Originally Posted By: 6mm06
I can't say about coyotes, but I will refer to a specific deer incident I personally had one time. I was bowhunting and already had a tree stand in place about 17 feet up. I packed in to the base of the tree, took off my coat, my packpack, bow etc. and laid them on the ground at the tree.
Before entering the woods, I sprayed everything down well with Scent Shield White Lightening, including my pants and boots. I then walked directly to the tree stand maybe 150 to 200 yards away. After placing my screw-in tree steps in the tree, I then gathered up my gear and headed up the tree. I had no more than got up to the stand and hung up everything, when I looked out and saw a deer approached from maybe 100 yards away, in the opposite direction I had walked in.
The deer, to my surprise, walked toward my tree stand, but circled somewhat and began smelling the ground where I had just walked minutes before. It came literally to the base of the tree directly beneath me, nose to the ground where I had laid my coat and backpack. It appeared to know that something was there, but it didn't seem to smell human. I was really amazed.
I have also used Scent Shield on my clothing and boots when walking in to a stand, and had deer come down the path I have walked on and not smell me, or I will say they weren't alarmed. I have had other deer cut my scent many times when I didn't use a scent.
Whether or not a coyote would detect my scent in those cases or not, I can't say. I know that when I go coyote hunting I don't use a scent. Maybe I should. But, when I go deer hunting I do.
Just relating experiences.
You never know... I killed a buck with my bow last year. I killed a buck with my muzzleloader. I got back doored by both of those dang bucks. They both came across my entry trail in to my stand and neither acted the slightest bit disturbed by my scent trail. I wash my clothes in scent free detergent and keep the wind in my favor going in and while on the stand. That's about the extent of my scent control regime. I don't count on every deer reacting the same way and try to plan better but hey, a full freezer says "ya never know." Play the wind to your favor and anything else is gravy.