How many believe in scent elimination

Scent elimination is not a black and white issue; most reponses echo the experience of playing the wind, however, a majority of the coyotes we call will try to enter the downwind area from a stand. I agree that scent can't be eliminated, but, it can be minimized and that may give the caller a needed advantage in getting a coyote within range. Just a tad closer. Variables such as wind speed and vegetation enter into the picture, too.

Masking human scent isn't 100% effective, I agree, but a caller can minimize the quantity or intensity of scent. We often will rub some juniper or sage boughs on clothing, for example. While it may just be a "ritual" we endure , IMO it can partially mask the scent. Skunk oil and other items designed to mask scent can be an aid I believe, but, can be overdone and, perhaps, counterproductive.

Aside from eliminating scent (not possible) or masking scent (partially effective) to avoid detection, using a scent attractant is another area of discussion. Instead of hiding an unwanted scent, we are presenting a scent pattern that may attract coyotes. When possible, we place a freshly killed and partially eviserated jackrabbit downwind, for example, and believe that it makes a difference in kill ratios. Maybe its just the lucky rabbit's feet. Other attractants (some rather bizzare) seem to be effective and have increased kill ratios when used, however, some variants are just plain old fun to try -- open cans of dog food, Chanel #5, remnants of Kentucky Fried Chicken, et al.

That said, I don't take any of it too seriously and entertain all these little "rituals" as simply part of a game that I enjoy. At the very least, it has added some variety to calling and has stimulated some ponderings on what we can try next. Too, I keep in mind that my experiences and successes are fairly narrow in the broader context of all those that call and have equal success with "their" methods and rituals. Bottom line: its fun!
 
In my humble opinion, it is really is a waist of money! There is no suit/soap/spray/etc. that can cover and eliminate all of your scent. Now if a coyote smells a lot of you or a little of you, it really isn't going to matter. If he smells any of you where he isn't supposed to smell you..he is gone, bottom line. I'd save the money and buy other toys.....but haev fun!

C
 
Hey Danny B, please tell again of your "atomised coyote/rabbit urine spray" I still think the coyote will smell the coyote urine, the rabbit urine and probably the urine in my bladder along with the rest of me and my equipment but I can see how it might confuse and dismay your opponent (and your hunting partner) but seriously please share it with us again.
 
Handloader is on the money here guys. Just think about it for a second; wind is right to left, you have placed a sliced and diced jack 40 yards in front of you. The coyote is going to hear you from a distance and as he closes he will (hopefully) be unable to see you. He then begins moving downwind so he can use two senses (nose and ears) instead of just one (ears), as you have "disabled" his sense of sight by sitting deadly still. When that 'yote gets a whiff of the afore-mentioned jack, he's gonna make a bee-line for the jack and your human scent really ought not come into play. I know, I know . . . "this all depends on the variables". Wind direction may change, coyotes may come in from behind you (if you're worried about this, cut that jack in half and put half of him 40 yards in front and another half 20 yards behind). The point is, we all have a healthy respect for the opponent here; why not take every possible step to overwhelm him? I've seen coyotes in some instances come directly to the call from DIRECTLY downwind. However, the wind was blowing 25 mph so perhaps the human scent was being deflected in some way . . . who knows. As for me, I'll put the skunk essence and sliced up rabbit to use whenever possible.
~Scott
 
Humans stink... Coyotes can smell that stink even if there are just a few particles of that stink in billions of "other particles"... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Get it? :eek:

Play the wind and hope you see him before he smells you... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

It ain't rocket science.... :rolleyes:

$bob$
 
Working to minimize your oder is common scence, but when you walk you sweat. It als makes scence to not keep your hunting clothes with the other clothes, or get gas, go to the diner with them on so everyone elses oders perfume and food particles get absorbed. Cover scents arn't realy cover scents, more like distraction scents. They can be usefull. Case in point one year I tried some of that sweet corn gel, this buck's nose led him right to it, and from where he approached the wind was moving in a direction he would have scented me first.
 
When bow hunting I just play the wind. If there gonna smell ya, there gonna smell ya, thats the way I look at it. I do keep my bow hunting clothes in a bag of dirt wafers, but the biggest buck I killed was a 11 pointed that came down wind and I shot him at 20 yards after I had been in the truck smoking cigs like a freight train and still had the bacon smell on me from the cafe. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Go fiqure.
 
TOM64 remember, I never said the coyote don't smell you once it's down wind. In my opinion the coyote smells everything smellable lol. What I think this does it triggers a natural responce from the coyote. It hears a rabbit, it smells a rabbit, but then it smells another coyote beating it to a free meal. It now throws all danger signs aside and tries to beat the other coyote to the food. Most times coyotes are shot before they get downwind and sometimes you know they are not going to stop tell they get there, that's when you use this tactic. It works, I've seen it happen to many times to know it's no fluke, so have a few other guys. This tactic was a secert for years and was used by competition callers in the old CVCA, it is not a secert anymore lol. Good luck if you try it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Ya Danny, I remember /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif and I think it's a great trick to throw in the bag I just haven't tried it yet really haven't thought about it in a long time till this topic came up but I will, thanks.
 


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