Scent?

[SaskGuy]

Assuming you've taken all the necessary precautions, washing in scent free detg, air drying clothes outside, storing in scent free container, spraying down rubber boots, applying spray once changed at hunting location, how far do you think scent will carry? Assuming the wind is fairly constant and light, say 10mph, will it carry 100 yards, what is left of your scent anyways? Maybe I'm overthinking things this year but the forecast calls for a south wind of all things on opening day. To hunt a south wind I have to hope I can luck out with the scent dispersal. Any ideas?

 

[Iowa1]

I think there is a LOT left of your scent at 100 yards. even 400 yards. However, the real question is if the deer will be spooked by it, and they do know how far away it is IMHO. At 100 yards they are going to bolt in most cases, at 400 they are not.

This may be a little off the subject but think about this little story. I once caught a red fox in a trap in the corner of a hayfield after a fresh skiff of snow, and I could see where the fox's tracks came to my set from directly downwind. I decided to follow the tracks and see what I could learn from them. I figured at least I would find out where he had been travelling when he hit the scent trail of my lure. Well I did find out... he had been trotting along a bushy fencerow more than 1/2-mile downwind of the set when he turned and came to it on a string. He even went through a farm yard between the house and the barn. All that was at the set was a few droplets of gland lure in the bottom of a 6-inch deep hole.

I believe we cannot even begin to understand what a canine or a deer can smell.

 

[Scott]

Seems like the more moisture in the air, the farther your scent will travel. I would rather hunt a day with a 25mph wind than a almost dead calm day. The still days is when your scent can just linger and seems to create a bigger area downwind where they can pick you off. I think your scent travels farther in the evenings compared to the mornings. As the ground warms up in the morning your scent is pulled upwards where as in the evenings the ground is cooling and everything is pushed down to the ground. Calm mornings and somewhat windy afternoons would be my pick for perfect conditions.

 

[Iowa1]

Scott I agree with everything you said. Humidity and air currents are really keys. A strong wind makes your scent swirl all over, and dilutes it. While a deer might be more likely to smell you in a strong wind, it would not be able to pinpoint he source of the smell.

 

[timekiller]

I believe we cannot even begin to understand what a canine or a deer can smell.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well put. I don't think that I will ever stop being amazed at a dog's or deer's nose.
I once saw a police K9 find a piece of tape that had residual odor from a gram of cocaine in a school classroom. The tape was placed on the dope then pulled off and stuck on the botoom side of a microwave oven. I brought the dog into the room and let him get acclimated to the smells for about 5-10 seconds. When I let him go he went straight to the tape. From the time he was released to the time he scratched it was about 3 seconds. There is no other words to describe their scenting capabilities other than amazing. I'm sure that a deer's nose is equal to if not better than a canine's.