Are scent blockers worth it-Yotes

What it all boils down to is that it's a preference thing, If you think you need to use it then it's worth it, if you don't think you need it then it's not worth it.

Your terrane could play a part in it also, if you're sitting on a bluff in the New Mexico dessert overlooking miles of open ground then it probably doesn't make a bit of difference. BUT if you're sitting in a creek bed or anywhere with tight quarters then it couldn't hurt anything at all to use it.
 
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I have seen what scent management can do. It does help if you don't stink and don't use traditional shampoo and soap. Less scent particles in the air means less chances of getting busted. Will I every buy scent lock clothing... no I would rather spend my money on other things.
 
One thing to remember is that you can not reactivate carbon garments at home or any place else for that matter. Not going to happen unless you can get the carbon to about 1500 degrees without destroying the fabric. The two companies that I looked at said you could reactivate the suit in your home dryer so they are, for a fact, lying. If they will lie about that basic fact what else will they lie about?
There is no doubt they work, but only until the carbon is filled up and that is probably a lot sooner then later. The spray and uncented soap are probably more useful then the suits.

Tim
 
Know one can say what effect the scent-b-gone has (because you can not reproduce a scenerio with scentbgone then again without. Each coyote is different. Some more exprerienced, some not. I have had a coyote downwind of me (no scent blocking stuff) watched me raise my rifle then he died. Would an older coyote have stayed still? Even with scent block? I can not say for sure, but doubtful. The facts are-scent block won't hurt, (I use backing soda when bowhunting for deer). But, for coyotes, will it keep them from scenting you if they are downwind...can't hurt, but you will have some strong smells coming from your rifle,ammo, breath, exposed skin....Gun oil has a stronger smell than anything else on your body....Except for a pup, they will know that smell does not belong there. Just like they would expect a car exhaust smell to be on the highway, but, put that exhaust in your stand-they know it it does not belong. Just my thoughts.
 
I recall a stand last year that might help alleviate some of the "but I saw one straight downwind, so it must work" types. Three of us were set up in a large mesquite flat/dune complex calling with a ~15mph wind quartering too us. My partner had been calling for about 15 minutes when I got that "feeling" that something was watching me. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif I turned slowly and there was a coyote standing 20 yards straight downwind of me just watching. She wasn't excited, retarded, rabid, or otherwise impaired that I could determine. As I raised my rifle (movement) she started to trot off, so I shot her. I wasn't wearing any fancy clothes, was wearing last weekend's camo that had been in the dirty clothes hamper, and probably had skipped the morning shower to hit the hills earlier - and yet there she stood, downwind and staring at me for who knows how long before I nailed her. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

When it comes right down to it, you've got to recognize that coyotes are highly evolved, finely tuned, hunting and killing machines. They depend on their senses, including smell, to live. Their noses have evolved to the point that they can pick out a single molecule of scent amidst the myriad of smells. If you produce scent, which we all do (human, clothes, backpacks, guns, etc.), it will be on the air and the coyote will almost certainly detect it. What he/she does about it is a different story, as my above story indicates. Just because a coyote comes trotting in and stops downwind does not mean he/she doesn't smell. I'd wager that he/she does, but doesn't care at that time. Like I said, if dumping hundreds into scent control makes you a better hunter, go for it. I don't believe that it would make a better one, so I choose to spend my money on other gimmicks. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Well, that and more hunting! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Hey Rich what's that old saying, "You can lead a horse to water, buy you can't make em drink". I think that applies to some people lol.
 
BillyTheKidd,
Bulletin boards are like that. Sorting out which information is good from all of the false rumor's can be very frustrating.
 
So what is the false rumor?

I ask the basic question because I really don't know nor do I want to go through all the effort if it offers no advantage - does basic scent elimination offer ANY potential advantage? I'm not talking cover scents, or carbon suits. I'm talking plain old scent free showers before hunting and scent free clothes kept seperate from everything else.

I've always practiced this regimen for deer, so I almost feel funny entering the woods "stinking", but if it will offer no advantage, I won't bother....
 
I think the advantage it offers is in the user's improved attitude about calling. If you perceive that you'll do better with it, then you will. Call it the "Predator Calling Placebo Effect" if you will.
 
I do take a shower with a scent remover soap and I wear X-Scent undergarments when I coyote hunt. I don't get as wrapped up in scent control as I do for bow hunting but it has its place. I don't think it does a bit of good for coyotes. They will smell you EVERYTIME! I do it so the other critters, deer, rabbits, all of animals that live in the area don't bolt as soon as they get down wind. I want my hunting area to be as undisturbed as it can be. I try to give the coyote a comfort zone. Why throw up another red flag to the coyote that all the other critters in the area have left.
 
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Why throw up another red flag to the coyote that all the other critters in the area have left.



Shouldn't he be used to that? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

You guys just made this Coyote hunting a lot more fun! This opens up the window to those split second decisions to head out the door and make a set with little to no planning required! Sweet!
 
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I have seen this topic discussed on other forums and one point no one ever brings up is the weather or conditions when their scent blocker suits "seem to work".I am sure some of you hunt birds or rabbits behind dogs.Ever notice how some days they do better than others.The dogs scenting ability is directly related to the amount of moisture in the air.Hot and dry or cold and dry affects the dog the deer and the wiley coyote.
 
I can't believe all the replies!! Thanks. I already wach my hunting clothes in the scent free stuff that cabelas and walmart sell. I will probably get a spray bottple of the stuff that helps mask/deactivate human odor, just for the heck of it, and use scent free soaps.

I will NOT spend all that money on charcoal!!

When calling, how close do most of you actually get the Yotes to come in when you get your shot off?
 
I'm probably echoing otheres on this one, but here's my 2 cents. No one thing and no combination of things is infalible. I think the key is to use whatever YOU choose to improve your odds. Some people swear by things that others scoff at. It's all personal preference. I'm one that prefers some of these "gimmicks" to improve my chances. Does it make me a better hunter? Probably not to any great degree, but it makes me feel better about the whole thing.
 
Well one of my hunting partner's could really use the scent control. I have to keep my window rolled down when he is in my truck, so I can only imagine that the yotes would say "whatever is making that stink I dont want to mess with". So to make a long story short, some people may need a little more help and others may be fine without it. Dont tell me you have never met anyone who sweats profusely or has some seriously ferocious breath. This feller im referring to goes out maybe 3-4 times a month at best and to date has never called in a dog. Maybe he could increase his odds? Who knows
 
Sorry but a little scent control can go a long way. At the very least yes it can cut down the strength or make a yote take an extra second to bust out. If you really want to test this, go to an area with a bunch of yotes. Use a scent control system see what you can get down wind. Then try the samething wearing a caffee stained shirt a fresh splash of old spice and see what happens? Also when your out calling don't you guys like to see the other forest critters? Why not justify using a little scent by counting the dder/other things that show up as well. Last night I was out and called in 12 deer. They came straight down wind to about 10 yards away. I watched them for about 15 minutes. Had they smelled me I never would have seen theim.

Can you totally fool a yotes nose???? No, but I bet you can trick it for a few seconds....
 
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