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Giving up on "Scent Free"

muddy

muddy

Well-Known Member
After getting a complete soaking tonite I threw my clothes in the dryer and when I took them out I could smell this chemical like smell coming off all of them. Perhaps it was just the smell of hot fabric but I notice it on anything that gets put in the dryer even after scent free washing. Crazy thing is that the same smell would come off of "scent free" carbon clothing as well regardless of brand.

Pretty sure I'm giving up on the idea of "scent free" and will just play the wind from here on out.

Opinions and thoughts?
 
In my opinion, washing your clothes with a scent free detergent and then tossing them outside to dry is the best thing to do. Tough to do this time of year, but it can be done. During November, as soon as they come off my body they're back on the line to air out. Regaurdless, you'll never be able to get rid of all of your scent, so as you said, play the wind.
 
I'm not a fan of carbon clothing. I work with carbon and it's GREAT for removing taste and odors when in solution but as for it's adsorption properties when put into clothing...I'm not buying it. One big reason is that they'd almost have to use a slag type carbon for it to be washable and that form of carbon is quite nonporous and it's adsoprtive properties aren't all that great. Also,there's no quantitative way to determine minute differences in odor presence that I'm aware of so the science is shoddy at best. I like to use scent free soap to wash my hunting apparel and follow it up with a autumn scented cover spray. I've had many a deer downwind with that setup with positive results. Sometimes, no matter what you do you're busted.
 
I was a believer when they first came out (young and dumb). Carbon this...Carbon that... Now, especially after visting this fine site, Im much wiser.

I believe the "Goal" is to have as little intrusive oder as possible... right? (Whether its human or otherwise)

1. CLEAN, oderless body and clean clothes.
a. Orderless body. Bathing with non-scented soaps.
b. Clean clothes. Detergant with non-scented soap.
c. Bacteria is the #1 leading cuase of oders. Clean as possible means as little bacteria as possible.

2. Cover scent (optinal), If I could wash my body, clothes and magically appear in the deer stand, I would never use a cover scent. Unfortantly I sweat early season on the way to the stand. And I cant wash my clothes everytime I hunt. So I use a dirt cover scent(autumn). Any outdoor scent the masks the human oder is a good start. However, not all outdoor scents are un-intrusive. I have used fox urine for coverscent on my boots, and have had some very NEGATIVE responses from deer.

Just my .02 worth
Dean
 
I am with Critr on this one. Wash the clothes in scent free soap (not after every hunt but definately when you know you have sweated alot). My clothes hang outside from the initial wash till I am done hunting for the season or for an extended period of time. I also bath before each hunt with some form of scent free body soap. I also like the autumn / dirt scented sprays.

I still get the occasional "busted" look but rarely the full blown snort and run.
 
Re: Giving up on "Scent Free"

Leave the bar, go home, hit the sack for a few hours.... get up, go kill!!!! I have smelled like a bonfire and have shot some of my biggest bucks ever in my life!.. if your high enough, it don't matter.

Now Bear hunting is a different story tho:)
 
I'll second your thought Muddy, I don't get crazy with the whole scent elimination theory. The things I do are pretty basic:

Use unscented soap-Ivory
Use unscented deodorant-Sure
Don't wear cologne or use aftershave during hunting seasons.
I do use shampoo and conditioner that is marketed for hunter's, but that's because I don't know of any other that is unscented.
My biggest concern is not smelling like a whorehouse, or like I'm homeless.
I do wash my clothes in Scentkiller detergent, but again it's because I don't know of any other that is unscented.

I think you're a Grey Wolf clothing guy so the carbon clothing thing dosen't really apply to you, but it will say this as far as clothes are concerned: Once you even touch them with your bare hands they are "contaminated" If the outside of them rubs against your skin forget about it- your scent is all over it.

The most important thing you can do is play the wind.
 
I've had mixed results with Dead Down Wind. I have had deer actually follow my trail to me, and have gotten busted the same day. I also use Carbon detergent and keep them in Tuperware with a couple of dirt wafers. Not as good as I want to be, it looks like I should also invest in some soap for me as well???
 
I bought a carbon under suit some years ago. Waste of money. I have found 2 things that really do help cut down on scent. Not eliminate it, but cut it down to a level that you may have deer pass downwind and either not smell you, or not smell enough to send them running. These two things are:
1) Shower with unscented soap before going out.
2) Liberal use of the "Ghost" spray. Best stuff on the market IMO.

NWBuck
 
I'm with critr on this one also. I bought one scent suit about 15 years ago (or whenever they were invented) and gave up on it the next year.

My theory ever since is: Wash, hang, hang, hang and wash again. Repeat if needed. I spray down when dressing with ghost.

This season I discovered how hard it was to hunt with two guys. With my son and I both in the tree together it's very hard not to get busted. Kudos out to you filmers that do this on a regular bases. If you don't play the wind perfect with two guys IMO your screwed I don't care what you use or have on.
 
Re: Giving up on "Scent Free"

I don't care what you put on yourself. If a deer is coming down wind from you your going to get busted. Play the wind!!!
 
Re: Giving up on "Scent Free"

I have a cheap set of bibs and coat from the bargain cave of cabelas, bought them for under $100 probably about 7 years ago.

I wash them with scent-free soap and hang to dry outside before the season starts and store them in a large tupper ware container that has baking powder in the bottom. I got busted one time this year... and that was when I took my girlfriend with me and she wore and OLD set of hunting clothes that were in the garage - pretty sure the puppy had done its thing on them several times, exhaust fumes and whatever else might be out there. Other than that I play the wind!
 
Wear what you want to wear. Keep yourself (your body) as clean as possible and do your best to say downwind of the deer. Forget about covering or eliminating your scent. Can't be done.

Over the last 35 years of serious bowhunting, I have reached some rather radical conclusions about this, some of which I have posted on this site. I am fully convinced that the only thing that really affects the deer is the smell of human scent. Not the smell of gas, or smoke, or deodorant, or laundry detergent. Just the smell of you. I am really convinced of this.

Your mileage may vary.
 
In always hang my clothes outside and when they are not hanging they are in a tub with dirt and leaves and usually a few pine needles. I hardly ever get busted. When I do its the stop and turn around and walk away.. they dont bolt. I also shower before my hunts. But I try to hunt the wind religiously. But I would say one outta 5 hunts this year were in a questionable wind and I did alright.

I dont think you can be scent free, I dont think you can cover it, I think all you can do is minimize it. I really think that in most areas deer will tolerate SOME human scent. Hope many deer have you had stop, and you know they smell you, but the relax and continue.
 
land mines Muddy.....
wind dont matter after that

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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CRITRGITR</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In my opinion, washing your clothes with a scent free detergent and then tossing them outside to dry is the best thing to do. Tough to do this time of year, but it can be done. During November, as soon as they come off my body they're back on the line to air out. Regaurdless, you'll never be able to get rid of all of your scent, so as you said, play the wind.</div></div>

My thoughts exactly.
 
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