I second the DDW shower soap and deodorant. Some of the other soaps really dry out my skin, not the DDW. As others states, this is just a piece of the puzzle. Still need to play the wind!
I use the Dead Down Wind system too, even to go as far as mentioned above by using a dry-off towel washed in DDW detergent for after my shower. I use the body wash and shampoo, dry off with a towel washed in DDW detergent, use DDW deodorant, clothes washed in DDW detergent, spray in, on, and bottom of my boots, spray my base layer, and spray my outer layer as well. It also helps to make sure you don't walk to your stand in full gear. Sweating while walking in is just undoing all the scent control measures you just took. Now for my testament. One of the first times I used the DDW system as mentioned above, I had 2 wild dogs walking towards me as I was walking into the stand. They didn't see me so I leaned against a tree and just waited for them to pass. The dogs came within 10 feet of me and just walked on by without ever knowing I was there, they never even stopped to smell the air. I know a dogs nose isn't as good as a deer but it was my first experience where a scent control method worked so well. I've also had numerous deer down wind of me and weren't spooked in the least.
If you are really confident in how it works....place a pound of illegal drugs in your pockets and spray down well. Then walk to the nearest DEA policeman and see if the drug dog smells it. It either works or it doesn't. Pass or fail.
The boot powder is awesome! I had a tote I was going to use to put my hunting clothes in which had a smell to it. I put a lot of the powder on the inside of the tote and rubbed it around and it took the smell out. It works great on the inside of boots too.
I like to put all my clothes in the bradley smoker and smoke em with apple wood chips for about 20 minutes. Gotta be careful though. Dem deer will occasionally bite you on the butt.
I will also vouch for the Evercalm deer in a herd stick I use it on my boots walking in and seems to work. I've had plenty of deer downwind and walk right in my boot prints sniffing the ground not spooked.
X2 for dead down wind and Evercalm here in VA Evercalm is illegal to use July 1 I will need to find a synthetic to try
Check and see if Deer Dander is illegal...I don't believe it has any urine in it. Deer dander is also a very effective cover scent I've tried in the past. When I was young and hunted public land a lot from the ground I'd cover up with deer dander, and I've had deer so close I could reach out and slap them downwind. That stuff works, but you'll smell like a deer's armpits.
Look for preorbital gland lure. It's the oils found in the gland around a deer's forehead that they rub off onto saplings and branches when rubbing their antlers. If you can't make a true mock scrape with any urine based lures, this would be a second best thing. You can still clear away the dirt, setup the licking branch, and then use the preorbital gland lure and with fingers crossed and some luck, you may just get deer starting the scrape site for you.
Thanks for the info deer dander looked interesting anyone use wind pro?? I also see Tinks has a synthetic line
