What am I doing wrong with my scent control?

When I'm on point, like the last two evenings out, i can have deer notice my smell when they get downwind or the wind swirls or they cross my trail in, but it's not enough to put them on alert. Maybe they think its old or distant scent, or there is just not enough human scent there for them to make a positive id.

 

decided to try some scent control this year. never thought to bother with it before since i was always told most of our scent comes from our mouthes. saw on the bow hunt or die show that justin uses his scent free shampoo and soap every day through out the season, not just on the days he hunts. so i decided to give this a shot(along with the scent free deoderant i always used anyways). take last night for example, i had a big doe go down wind of me and then go back to where she came from and never smelt me. she was only 35 yds.

 

I wear a carbon mask underneath my scentlok headcovers....mouth is a huge scent producers.

 

Scent Lok is the single greatest scam in the industry. They were even found guilty of Fraud and False Advertisement in 2010. Fact of the mater is, no amount of scent "control" will make you scent free. If you don't pay attention to the wind and do not set up accordingly you will get busted 9 times out of 10. I myself shower with whatever soap I want and put on scented deodorant. I also brush my teeth with delicious Spearmint Colgate. Yet, I've only been busted 3 times in the last 15 years. Why?? Because I play the wind. I play the wind the way my Dad taught me. It's the same way his Dad taught him. Long before the introduction of scent control deer were being harvested. If the wind is wrong and you have no other options you can use a cover scent. Other than that, set up multiple stands and only hunt them when the wind is right. Take the money I just saved you on scent control and take your girl out. It will buy you even more time in the woods.

 

Okay couple things....they were not found guilty...all guilty rulings were overturned and they had a 100% deciding victory...story broken down here: Scent Lok Notches Victory in Appellate Court | Field & Stream also shared here: http://www.thelaketoday.com/news/2012/oct/10/column-scent-control-company-wins-lawsuit/

That doesn't mean it's a magic pill to scent elimination it is simply one part/aspect of the scent control battle hunters choose to ignore or take part in (and in that to varying degrees).

Again unless you hunt prevailing winds that are steady and strong all day long, you will never have a consistent wind for an entire hunt. The bonfire reasoning/example is proof of this. Yes wind is a huge part in why anyone should choose to hunt a stand, but to think the wind is 100% always gonna be as it is predicted is not the smart way to approach it. Outside of that, wind bounces, turns and runs like water through terrain...again affecting how the winds behave.

I've said it before, hundreds of thousands of deer have been killed and will be killed this year by people who ignore scent control and are tickled pink with the deer they take...but I know simply from my personal experience and when meeting countless other hunters is that all consistent big mature buck guys have some things in common; one of which is usually somekind of scent program (the degree differs) but I've yet to meet one that just doesn't care. <--now this is only bow hunters....I know of some rifle guys that don't care and don't need to given the distances they shoot.

 

I wasn't aware of the guilty verdict being overturned. Never the less they were found guilty.... They just appealed it. This was the only story I was aware of: Bestul: Scent Lok Found Guilty of False Advertising | Field & Stream

I will stand by the fact that no product can eliminate scent. For that matter scent lok is a waste of money. Scent will always find a way to flow around clothing. Unless you're in an Ebola containment suit you will still emit scent.

 

Oh no doubt and Scent Lok doesn't state they stop 100%, last I checked no company does, and no worries a ton of people never realized the initial verdict was overturned, which means they were not found guilty at all at that point.

From their site as of today:

Scent-Lok® Technologies, which debuted in 1992, has proven to be the breakthrough that successful hunters need. We believe activated-carbon technology is the most advanced and effective odor-control system in the world for hunters and we are the industry leader in scent-controlling apparel. From our inception, we have continuously improved our garments and accessories, while researching the best methods for achieving maximum scent control.

Our system will perform like no other scent control system, and we back it with our unconditional Satisfaction Guarantee featured here or by calling our customer service at 800.315.5799

I do wear Scent Lok but not because I believe the suit is magical or eliminates all my odor, I do it because I do believe their technology lessons my human odor and they are the only one out of the three scent elimination leaders (UA, ScentBlocker) that offer Vertigo Grey camo, my favorite.

 

I cover all the bases by wearing Scent Lok and Scent Blocker base and mid weight layers, and UA outer layers

actually just over the years as I find anything I need of the Big 3 on sale, I buy it. Since I travel to hunt and am at it for 1-3 week long stretches at a time I have to rotate to keep stuff fresh. They all seem to do a pretty good job.

 

I will say this much from my sports experiences...I want UA coldgear stuff....Scentlok has great material and product but UA does cold weather gear better.

 

I love the evolution of a bow hunter. Unlike ty, most of the guy's I know who kill mature bucks year after year hunt the wind and laugh at scent control. Understanding the wind is the key to understanding mature buck's.

Like the fire comment....if you build the fire where the wind is consistent, the smoke will be consistent and vice versa. For instance, if you build that fire in a flat wide open field and the smoke seems to chase you around no matter which side you stand on, that's mechanical turbulence created by your body. If you steep back and look at the big picture (beyond light/variable) the smoke will be consistent.

In hill country....light/variable winds hunt the thermals....outside of light/variable, hunt the wind.


How long have

 

I 100% agree...and understanding the wind is one of the bigger aspects for me choosing stands....those that ignore the wind due to their clothing will never be happy.

 

yeah unless it's below 20 I layer up and use UA fleece pants (can't remember which style) and a hoodie with a browning vest. Under 20 I go for an old white water parka and bib set I have. But they've about had it and I may take the plunge on the UA Ayton bib and parka set.

 

i take scent control to the(almost sickening) degree. yes, its work to do but getting busted by an old doe that lives year round in a small area can ruin that area for the rest of the year.
hearing a doe snorting her head off is the most annoying sound there is.
i've had 100's of deer close downwind of me the past few years since i starting taking scent contol very seriously and have had some "know" i was there but have not been snorted at in 3 years.
that means alot in the long run.