Opinions on Scent Reduction/Elimination Products

H

hogboy44

New member
I think most of us agree on two things as they pertain to predator hunting:

1. Cover scents are useless, or darn near it.

2. Playing the wind is essential.

How about scent reduction/elimination products? I wash my hunting clothes in Scent-Away clothes detergent, and store them in a sealed plastic box along with some Earth-Fresh wafers. Before going out to hunt, I shower useing Scent-Away soap and then use Scent-Away deodorant. And I spray my rubber boots down real good with Scent-Away spray.

And then I take a gun into the woods that stinks of gun cleaner and oil. Kind of ironic, isn't it?

Anyway, am I accomplishing anything by using this scent control stuff?

It makes some sense to me that reducing my scent would help. I was just wondering what you seasoned hunters out there think, and what you do, if anything, to control your scent (besides playing the wind).
 
In my opinion, you do whatever makes you the most confident! I use all the scent elimination products that you do. Soap, shampoo, detergent. I still play the wind very closely, but I am confident. Who cares if it is really necessary. If it makes you more confident in your ability to call 'em in, then keep doing it..
 
i think 22.250 hit the nail on the head if it makes you feel more confidant then it probably does work. i have often wondered about a canines nose, i can pet a dog come home 2-4 hours later & my dog can still smell the other dog on my hands clothes ect... i wonder to be honest if there really is a way to fool a coyotes nose? i quit using all that stuff but thats just me !!
again if it gives you confidence go for it !!
 
Wind Wind Wind. I f you are up wind, he will smell you. The only cover scent I would buy is one that will fool a woman. I hugged my mom last week when i dropped by during breakfast. Wife smelled her perfume when i got home at six. LOL
 
I think that they help. A coyote may still be able to smell you but he will be alot closer before he does, which might be all it takes to get a shot off before he busts you.
I know that ScentLok clothing works very well on a whitetail, so I would imagine the same would hold true for a coyote.
 
There is currently a study going on in England(well a month ago anyway). As to how "some" canine(dogs) have the ability to detect cancer in humans. If dogs can indeed do this...IMO, they can. I don't believe you can "completely" mask your scent from a coyote. Assuming they(dogs & coyotes) both have similiar abilities. Male animals, can scent when a female is in estrus. I don't think we are able to fool'em, by masking ourselves.

The human body is constantly "shedding" old skin cells & hair. Which would become airborne initially. Not to mention the scent of sweat, waffling through the air.
 
I wouldn't waste a dime on any of it myself.

A few years ago when I got back into calling hot and heavy after an extended absence in the military, I spent a bit of effort to remain as "scent free" as possible. Washing hunting clothes in plain water, scent free soap and anti-perspirant, etc. Never did buy into or go for the "cover" scents though.....

I've since just ditched all that. I wash clothes with regular detergent. I use regular soap, shampoo and deodorant. Haven't seen a bit of drop off in success.

If they are not down wind, and you can nail them before they do get down wind, you can be wearing gasoline as aftershave and they won't smell you. They have incredible noses, but they're not magic....they can't smell what the wind doesn't bring to them.
 
Quote:
.they can't smell what the wind doesn't bring to them.


Yea you got a point there, but if you can only see down wind 75 to 100 yards it pays to do everything you can to get the coyotes as close as possible.
If I were to hunt like you than I could be getting winded at 150 yards and not even know it. But by descenting myself, a coyote may have to get within 50 yards before he smells me, and that is a dead coyote.
I wonder what the ratio is for guys that use scent control East vs. West? If I could see down wind 300 yards I probably wouldn't worry about scent control either.
 
again i really wonder & will never know for sure. i have a nasty habit called smoking. i try really-really hard not to smoke anytime while hunting. one morning i was real stressed & smoked two cigs during the twenty minute drive to our hunting spot. i just put one out when we parked about ten minutes later in open country a coyote snuck in hard to my right, i sensed something & slowly turned my head, he was 5 yards away looking at me, i probably had a good 30-45 second stare down with him,gun was cradled in my sticks facing the other way of course !!
no wind that day. still you know he smelled me. i'm in no way saying it will always happen like this, hell maybe ciggarette smoke is the best cover scent ? just kidding.... you just never know . the other point i'm making just speaking for myself,is i think there is a misconception that western hunters are always shooting long shots, i hunt open sage brush most all dogs will come to 100 yards or less, i have had several 30 yards & several within 10 yards. this really surprised me to be honest. & some will hang up to. these are just my thoughts. good luck...dave
 
I have had coyote bust me far and then come within 10 ft on the same day? Go figure? I have heard that canines smell in parts per particle or what ever, and in my opinion, if they smell 100 parts versus 10 parts where there are not supposed to be any parts...you are busted! Plain and simple.

If a coyote smells the slightest part of human scent where human scent isn't supposed to be a red flag will go up. I agree that we need to do all we can to eliminate scent, but I don't buy the whole suit and wash you scent off stuff for a second. How long do yo really think your "scent" stays off of you? You wash it away and you make more. I use antipersperant(sp?) and I still sweat, hmmm?

I say mind the wind and watch your backside....you'll never, ever, ever, see all the ones you call in.

I believe that there is a fairly well know fox hunter that does a lot of nightn hunting that smokes cigars in his truck right before his stands, and has tons-o-success...explain that?


C
 
I used skunk cover scent for a couple of months a year or two ago. I think it was a waste. I do keep my ghillies in a plastic bag with cuttings from creosote bushes here in NM and I believe this really helps. My ghillies smell very strong of the creosote and help to mask my scent. I have had them within 25 feet several times. Builds my confidence anyway.

Watch the downwind, no movement, and I love the ghillies. I was hunting a ladder stand week before last and had a yote come in slow up to about 40 feet and never saw me. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I also believe that you just need to watch the wind, no matter how good the scent control them dogs will wind you. Seems sometimes they will still come in even when they smell ya, I have seen it where they come in downwind and never even look back. Then again most times they are gone if they do. I think that the active carbon helps the most, but I only use it for big game hunting. I have carbon scent lock cloths and have had does walk right by me and never smell me, but big game is another story. The cover scents I am still at odds with. As far as Coyotes don't bother, use the wind to pick great stands.
 


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