I'm pretty skeptical about the effectiveness of the scent lock/scent block clothing. Aside from the fact that a COMPLETE system is VERY expensive, I have serious reservations that human scent can be blocked to the extent that it can't be detected by a sniffing coyote. I've got one buddy who has hundreds invested in a suit so complete he looks like a martian when he goes hunting. He believes it does the job. Another buddy scoffs at the suggestion that human scent can be totally absorbed or blocked inside of a suit, and just hunts with the wind in his favor. I'd like to hear some more opinions before I decide to plunk down the money for a suit or just take the usual(and free) precautions regarding scent and wind
Scent lock/block gear??
- Thread starter mifox
- Start date
I have utilized scentlok clothing for years... Primarily I had the liner system.. I feel it can not hurt beside I need to wear camo anyway. Complete suits are now getting cheaper... I primarily buy my stuff after season when it is on clearance. I had gotten a Apex Jacket and Scentblocker Dreamseason pants together for under ~170 at dicks sporting goods this year. At full price it would have been ~$350 for the set. I really like the design of these two products... they are truly designed with the hunter in mind.
One thing that I can say that really does work are the x-static long johns by cabelas... they kill bacteria before it starts to grow. I have also had these for several years now and they are still like new. These are must have and you can by a pair for ~$60.
One thing that I can say that really does work are the x-static long johns by cabelas... they kill bacteria before it starts to grow. I have also had these for several years now and they are still like new. These are must have and you can by a pair for ~$60.
BoomSplat
New member
mifox,
This is just my personal observations over the last 5 or 6 years. Two of my hunting partners have used it that long and I took the plunge and bought a set this year. Have not used it for coyote hunting yet, but as far as bowhunting for elk it definitely works. I have witnessed bulls called in and killed at down wind ranges from 7 to 30 yards. I had a cow come in down wind of me this year and I had to move to keep from being walked over. From my knee prints to her front hoof prints was three paces. Two bulls I called in circled down wind of me and stood there long enough to be shot. One was 15 yards and the other was 32 yards. Didn't shoot either one cause they were rag horns.
As far as using it for coyotes, I don't know how effective it would be. A coyote's nose might be more sensitive. I will try it later for that. Hope this will help.
BoomSplat
This is just my personal observations over the last 5 or 6 years. Two of my hunting partners have used it that long and I took the plunge and bought a set this year. Have not used it for coyote hunting yet, but as far as bowhunting for elk it definitely works. I have witnessed bulls called in and killed at down wind ranges from 7 to 30 yards. I had a cow come in down wind of me this year and I had to move to keep from being walked over. From my knee prints to her front hoof prints was three paces. Two bulls I called in circled down wind of me and stood there long enough to be shot. One was 15 yards and the other was 32 yards. Didn't shoot either one cause they were rag horns.
As far as using it for coyotes, I don't know how effective it would be. A coyote's nose might be more sensitive. I will try it later for that. Hope this will help.
BoomSplat
redeyeddawg
New member
Been using ScentLok for years bowhunting whitetails. Great stuff. Had numerous bucks close by and down wind on warm days that never knew I was there. I've also had fox come in downwind where deer had been standing a short time earlier with no problem then have the fox blow out like his tail was on fire. IMO a deer's nose can be fooled consistently, but the only way to get by a predator's nose is to be downwind of him.
tripod3
New member
I have never used it and have no need. They can follow your breath just as bees do. Animals can also detect non human odors that are not common. We take a shower with scent away soap then camo up in compatable non contrasting colors. We have had coyotes to 18 inches, deer within 12 inches, elk within 2 feet. Last year my wife had to wait for her buck to move more than a few feet away so she could raise her rifle to shoot it. At the same time I was 300 yards away pinned down by two bucks circling winding me at less than 5 yards. Save your money for more important things.
wadecalvin
New member
Quote:
A coyote's nose is too sensitive to hide your scent from him. In the words of our own Ragncajn, "You'd have to gargle with fox pee."
Play the wind.
I agree.
I think a whitetail deer has a nose even stronger than a coyote. They've done studies on the sensitiviy of a whitetails nose and its pretty unbeleavable what they can detect. Iv'e read where they have sealed stuff up and buried it in dirt and dogs can still sniff it out.
Also, what about your breath? and the scent of the scent lock clothing itself or your bow, arrows, whatever you cleaned your rifle with or the salt in your sweat - that stuff all smells and clothing picks up other smells-
I think the people who use that stuff jump to conclusions about its effectiveness. But I also think that many of those same people who wear that stuff are very consientious, quiet and good hunters and their success has little to do with their scent-lock clothing. Still, it cant hurt.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
A coyote's nose is too sensitive to hide your scent from him. In the words of our own Ragncajn, "You'd have to gargle with fox pee."
Play the wind.
I agree.
I think a whitetail deer has a nose even stronger than a coyote. They've done studies on the sensitiviy of a whitetails nose and its pretty unbeleavable what they can detect. Iv'e read where they have sealed stuff up and buried it in dirt and dogs can still sniff it out.
Also, what about your breath? and the scent of the scent lock clothing itself or your bow, arrows, whatever you cleaned your rifle with or the salt in your sweat - that stuff all smells and clothing picks up other smells-
I think the people who use that stuff jump to conclusions about its effectiveness. But I also think that many of those same people who wear that stuff are very consientious, quiet and good hunters and their success has little to do with their scent-lock clothing. Still, it cant hurt.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Pbchucker
New member
I use a lot of scent lock hunting clothes, not because of the scent lock but because they seem to be more designed to my needs. Their price has drop drastically in the last year and seem to fit my needs better than some of the non-scent lock gear--like their cut to fit my body better and have pockets where I need them. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
It is hard for me to believe that these clothes will eliminate all the order, especially when carrying a rifle with gun oil residue on it, or a bow that has been in my gun room, house, or garage that has all the human ordors on it. Yes you can spray them down with ordor elliminator, but why? Be smart and use the wind to your advantage.
I don't think hunting would be the sport that I have grown up to love if you didn't have to out think, out manuver, or overcome the preys instincts and their senses. The camo to helps hide you, this scent lock keeps you from beeing smelled, what is next a device that obstructs their hearing??? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif Might as well just go hunting in a grocery store like the rest of the country. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
It is hard for me to believe that these clothes will eliminate all the order, especially when carrying a rifle with gun oil residue on it, or a bow that has been in my gun room, house, or garage that has all the human ordors on it. Yes you can spray them down with ordor elliminator, but why? Be smart and use the wind to your advantage.
I don't think hunting would be the sport that I have grown up to love if you didn't have to out think, out manuver, or overcome the preys instincts and their senses. The camo to helps hide you, this scent lock keeps you from beeing smelled, what is next a device that obstructs their hearing??? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif Might as well just go hunting in a grocery store like the rest of the country. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
BillyTheKidd
New member
Whitetails have better noses then "dogs" coyotes? Yeah, they use whitetail deer to sniff out drugs in cars now.
Scent Lock can't hurt? Yes it can, it don't work on coyotes. There just went $300, if that don't hurt you can I sell you a bridge?
Have they come up with a bad breath Scent Lock yet? Your face, eyes and ears give out scent, your hands give out scent, your smelly shoes give out scent.
A coyotes nose is more sensitive then a dogs and a dog can smell cancer in human or drugs in a steel gas tank.
No way the Government well allow a scent free anything that works on dogs.
Mifox, just go hunting. What did they do before Scent Lock? They killed lots of coyotes.
Just try to play the wind right, kill the coyote before it get's downwind......I hope I saved you alot of money.
I'll probably get an ear full, but I told the truth about a coyotes nose.
Scent Lock can't hurt? Yes it can, it don't work on coyotes. There just went $300, if that don't hurt you can I sell you a bridge?
Have they come up with a bad breath Scent Lock yet? Your face, eyes and ears give out scent, your hands give out scent, your smelly shoes give out scent.
A coyotes nose is more sensitive then a dogs and a dog can smell cancer in human or drugs in a steel gas tank.
No way the Government well allow a scent free anything that works on dogs.
Mifox, just go hunting. What did they do before Scent Lock? They killed lots of coyotes.
Just try to play the wind right, kill the coyote before it get's downwind......I hope I saved you alot of money.
I'll probably get an ear full, but I told the truth about a coyotes nose.
I think it is funny how controversial the subject of scent control becomes on these forums. Of course, anything that can help control your scent can only help your hunt. I don't believe in any kind of cover scent because I don't think that animals have any trouble distinguishing between the different odors. I do believe in going no scent as much as possible though. But, with the advantages of having an electronic caller with a remote and having a long range rifle at your disposal, some may feel that going to the trouble of controlling your scent for predator hunting is not worth the effort.
My first efforts at controlling my scent were not effective for bowhunting whitetail deer because I had not learned to take it far enough yet. Since I hunt within 20 minutes of my house, I am able to go through a no scent ritual before each hunt. I take a no scent shower, then put on a base layer of X-Scent including socks to help neutralize the odor that my body creates. I wear a full suit of Scent Blocker Carbon clothes including the breath shield that helps to contain the odors the X-Scent doesn't stop. I store all my clothes including my hunting boots in Rubbermaid containers on the back porch of my house. I wear a pair of lightweight coveralls and a pair of slip-ons to the woods in my pickup. I then put my carbon outer layer and boots on after I get out of my pickup when I arrive at my hunting area. This ritual is not really that much trouble and one that I use for predator hunting also.
I don't know if a coyote has a better nose than a whitetail deer or not, but I have had coyotes come up within 20 yards downwind of me while bowhunting and not seem to know that I was there. As a matter of fact, I have shot 2 coyotes with a bow while bowhunting deer. I have had whitetail deer feeding downwind of me before that appeared to know something was there but continued to feed. I think that is where the real value of scent control is overlooked. I believe that there is no way to completely control your scent especially since you handle your weapons with your hands, etc. But, I do believe that you can control your scent to the point that the animal thinks you are farther away than what you are. In other words, the animal thinks that because your scent is minimized that you are far enough away that it is not in immediate danger.
Deer, coyotes, and about any wild animal I have ever taken have a strong odor that even I can smell. You would have an even stronger odor too if you didn't try to control it with at least normal hygiene. Smell yourself before you have had a shower, you stink to the point that even a human can easily smell you. About any animal naturally has a unique and rather strong odor, so by doing your best to go no scent you are bending the rules of nature a little and thus gaining a huge advantage over your prey.
Until this year I did not have warm carbon clothes. On several occasions I would get busted the first times I would go to the woods without my carbons. I then realized that since I was having excellent results before, that it was my body and not my gear that was the biggest problem.
I am new to calling predators, but I am not new to taking them while actually out hunting for something else. Most of my hunting has been from 15 to 20 feet up in a tree which has it's own advantages. I am starting to move my deer stands around now specifically for calling predators. I was on one of my 15 foot metal deer stands when I called a coyote up yesterday using "coyote pup distress" at 1:30 PM.
I like to spend more time in the woods than on the computer, so I am off to take my afternoon no scent shower (yes, I take 2 per day when hunting). I am going to bowhunt whitetail deer this afternoon, but will also take my FOXPRO along just in case I see a predator at a distance. I have not taken a substantial whitetail this season and would like to put another nail in the barn. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Edit - I was in a hurry to get to the woods and forgot to include that the most important factors of scent control are approaching your stand from downwind and playing the wind, which for predator hunting can actually be to sit crosswind from the caller.
And one more thing about the carbon clothing is that it blocks airflow from your body to the outside world unless you are moving around which causes your boots and clothes to puff air.
toomanyhobbies
My first efforts at controlling my scent were not effective for bowhunting whitetail deer because I had not learned to take it far enough yet. Since I hunt within 20 minutes of my house, I am able to go through a no scent ritual before each hunt. I take a no scent shower, then put on a base layer of X-Scent including socks to help neutralize the odor that my body creates. I wear a full suit of Scent Blocker Carbon clothes including the breath shield that helps to contain the odors the X-Scent doesn't stop. I store all my clothes including my hunting boots in Rubbermaid containers on the back porch of my house. I wear a pair of lightweight coveralls and a pair of slip-ons to the woods in my pickup. I then put my carbon outer layer and boots on after I get out of my pickup when I arrive at my hunting area. This ritual is not really that much trouble and one that I use for predator hunting also.
I don't know if a coyote has a better nose than a whitetail deer or not, but I have had coyotes come up within 20 yards downwind of me while bowhunting and not seem to know that I was there. As a matter of fact, I have shot 2 coyotes with a bow while bowhunting deer. I have had whitetail deer feeding downwind of me before that appeared to know something was there but continued to feed. I think that is where the real value of scent control is overlooked. I believe that there is no way to completely control your scent especially since you handle your weapons with your hands, etc. But, I do believe that you can control your scent to the point that the animal thinks you are farther away than what you are. In other words, the animal thinks that because your scent is minimized that you are far enough away that it is not in immediate danger.
Deer, coyotes, and about any wild animal I have ever taken have a strong odor that even I can smell. You would have an even stronger odor too if you didn't try to control it with at least normal hygiene. Smell yourself before you have had a shower, you stink to the point that even a human can easily smell you. About any animal naturally has a unique and rather strong odor, so by doing your best to go no scent you are bending the rules of nature a little and thus gaining a huge advantage over your prey.
Until this year I did not have warm carbon clothes. On several occasions I would get busted the first times I would go to the woods without my carbons. I then realized that since I was having excellent results before, that it was my body and not my gear that was the biggest problem.
I am new to calling predators, but I am not new to taking them while actually out hunting for something else. Most of my hunting has been from 15 to 20 feet up in a tree which has it's own advantages. I am starting to move my deer stands around now specifically for calling predators. I was on one of my 15 foot metal deer stands when I called a coyote up yesterday using "coyote pup distress" at 1:30 PM.
I like to spend more time in the woods than on the computer, so I am off to take my afternoon no scent shower (yes, I take 2 per day when hunting). I am going to bowhunt whitetail deer this afternoon, but will also take my FOXPRO along just in case I see a predator at a distance. I have not taken a substantial whitetail this season and would like to put another nail in the barn. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Edit - I was in a hurry to get to the woods and forgot to include that the most important factors of scent control are approaching your stand from downwind and playing the wind, which for predator hunting can actually be to sit crosswind from the caller.
And one more thing about the carbon clothing is that it blocks airflow from your body to the outside world unless you are moving around which causes your boots and clothes to puff air.
toomanyhobbies
Last edited by a moderator:
Either Nasa or Nmelon posted an article that a person wrote that actually scientifically tested carbon based scent clothing. It may work some in the beginning but there is no way you can reactivate the carbon. Like a sponge reactivated carbon can become over saturated and actually leak your odor out through the garment. And since the moment the garment has been made it begins to absorb odors. So by the time you buy it it is probably already leaking extraneous orders. You have to heat the garment to 800 degrees in a low combustion environment. So basically you are paying more money for a product that will over time do the exact opposite of what you payed for. If I could figure out how to post the article I will. But basically the is no scientific facts backing scent block clothing and many discrediting it.
wadecalvin
New member
I couldn't find much about coyotes verses whitetail but I did run into this by Kishels scents...
Q What is the hardest animal to fool by using a scent/lure?
A I’d have to say the Coyote. I know many of you are led to believe it is the whitetail, but not
so. I have personally seen where coyotes could detect one drop of an ingredient in a gallon of
lure ... THAT’S ONE PART PER MILLION! A deer never detected it. Just goes to show how keen a predator’s sense of smell really is. So a coyotes nose appearantly is stronger-
Havine said that, I pretty much agree with Billythekid also
Q What is the hardest animal to fool by using a scent/lure?
A I’d have to say the Coyote. I know many of you are led to believe it is the whitetail, but not
so. I have personally seen where coyotes could detect one drop of an ingredient in a gallon of
lure ... THAT’S ONE PART PER MILLION! A deer never detected it. Just goes to show how keen a predator’s sense of smell really is. So a coyotes nose appearantly is stronger-
Havine said that, I pretty much agree with Billythekid also
I am new to coyote hunting so i cannot attest to how well scent lok works against them. But i can attest as to well they work against whitetail deer. Its fantastic. NO they dont last forever. It depends on how often you throw them in the dryer. And yes you can regenerate carbon some. It depends on what kind of carbon they are using. But each time you reactivate it you loose some of the effectiveness. I will throw mine in the dryer 2 maybe 3 times at the most a season. And it will effectively last 3 maybe 4 years. DO NOT WASH THEM. That in its self will almost kill the longevity of the carbon. I am on my second set. Still have the first set still very effective camo and very comfortable. I have had deer come over 100 yards with the wind in there face right to my stand. I am working on the whole coyote thing right now. Hopefully will find out soon.
Cant hurt to try.
Cant hurt to try.
I had a petit mal seizure awhile back. Drooling, staring off into infinity, not blinking...ect...ect. I, purposely sprayed my boots with Red Fox urine, et stepped in cow patties[the mushier the better] /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif. To lessen a coyotes fear of winding me.
The end result; It just made me smell better /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif. I'm sure the local coyotes got a chuckle /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
The end result; It just made me smell better /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif. I'm sure the local coyotes got a chuckle /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I can't believe the people that buy into the lie that you can reactivate carbon. Bigmike if you have found a dryer that can heat to 800 degrees without flash frying your clothes please let me know the name. Two when you buy the clothes they are saturated with scent. I have never seen any scent-lok clothing come in a vacuum sealed package and until it does the clothes are already worthless by the time you buy it. Also as another already pointed out the government will never allow any full proof scent block to ever come to the market. Anything that can/could fully or partially block scent from a coyote can do the same thing to drug dogs. This is a marketing ploy there is no scientific proof that it works put out there by the manufactors.
Ok I have to admit that I made a mistake. Powdered activated carbon (which is used in the suits) can only be reactivated with a specialty process at 1200-1400 degrees F. Granular carbon can be partially reactivated at a min of 212F. Also Scent loks patent claims that to be effective you need between 1/8 to 1/4 inch of carbon in the suit. Their suits only have 1/32 and only cover around 30% of the suit. Imagine that over 70% of the suit allows scent to pass through.
Also the carbon loses effectiveness in humidity above 50 deg between you and the suit. So if you sweat at all the suit is worthless. Here are the two of the sites I got my info. The first is more of a layman article and the second gives a lot of scientific data- www.fastbows.com/articles/corrigan/scent_suits. The second-www.trmichels.com/ActivatedCarbonScience. Again the science proves without a doubt these suits don't work and any other product that made such false claims would be sued out of business.
Also the carbon loses effectiveness in humidity above 50 deg between you and the suit. So if you sweat at all the suit is worthless. Here are the two of the sites I got my info. The first is more of a layman article and the second gives a lot of scientific data- www.fastbows.com/articles/corrigan/scent_suits. The second-www.trmichels.com/ActivatedCarbonScience. Again the science proves without a doubt these suits don't work and any other product that made such false claims would be sued out of business.
One way these things work is they give the believers an extra margin of confidence. I'll never buy or use it and I've had coyotes within a few feet of me on the downwind side plenty of times. If I had bought into the hype and was wearing a Scent-lok suit at the time I would probably be convinced that the Scent-lok allowed that to happen. Sometimes animals just do something unexpected. Since it has happened to me a number of times over the years and I've never worn Scent-lok clothes, I know I don't need to spend $$ to get the same thrill. In most instances I try to kill anything before it gets downwind anyway. If it makes a guy feel more confident to wear Scent-lok suits, let him. Imagine how many people handle that suit while it is being made. It already smells like people, folks! Some folks will never be convinced and they'll buy into all kinds of screwy ideas in the hopes of having success while hunting. If it feels good, do it, but don't try to sell me on it.