Post by: krapmit on June 22, 2012, 12:10:43 PM
Anyone have experiences with this, advice or an opinion on how this will affect the hunt.
Thanks a lot for the replays. :IBCOOL: :hello:
Post by: krapmit on June 22, 2012, 12:15:17 PM
Post by: sirmissalot on June 22, 2012, 12:22:59 PM
Post by: washelkhunter on June 22, 2012, 12:26:12 PM
Post by: PolarBear on June 22, 2012, 12:28:33 PM
Post by: coachcw on June 22, 2012, 12:33:22 PM
Post by: krapmit on June 22, 2012, 12:41:53 PM
Post by: dreamingbig on June 22, 2012, 12:49:32 PM
Post by: coachcw on June 22, 2012, 12:50:37 PM
Post by: MR5x5 on June 22, 2012, 12:55:16 PM
Post by: dblungshot on June 22, 2012, 01:28:51 PM
Wind doesn't play a factor, it IS the factor. Keep the wind in your face and don't worry about the rest. You can wear clothing/layers that will help you with temp control and minimize stink but you can't hunt with the wind at your back. Good luck.
DreamingB - perfect
Hunting with others who wear cover scent (estrus piss, etc) is a major pet peave of mine. If my brother would stop dumping the entire bottle on his body every year it probably wouldn't of been a pet peave of mine. Sneaking through the woods and finally getting that whiff of elk makes my heart rate increase and the sounds of snapping twigs following helps to continue the HR increase....until I realize and see it's my humpty dumpty brother sneaking through the woods which I wish would fall flat on his face. Not only that but sitting around the fire trying to eat/relax and sleeping near the dude makes it that much more annoying...He's gotten better and now uses wafers...that's my first request when I get back to camp (take them off). I don't mind the smell of cow piss but don't enjoy having it through an IV or up my nose 24/7.
The only cover i've worn is pine scent wafers...I haven't used them for a couple years now. Don't really think it matters. I use scent wipes each morning and take bird baths much as possible. I also change clothes and rotate clothes...Merino Wool really helps decrease BO due to the antimicrobial factors. I also spray down with scent killer before heading into a "good area". It's impossible to be scent free. Wind is the descision maker.
Post by: Recurve-Elk on June 22, 2012, 02:20:01 PM
However all of this isn't to say that you shouldn't make an effort to reduce your smell. I keep myself clean, (granted I don't sweat much), I also spray down with a fresh earth scent killer before I head out on every hunt. I also tend to hang my clothes in the wind to help them air out. Aside from that I use a scentless deodorant/antiperspirant. That's about it, the wind is your best and worst friend.
Post by: Recurve-Elk on June 22, 2012, 02:21:58 PM
I don't like cover scent on me because I wanna smell them if I can
This in addition to my own ethics is why I don't use attractants like elk pee.
Post by: brianmtsinc on June 22, 2012, 02:54:10 PM
You can't always play the wind, those who say so are kidding themselves. Do the best that you can do to keep your stink down use crushed fir needles as cover and try and stay down wind if you can.
I completely agree! When I was new to archery hunting, I spent YEARS trying to figure out how to hunt with the "wind on my nose" all of time. I spent more time turning myself into the wind and walking away from animals than anything else. :dunno: :bash:
What I have learned in my 20+ years of archery elk hunting is that smell IS important, but when you are hunting during the rut, the rules sometimes change! Last year we killed 3 elk, in one canyon, 50 - 120 yards away from each other within a two day period. After the 1st kill we had 8 guys walking all over this canyon tracking this elk. Later that night, elk were in our tracks, and another one fell the next morning. They could have cared less about our sent. :dunno:
With that said, I DO spray down with earth sent or sent neutralizer every time I head out, but I know that elk may smell you and still come right in when the rut is on!! :twocents:
Post by: Elkpiss on June 22, 2012, 03:07:36 PM
Wind is everything when your calling in bulls close....
Post by: MIKEXRAY on June 22, 2012, 03:55:14 PM
Post by: krapmit on June 22, 2012, 10:31:32 PM
Post by: jechicdr on June 23, 2012, 12:23:06 AM
I do believe you will see more elk with less scent. I don't use cover scent unless I am sitting in a spot for a while and I'll usually place wafers about 30 yards each direction cross wind, in the hopes that an elk will come upwind before it reaches my scent cloud.
Post by: Cylvertip on June 23, 2012, 07:37:54 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on June 23, 2012, 07:40:09 AM
Post by: Giggles on June 24, 2012, 07:48:37 PM
Post by: Goshawk on June 24, 2012, 09:13:49 PM
There is an interesting test that was done using a police dog and various cover scents. The dog never failed to pinpoint the person and his nose is not nearly as good as a deer's. http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/hunting/deer-hunting/finding-deer-hunt/2012/06/cover-scents-work-better-odor-reducing-produ (http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/hunting/deer-hunting/finding-deer-hunt/2012/06/cover-scents-work-better-odor-reducing-produ)
I once saw a video tape where a bear was feeding on a bloated whale on a beach in Alaska. When the wind changed, she pulled her head out of that rotting carcass winded the camera crew and with a snort swapped ends and took off down the beach. Animals live by scenting predators and not being over whelmed by other scents.
Bottom line. Stay as clean as you can and hunt "smartly".
Post by: washelkhunter on June 24, 2012, 09:34:19 PM
Post by: huntnnw on June 24, 2012, 09:46:18 PM
Okay well here is my take on the matter. Many will probably disagree. I don't think that scent control is very important, I also think that it is very overrated. Here is why. Even with all the scent killer or elk pee in the world, you are still going to smell like a human, you just can't hide it. Animals have such a keen sense of smell it is pretty much impossible to get rid of the smell. This is why paying attention to the wind is one of the most important things you can do. Who cares if you stink, if the wind is in your face!
However all of this isn't to say that you shouldn't make an effort to reduce your smell. I keep myself clean, (granted I don't sweat much), I also spray down with a fresh earth scent killer before I head out on every hunt. I also tend to hang my clothes in the wind to help them air out. Aside from that I use a scentless deodorant/antiperspirant. That's about it, the wind is your best and worst friend.
:yeah: and for every bull arrowed there was some luck involved with the wind staying good for the shot to happen
Post by: JPhelps on June 24, 2012, 09:53:59 PM
Post by: jechicdr on June 25, 2012, 07:59:37 AM
Sent blockers are a rip off for hunters, but are very effective in doing what they are designed to do; separate the hunter from his money.
There is an interesting test that was done using a police dog and various cover scents. The dog never failed to pinpoint the person and his nose is not nearly as good as a deer's. http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/hunting/deer-hunting/finding-deer-hunt/2012/06/cover-scents-work-better-odor-reducing-produ (http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/hunting/deer-hunting/finding-deer-hunt/2012/06/cover-scents-work-better-odor-reducing-produ)
I once saw a video tape where a bear was feeding on a bloated whale on a beach in Alaska. When the wind changed, she pulled her head out of that rotting carcass winded the camera crew and with a snort swapped ends and took off down the beach. Animals live by scenting predators and not being over whelmed by other scents.
Bottom line. Stay as clean as you can and hunt "smartly".
Read that one too. Thought a good extension of that study would have been to take dog downwind 50 yards and see if he could do the same thing.
Post by: huntnnw on June 26, 2012, 06:17:29 AM
Post by: JPhelps on June 26, 2012, 06:58:08 AM
As for cover scents I use the analogy of dropping a deuce and then spraying the spray as you leave the bathroom. You walk back in there and 5 minutes and it still smells like crap just mixed with cinnamon or vanilla. I have little faith in cover scents.
I believe that if the wind is in your face a cigarette smoking, tuna fish eating guy that hasnt showered in a week will have no problems getting close.
Post by: buckfvr on June 26, 2012, 07:16:10 AM
I tested the suits and sprays out one year in my field..I had a buddy who was a nut about the scentkiller clothing and sprays..I told him to shower and do if he was to hunt put on the clothes and wear them outside for a few hours..I then took his clothes in a bag and sat them in the field about a 100 yards from the tree line. The field had a wind every day that blew from the trees into the field. A ton of deer would feed into this field every night and as the sun set the wind shifted and blew from the field into the trees. As clock work deer were feeding out.. the sun set and the wind shifted it was less than a minute before the first deer alerted and then another and couple began to snort and stomp and then bounded off with half the field of deer in tow. Mind you hes not even in the suit! imagine if he was be even more scent being produced.
Did they see it or smell it ???? Ive seen the same reaction to them seeing something out of place or new to their routine. Im an anal wackjob about scent control. Scent free soaps and deodorants, scent free clothes wash, spray down...etc..all my hunting clothes is bagged clean, in large zip lock storage bags, and then in big tubs, boots too. I have had deer uncomfortably close without detection. Not saying you are wrong or even that I am right....just comparing notes.
Post by: TheHunt on June 26, 2012, 07:26:51 AM
Wind is your friend or your enemy. You need to check the wind often. Every time you move aound a finger check it. Wind can have eddies based on the ground terrain you are hunting. My wind detector is always in my front pocket as well as a little string hanging from my bow that a slight breeze can pick up and move so that I can see the direction.
If it is hot and YOU or your PARTNER sweat like a pig. Keep the sweat off the trees. e.g. You do not put your hand on a tree next to a well traveled elk road. It is like putting up a huge warning "Danger" ahead sign on the elk road.
The wind and the terrain are your concern. Elk are fairly lazy animals and you need to pick out where the bull will come to you. They will only come in far enough to see the spot in which the sound came from. So the sweaty betty's need to keep down wind and estimate where that brown bugger is going to pop out. Than be about 30 to 40 yards from that location. The thicker the vegetation the closer they have to come to see the location of the sound. BUT if they have been called to over, and over, and over again they will want you to come to them.
I have killed plenty of elk in my days with a bow. It is easy to kill a satelite bull. But difficult to kill a herd bull with cows in heat. That is why we all love the sport.
I do not use any scent period other than unscented laundry detergent with UV killer and unscented deordent. I can smell the elk better and it is more pleasant hunting experience. Just keep the wind to your advantage and you should be good.
Post by: Elkpiss on June 26, 2012, 03:13:35 PM
In my experience, you can fool their eyes and ears but NEVER their nose.I agree... :twocents:
As for cover scents I use the analogy of dropping a deuce and then spraying the spray as you leave the bathroom. You walk back in there and 5 minutes and it still smells like crap just mixed with cinnamon or vanilla. I have little faith in cover scents.
I believe that if the wind is in your face a cigarette smoking, tuna fish eating guy that hasnt showered in a week will have no problems getting close.
Post by: MIKEXRAY on June 27, 2012, 09:01:34 AM
Post by: SkookumHntr on July 01, 2012, 11:00:54 AM
Post by: bloodhound on July 01, 2012, 12:36:42 PM
Post by: spitfire on September 12, 2012, 01:13:40 PM