Cover Scent Poll

[blake]

It is apparent that I didn’t do a very good job in the poll on the Entrance Page re: Cover Scents. It appears that most of you are using a different type of cover scent than the choices that I gave you.

So my friends, what type of cover scents are most of you using…………..or is it top secret?

 

[shackdaddy]

i use dead down wind with my scent blocker suits... also i use earth scents and buck and doe urine on the bottoms of my boots sounds gross but it cover my trail perfectly... just make sure you dont use to much

 

[HOWATTANDHAWKEN]

I replied "other because I dont use any types listed. The only thing I use is the scent elimination spray. I have tried many of the scents out there and regardless if it is a cover or an attractant I have had nothing but negative results when using them. Either the deer will stand downwind of the trail or spot and blow or jump out of thier skin when they cross close to a scent wick or whatever the application. I have even had some negative affects from trying different scent elimination types. i use the H.S. Scent away spray most of the time and the yewllow bottle works best . I tried the green bottle that is supposed to be fresh earth or something and deer freaked out when they crossed my path. So I went back to the yellow bottle. Scent free is your best cover. Stay downwind.

 

[shrek1]

Scent free for me! Same sort of effects as you Howatt, I have never had a scent that I put out put a deer at ease just on alert.

 

[dbltree]

[ QUOTE ]
Scent free for me! Same sort of effects as you Howatt, I have never had a scent that I put out put a deer at ease just on alert.

[/ QUOTE ]

Same here...hunt the wind and be clean as possible. No scents (or sense) of any kind for me

 

[promise land]

Earth scent is about all i use.

 

[Skully]

I use fox urine. Trapping fox and coyote tought me alot about tricking an animals nose. And beleive me those dogs are hard to trick! It's a stong enough odor to cover well but I have never seen deer alerted by it. Using it has also presented me with some nice shots at coyotes which are a natural enemy of the fox. The wife hates it when I leave my boots on the porch or in the basement though.

 

[Iowa1]

After 30 plus years of trapping and deer hunting I am convinced that no cover scent will work. A person who believes they can cover their odor by puting another scent on them is on deceiving themselves, not the deer, IMHO, and they do not really understand how good a deer's nose rally is. You are only adding scent not covering anything. Big difference.

I have come to accept a limited use of odor neutralizers over the years. I believe there are good spray-on products that will help you reduce your odor.

Best policy always has been and always will be to play the wind angle. I always get a kick out of the phrase, "Forget the wind, just hunt." That is a recipe for failure.

 

[Monsterbuck1]

I use the scent elimination sprays, but I also spray earth cover scent on my boots.

MB1

 

[doublerack]

just roll around in the dirt and leaves for a while... might step in a few cow pies on the way to the stand.....

 

[Kat]

I chose pine in the poll, not because of using any commercial product, but because it was the closest to what I use - there are cedars all over where I hunt and I store my hunting clothes and boots with cut branches. There is also a stand of cedars where I park my truck, so before I grab my bow I will usually give one a big ole bear hug.

It works quite well, but I still always play the wind and use the Ghost on my hat, gloves, the soles of my boots and the inside of my truck. You can’t cover up scent. I'm just trying to blend in with my surroundings as best I can.

 

[Blaster]

Earth scent

 

[Skully]

[ QUOTE ]
There is also a stand of cedars where I park my truck, so before I grab my bow I will usually give one a big ole bear hug.

[/ QUOTE ]
Kat, now you know there are going to be a bunch of guys dressed as Christmas trees standing by your hunting area hoping for a hug!

 

[Kat]

 

[teeroy]

ghost spray and a earth scent wafer

 

[WKP - Todd]

The best scent is no-scent. If you use a cover scent, they will smell it and you!

 

[oldgene]

scent elimination spray and an earth scent wafer, I also place cedars around my ground blind. It works

 

[Benny]

Earth wafers, non-scent under arm stuff and non scented shampoo and soap.

If you are new to the sport or your budget is tight buy your self a good tree stand that is comfortable and skip the those fancy scent eliminator suits.

 

[dbltree]

[ QUOTE ]
I chose pine in the poll, not because of using any commercial product, but because it was the closest to what I use - there are cedars all over where I hunt and I store my hunting clothes and boots with cut branches. There is also a stand of cedars where I park my truck, so before I grab my bow I will usually give one a big ole bear hug.

It works quite well, but I still always play the wind and use the Ghost on my hat, gloves, the soles of my boots and the inside of my truck. You can’t cover up scent. I'm just trying to blend in with my surroundings as best I can.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's pretty much what I do also Kat

I cut cedar and oak branches and stick them in large plastic bags with my hunting clothes.

If the weather is nice I just hang them right in the cedar trees. One of my stands is in a big white pine and I always rub some pine pitch onto my clothes while I'm in that stand.
I really think the conifers are a strong natural cover both visually and as a scent cover...but I still count on the wind being in my favor.

Don't think I want to get caught "bear hugging" a tree though...

 

[Fishbonker]

Besides my well documented attempts at scent control, I used to use earth scent wafers. I would wear three at a time and smell like a dirt clod. Then I started thinking if a deer smells fresh earth then there was something around that caused the earth do be dug up. In other words, the natural scent of the woods was “disturbed” by my putting more earth scent out there then was normal.

Then I went on to what fly fisherman call “match the hatch” only I called it “match the mast”. So when the acorns were falling I used acorn scent wafers and when the apples were ripe I used apple scent wafers. I don’t do that anymore either. The more I thought about it the more I doubted that man can make an artificial aroma that can actually fool a deer. Sure, smells like acorns and apples to us, but what does the deer smell?

Another factor in the use of cover scents, it doesn’t make sense to use a cover scent if that particular scent isn’t in the immediate area. If the closest cedar tree is over a mile away and you are trying to smell like a cedar tree the deer know their area and will be on guard if they all of a sudden smell a cedar tree where there wasn’t one before. You could put apple, acorn or what ever in place of the cedar.

So now I just try to eliminate smell as best I can. The only cover scent I use are apples. On my way to my stands I’ll pick up three apples from under my trees. When I get to the trail leading to my stand I smash one with each boot and work it into the sole and as high up my boot as I can. Then when I get to my stand I smash the last one on the foot platform. You have to be very careful as the does sniff and sniff trying to locate the apple. They sometimes can, and stare right at me, at least I hope it’s the apple they smell and not the left over burrito I had for breakfast. That’s where sitting very still becomes important.

Bottom line, use what works for your head. If you aren’t confident in your choice of scent control, cover scent, arrows, broad heads what ever, you won’t enjoy your time afield. As with anything else in life, experience is the best, and most unforgiving, teacher.

The ‘Bonker