 |
| Bill Kinney Photography |
Scent block can work in a number of ways. Its goal is to cover up the "human" scent that animals with very sensitive noses can recognize or to give the hunter an animal type of smell. Either method is a good idea, but is it really worth it in the long run? Does it have any impact on the hunt?
First off, people usually have a specific opinion about the use of scent block. Either they like it and swear by it or hate it and think it is a waste of time and money. Both of these hunters have success stories, but if it was due to the use of a scent block or not we may never know. Hunting is almost ritualistic, like wearing a lucky rabbits foot or eating the same meal before a ball game, if you've found something that works you may as well stick with it. It makes you more confident and the more confidence you have when going out on a hunt, the better. However, for those of you still in the decision making process, you should do a little research, a few trial runs, and see if a scent blocker may be right for you.
 |
| Bill Kinney Photography |
Deer and other animals do in fact have a very astute sense of smell and if you smell distinctly like a human on their path, they will probably know. But what makes you smell like a human? What is that sense that will alert them of your presence? People often don't realize when they have a distinctive smell associated with their person. Being around the same smells all the time will wear down your senses and you will become used to those smells that a deer may recognize. A major factor is your deodorant, perfume, or body wash. These do cover up the natural human scent, but with something even more noticeable. Whether allergic or not, use hypo-allergenic, unscented products. It won't irritate your skin, but is also unscented and made with no extra chemicals, dyes, or fragrances that can give off detectable scents. Also go for hypo-allergenic when thinking about your soap, shampoo, and conditioner. Just because it says mountain fresh doesn't mean its the same natural smell as the mountains. Another important factor in scent is your clothing. When washing your clothes they go through the washer, dryer, laundry detergent, softener, dryer sheets and whatever else you may put in your laundry. Be sure to wash your hunting clothing again with unscented, hypo-allergenic detergent and don't store them near any other clothing that have been washed with fresh smelling detergents. If possible, store your hunting clothing in an unscented area with good ventilation, such as a garage or enclosed porch. They will have that outdoor smell and won't pick up any extra scent from the surrounding area. If you have animals, such as dogs or cats, keep your hunting gear in a separate area from them as well so you won't have hidden dog scent on you the next time you are in your tree stand.
Along with your personal scents, be aware of what you bring along with you. If you just cleaned your gun be sure to let it air out the night before, and any snacks you may bring with you should not have a strong scent.
If you are still unsure of your hunting strategies and think a scent blocker may be the way to go, you can go online and find any type you like. Do a little research and look on hunting forums to ask other hunters how they feel about certain products. Scent blockers can range from cheap to very pricey and you don't want to spend a whole pay check on something you may decide scares the deer away. Experiment and observe what happens. All scent blockers have the same principal and should work as well as any other. The most important is to not overdo it. You don't need to use a whole bottle per hunt. If you want to be a little cheaper, you can try making your own. Search for homemade scent blocker recipes and try them out. They generally just use basics such as baking soda to neutralize scents.
Whatever you decide to do, remember it can take some time, patience, and experimenting to get your hunting techniques down. Once you have found something that works for you, stick with it, confidence in your hunt is key and something you can't buy from a hunting magazine.
How do you like to cover up your scent? Has smell ever given you away?
No comments:
Post a Comment