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This years dry conditions and scent

Central Iowa

Central Iowa

Life Member
Do you guys feel you got away with more this year not getting busted than you ever have? I feel that way and I contributed it to the extremely dry conditions we had. I do as much as I can in regards to scent control and yes of course I hunt the wind but there is always that one deer or sometimes all of them that do something you didn't predict that puts their senses in their favor. It seemed to me that it was a very easy year for me for not getting busted by deer even when they ended up down wind. I even had my son with me most of the season as much as he could and felt very confident in our scent control or was it just the right conditions because it was so dry. What were your observations?
 
I got busted once where I got snorted and It was the one morning I didnt shower with scent killer shampoo and body wash.
 
The times I got snorted at this year were mostly because I was caught moving and not winded. Had some come in down wind, stop, sniff & just walk away, but not really blow out. I try to be cautious about scent control and also used a fair amount of Nose Jammer this year for what that's worth... :confused:
 
Had a few instances where deer were directly downwind within 40 yards and only once did a deer spook. Pretty average for me though. Usually only get caught a couple times throughout the season.
 
I feel the opposite lol. I never had deer snort or 'bust' me, well depends what you consider being busted. I can think of mulitple times I had deer get down wind of me and they could tell something was up. Never snorted or took off with their tails up, but did get a little spooky and changed their route. This happened on mulitple properties at different times of the year. I think it is because I bought new pants and jacket, the new under armour ones to be exact. I didn't wash them with scent free soap, I just hang them up outside during the season and leave them in a rubber tote with a little dirt and leaves. Then I always use scent elimnator spray. Still, I know I got winded multiple times. Last year mutliple times I had deer downwind of me and did not get winded. Not sure why it happened so often this year.
 
I was never busted last year hunting from the ground with my bow never checking wind and never using scent control.. This year I was busted multiple times making sure wind was right.. I've read rain and wetness takes away from scent so I think with it being so dry this year it was easier to be winded
 
Getting winded I feel depends on the deer. I think some deer tolerate some human scent in their surroundings, some do not. I had does, an old doe, right on the path I just walked up, then right in my scent wind and she showed no reaction. On the other hand I had a young buck come up to the same spot, and definately stop, then turn around and leave. With all the farmers and neighbors around, year round, deer confront human scent all the time.
 
I got busted a couple times this year due to when I got in the stand the wind was in my favor, and the minute a deer came it, it would switch. Man the wind seemed like it switched a lot this year.
 
I rolled the dice a time or two hoping they would come from a direction other than down wind, didn't work out so well. Was the exception rather than the rule.
 
I seemed to get busted more this year than the past. Doubt the drought had any impact, not sure how it would???
Funny thing is that my archery buck came from directly down wind. Luck of the draw I guess.......
 
Interesting question...I do know that back in the day when I did more pheasant hunting with a dog(s) I would be very confident in saying that the dog(s) would do far better on a day when there was some humidity or dew on the ground. A dry, windy day was tougher on the dogs scenting abilities for sure.

It follows then to me that a drier year could lead to reduced scenting ability for a deer.

Our struggle this year was the continued prevalence of SE/SSE winds...whatever happened to NW winds in the fall? I did also notice some wind switching while on stand this year more than usual too.
 
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