake. Your diet for the couple weeks before hunting season will affect your body odor significantly. If your in doubt, look into some of the war time stories from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. It is a military tool to this day.
Try not eating the largely spicy and smelly foods, focus on carbs and basic starches. Experiment prior to, your wife or significant other, will even be able to tell you after a good days work. And most importantly, drink a lot of WATER. Not beer, not soda, not gatorade, or anything else --- just good ol water. Water naturally cleans your system, starting at the liver and kidneys and all the way thru to your sweat glands.
Don't focus on the scent suits, they can be effective, but are not 100%. Most are based on the carbon suits from military use, and while they are effective when brand new, they become less effective with every use. I'm sure there are other military personnel on this site that can attest to this also.
As stated numerous other times, the wind is your #1 controller. It can make you or break you. Also don't forget that being downwind not only helps hiding your scent, but also masks your sounds, which can be just as important if not more.
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There's a place for all of God's creatures, right next to the taters.
Wow thats good. Thanks guys for all your advise, some staff i would not even think that way . :yike:
LET US HEAR SOME MORE OF YOUR WISDOM
Post by: OlympicElkJunkie on May 27, 2011, 04:25:15 PM
Post by: bwhntr350 on May 27, 2011, 04:54:42 PM
I wash my clothes every night in baking soda and pack a spare shirt in a gallon sized zip lock bag. I also shower in baking soda. I climb a pretty good sized hill to get to where I hunt everyday. I take my hat off while hiking. When I reach the elevation of where I start side hill, I trade my wet sweaty shirt for the dry shirt and ziplock the stinky one up.
I know a guy who knows a guy who raises elk, somewhere. He has a five gallon bucket of elk piss. He filled up a 32 ounce gatorade jug for me 4 years ago and I use it religiously and still have like 28 ounces left. It goes far when used in a spray bottle. I rarely use it unless I get into or hear elk.
Three years ago I sneaked into a bedded herd from up wind. The elk were all facing me while bedded. I seen approx. 8 cows and a B/C sized Roosevelt bull. I sneaked by the bedded cows, 15 yards from a couple of them and just above them. I got to within 20 yards of the bull. The wind was hitting me in the back of the head more than once over that hour. Cows would not even look at my direction.
Could never get a shot, though. Bull was bedded in some tall huckleberries. I had thought that if I waited them out that I would have a shot when he stood up. After 30 minutes or more, motionless and right in amongst them, I outsmarted myself. I seen this little hump about 10 feet away. I figured that if I could get to that then I would have a perfectly clear shot at this 6X6 when he stood up, for sure. I tried moving to the hump within eyesight of at least 6 cows less than 20 yards from me. I made it all the way until the final step and one of them caught my movement.
Stupid me and lesson learned.
edit: I should add, with this story being true, I still am of the belief that you cannot really cover your scent, totally. Somehow, this day seemed to work for me, but this was an isolated incident. I have not been that lucky most other times.
Post by: blackhorn on May 27, 2011, 04:55:38 PM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on May 27, 2011, 04:56:06 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on May 27, 2011, 04:59:17 PM
This is a picture of me in my archery stand. (the other guy in the pic was about to poach a chipmunk, so I took him out...)
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on May 27, 2011, 05:25:29 PM
Joe
Post by: ribka on May 27, 2011, 05:45:14 PM
Post by: vaz,,66 on May 27, 2011, 05:54:21 PM
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on May 27, 2011, 06:09:15 PM
Post by: hughjorgan on May 27, 2011, 06:37:55 PM
Post by: rtspring on May 27, 2011, 06:45:58 PM
Nothing hides human scent completely. They can claim all they want but you will never 100 percent get rid of human odor.
Post by: Dan-o on May 27, 2011, 06:55:08 PM
Luckily for me, I can only do that for so long. Then I just resume my walk in the woods without too much attention to detail. I take a nature walk and enjoy the scenery and plenty often I end up with elk staring at me that I can shoot.
I'm only half joking.... It's happened several times.
Post by: runamuk on May 27, 2011, 06:58:45 PM
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on May 27, 2011, 11:05:02 PM
Quote
I just resume my walk in the woods without too much attention to detail. I take a nature walk and enjoy the scenery and plenty often I end up with elk staring at me that I can shoot.Sounds like a couple "Lucky" days I have had !
Seems when I get relaxed and into the rhythm..
Post by: 6x6in6 on May 27, 2011, 11:24:35 PM
Anything else your playing the masking game with one of the best noses in the business.
Have to remember, if it does not smell exactly like the habitat or exactly like a friendly animal then it's different or prey and they are now in in alert mode. Busted!!!
Post by: HoofsandWings on May 28, 2011, 07:31:37 AM
I plan to try it this fall.
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on May 28, 2011, 08:28:37 AM
At the Puyallup sportsmans show seminar, the speaker said to eat nothing but uncooked vegetables for two weeks prior to hunting.Don't know about the uncooked part, but several years ago I only ate vegetables (some eggs and cheese) for the month of August, took chlorophyll tablets for the last 2 weeks (was pooping green :chuckle:) and did my usual washing with odor free soap, myself with "moccasin Joe" and hung all my gear outside for a week.
I plan to try it this fall.
I did kill an Elk that year (spike in Manastash), but not sure if it was due to my being scent free, or just my normal luck and mindset...
I am planning on doing it again this season just because I haven't gotten an elk for a few years... :dunno:
Post by: ribka on May 28, 2011, 08:38:00 AM
At the Puyallup sportsmans show seminar, the speaker said to eat nothing but uncooked vegetables for two weeks prior to hunting.
I plan to try it this fall.
I did that diet in the 80-90's while tree stand hunting whitetails. Most shots were under 20 yds. Was a fanatic about my scent and clothes and wore rubber boots and gloves while climbing to stand.
I had a lot of deer very close to me those years and seemed to make a difference. :dunno: Who knows?
Many times had deer bed down within my stand as close as 20 yds away.
Shot a lot of deer.
Post by: Pathfinder101 on May 28, 2011, 09:06:32 AM
You are still going to sweat if you are moving, you are still going to breathe.
Someone once told me that you can cover yourself in elk piss and stink to high heaven, but to an elk, you are just going to smell like some dude that got pissed on by an elk... :twocents:
Post by: vaz,,66 on May 28, 2011, 09:12:00 AM
Quote
Someone once told me that you can cover yourself in elk piss and stink to high heaven, but to an elk, you are just going to smell like some dude that got pissed on by an elk...
I like that, I think that is truth
Post by: couesbitten on May 28, 2011, 09:26:40 AM
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on May 28, 2011, 09:37:58 AM
Quote
you can cover yourself in elk piss and stink to high heaven, but to an elk, you are just going to smell like some dude that got pissed on by an elk...:chuckle:
I was told "an Elk will hear you 3 times, see you twice, but only smell you once"
there really is no way to completely eliminate human scent, no matter what you do or use, in my opinion, the only thing you can do is reduce it.
An Elk smell in parts per million, and the stronger the scent, the more alarmed they will be, I believe you can get away with some scent getting to them in some situations (swirling winds where they cannot pinpoint direction is one) but usually figure to keep sideways to the wind when not particularly stalking an animal, in my face when stalking.
The reason for sideways is, in my experiences, Elk (and deer) seem to usually walk with the wind at their backs (so they smell whats behind them) and their eyes forward (why I used to always walk in on them looking at me :bash:), ears constantly moving.
If they hear you, they point their ears first, if they hear you again, they look at source of sound, then try to get downwind (this is when I have gotten "lucky")
If they smell you.... :hello:
Post by: MIKEXRAY on May 28, 2011, 09:55:00 AM
Post by: vaz,,66 on May 28, 2011, 10:05:00 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on May 28, 2011, 11:25:43 AM
Post by: Button Nubbs on May 28, 2011, 11:37:52 AM
Post by: HoofsandWings on May 29, 2011, 06:34:53 AM
Post by: singleshot12 on May 29, 2011, 08:10:13 AM
Post by: Button Nubbs on May 29, 2011, 11:13:23 AM
Post by: brichards44 on May 29, 2011, 12:06:39 PM
Post by: HoofsandWings on May 29, 2011, 12:35:55 PM
All of this is great advice, but there is no way I'm going to get my hunting buddies to eat raw vegetables for a solid 2 weeks. :EAT: I'll stick with the Wind diet.What if one of your buddies breaks ranks, eats vegetables and gets an elk?
Post by: vaz,,66 on May 29, 2011, 04:24:33 PM
Quote
What if one of your buddies breaks ranks, eats vegetables and gets an elk?
Then ...... he would continue doing that ( eat vegetables) until we finish eat that elk ......... :yike: :chuckle:
Post by: huntnnw on May 29, 2011, 04:43:06 PM
Post by: singleshot12 on May 29, 2011, 07:15:31 PM
For you guys that cut out meat are you eating raw or cooked veggies? Do you keep it up at camp too? Sounds awfully tough...
Raw and cooked.. lots of fruit,beans, rice, peanut butter, it's all good.There are alot of soy products now that are high in protein that simulate meat too.
Post by: singleshot12 on May 29, 2011, 07:20:18 PM
all this stuff sounds great..but it doesnt matter what u do the wind is wrong and there is elk ahead of you and it switches..GAME OVER..I dont care what your wearing or have done its over. The minimize scent in area lol if u are walking thru a elk area the elk can smell that u have been there for days! wind wind wind! if anything sitting around a campfire might be your best bet its so strong that it can somewhat mask your scent some.
True, but it's all about diluting the human odor as much as possible, making the animal believe you are farther away than you actually are.
Post by: Button Nubbs on May 29, 2011, 07:36:10 PM
For you guys that cut out meat are you eating raw or cooked veggies? Do you keep it up at camp too? Sounds awfully tough...
Raw and cooked.. lots of fruit,beans, rice, peanut butter, it's all good.There are alot of soy products now that are high in protein that simulate meat too.
so its basically all meats you stay away from? fish poultry pork beef? i may be interested in trying this. that is if i hve the will power. :chuckle:
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on May 29, 2011, 07:38:51 PM
didnt someone on here wear flip flops and shorts :dunno: may have even used the cover scent of baby girl :dunno: I swear there was someone on here who elk hunted like that...maybe it was deer hunting....
LMAO it was me, I did not use baby girl scent, I was smoking a cigarette on top of the mountain talking to her on the cell phone. I was playing with her on my calls and all of a sudden the bull came in screaming. I don't use cover scents never have never will. I smoke. All this talk about eating raw this and don't eat that, just go out there catch the wind find that smell that only an elk can do, walk up on it discover it is just a piss spot, throw your weapons down, do a 3/4 half pipe land in it, roll around jump up grab some of it smear it all over your lips so they can't smell your breath either and there you have it the best cover scent out there. :chuckle: I truly believe if it is your time to harvest then it is your time. In 2007 the wife and I took 3 elk all with bow, one 12 yards one 16 yards and one 35 yards smoking each time.
Joe
Post by: singleshot12 on May 29, 2011, 07:45:46 PM
For you guys that cut out meat are you eating raw or cooked veggies? Do you keep it up at camp too? Sounds awfully tough...
Raw and cooked.. lots of fruit,beans, rice, peanut butter, it's all good.There are alot of soy products now that are high in protein that simulate meat too.
so its basically all meats you stay away from? fish poultry pork beef? i may be interested in trying this. that is if i hve the will power. :chuckle:
All meats, anything a predator would eat.
Post by: elksnout on May 29, 2011, 10:50:46 PM
Post by: PolarBear on May 30, 2011, 12:20:02 AM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on May 30, 2011, 07:44:47 AM
Quoteyou can cover yourself in elk piss and stink to high heaven, but to an elk, you are just going to smell like some dude that got pissed on by an elk...:chuckle:
I was told "an Elk will hear you 3 times, see you twice, but only smell you once"
Those exact words have reached Biblical Status in our elk camp... :tup:
Post by: 338_Thumper on May 31, 2011, 02:41:31 PM
Post by: MtnMuley on May 31, 2011, 02:51:50 PM
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on May 31, 2011, 02:55:52 PM
Champ!
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 31, 2011, 02:57:28 PM
I fill my pack, pockets socks any place that will hold something with cow sh*t and rub my neck down as well. Works like a
Champ!
We need to see some video of that :chuckle:
Post by: vaz,,66 on May 31, 2011, 03:53:32 PM
Post by: HoofsandWings on May 31, 2011, 04:52:04 PM
What is down wind when there is no wind?
What about when the wind is blowing in all directions?
Post by: Pathfinder101 on May 31, 2011, 04:56:23 PM
What is down wind when there is no wind?
There's ALWAYS wind. That's why a windicator is essential equipment. :twocents:
Post by: saylean on May 31, 2011, 05:21:23 PM
Post by: cwuwildcat on May 31, 2011, 05:49:34 PM
I fill my pack, pockets socks any place that will hold something with cow sh*t and rub my neck down as well. Works like a
Champ!
We need to see some video of that :chuckle:
Bet you could make some money on the internet, streaming that live. There are some sick F@##$ that would pay good money, I'm just say'n! :chuckle:
Post by: BIGMIKE on May 31, 2011, 06:41:33 PM
Post by: 400out on June 01, 2011, 03:30:13 PM
Post by: dreamingbig on June 02, 2011, 05:45:56 AM
Post by: cidwatermaster on June 19, 2011, 05:25:52 PM