Best Cover Scent

[giles]

I believe a bad hunter using smoke on a neighboring property can ruin it. They know that when they smell it, bad things could happen. Only takes one bad hunter to educate the deer in the area. This could be what happened to you Jim. Like burning a stand out, I think the same can happen with smoke.

 

[giles]

I should add that I believe this can happen with any smell/scent, not just smoke. Deer know patterns and it only takes one person to ruin things.

 

[Bigslam51]

You did hunt the same stand for a week straight, Jim.

 

[jagermeister]

Not my first rodeo, guys. I know I hunted the same stand for a week. It's not the first time I've done it. Just the first time in a long time that I can remember seeing deer react in a noticeable way to my entrance/exit route. When you're hunting peak rut, and you've located a stellar funnel or travel corridor near a bedding area, that's what you do.... Hunt it all day, every day. Like I said, these deer never once spooked. I wouldn't call it a negative reaction. But they NOTICED it, and some altered their path as a result. I'm not saying smoke is a bad cover scent so there's no need to defend it. I'm just stating what I recently experienced and how I'm going to respond to it.

 

[bowhunter1023]

I've backed off the level of smoke I use over the past few years because of how it was starting to make my clothes smell. I no longer pre-smoke my clothes and avoid getting it on me too heavily. I use baking soda on my clothes as I have for years, store them in totes, shower, then use that faint bit of smoke to hopefully provide a cover for anything I missed. It's worked wonders for me over the years. That said, I've seen deer get keen to it now that I've been doing it for a decade. Like Dave said, they pick up on things pretty well. Smoke is no different in that regard.

 

[MoonLab]

I use scent killer( Gold)detergent
I dont use the same dryer that I use the normal clothes with . I'd wash my hunting clothes and hang em up in the garage and let it dry for couple days. My garage smells like smoke from using scent smoker (no gas, no fumes, etc) then when it'd get dry, I'd put all the hunting clothes in the tall cabinet and hang em up....then I'd put 1/4 or 1/2 of wood chips in the smoker, get it going , then put it bottom of cabinet. Dont need TOO over do it. That just me I dont want deer getting spooked thinking something just got burnt down. Most Farmers are always burning woods right around 3pm-4pm so its perfect TOO be out heading in the stand without getting busted. Totally works for me. Also another property the Deer would be up front of me downwind front of the blind with not a worry in the world and eating corn and not having a clue that I'm in the blind watching them. Greatest feeling in the world. Also I use evercalm....best thing it ever calm out with.

 

[brock ratcliff]

We spent most of last year skipping the smoke. We got busted a LOT! I will go without occasionally as it's a real good reminder of how effective it really is. On Masons last hunt of the year, he hunted a completely wrong wind Had a buddy with him too. They had four deer within 15 yards down wind, curiously sniffing when he shot. I'd upload the video but it's about 15 minutes long and he'd be ticked at me since he did not make a perfect shot. Still, those boys beat the deer's nose at the end of January, and that's not easy from the ground any time!

 

[Joel]

Smoke and ever calm. I've had deer of all sizes very close so I don't see any reason to change what I've been doing.

 

[OhioWhiteTails]

Don't smoke the clothes anymore, but new ground blinds get the hickory!

 

[MoonLab]

Don't smoke the clothes anymore, but new ground blinds get the hickory!

Fugg yeah, lol. Enjoy

 

[Bowkills]

Old thread anyone have new thoughts on smoke or no smoke?

 

[bowhunter1023]

I've stopped presmoking my clothes in the closet and tote like I used to due to cause my clothes to smell funny after years of use. Now, I just fire it up and let it "waft" around while I get ready. Less is more is the approach now. I still believe it can buy you precious seconds and with the amount of people that burn wood around here, it's definitely a common smell.

 

[Big Weff]

I agree with Jesse. I use to pre smoke my clothes but after a while they would get a shitty stagnant smoke smell from being constantly bombarded with the stuff, even after washing it seemed to keep an unnatural smoke smell. So now I just take my scent free shower and lightly smoke myself and my cloths. Side bar, this may be total coincidence but ive noticed when I put special emphasis on smoking my hair it seems to help in the field. That is all.

 

[Boarhead]

I smoke up everytime b4 i head out,only been out 3 times so far but have had 10 deer downwind at one time or another and not been busted yet. A couple big old does the ones you learn to hate once they bust you but they just put the nose up in the air and smelled smoke and went back to eating in the field.
I like a little evercalm on ground level also really seems to relax the deer.
Guess we will see if i get busted after today...will be out hunting for the next month.

 

[Boarhead]

Also nothing is ever fool proof. I still laugh when i watch hunting shows and how much they praise the ozonics unit and then see them get winded numerous times. Lol ..Nothing is fool proof.

 

[MoonLab]

Yep...nothing changed. Still sticking with what I have been doing. Dont over do the smoke.

 

[OhioWhiteTails]

I go back and forth. As Boarhead mentioned, nothing is foolproof.

 

[giles]

I did the scent crusher with smoke this year and kill a doe from 10’ and she was downwind of me. I was on ground level.

 

[OO2]

Smoke, scent free deodorant, odorless body wash, and baking soda.

I can tell the difference when I’ve gone out with buddies who just use scent killer spray and old spice.

 

[Bowkills]

I'm going to give smoking a whirl rest of the season.