Question: Home made cover scent/scent shield

[smokeybear z]

I just finished up reading a thread that was closed by the "big dogs" and I don't want that to happen to this thread. But the topic of smoking and whether it spooked deer, or not, came up. Which leads me to the topic;

We usually stay in a tent when we hunt and that involves a camp fire. So to "cover scent" my hunting clothes, I throw green cedar branches onto a dull fire and stand in the smoke, "wafting" it into my clothes. Just have to be careful there are no plastics in the fire. Seems to work pretty good.

I am tighter than a frogs but when it comes to money so I am always intrested if anyone else have any home remidies for scent killing or coverup.

[NE_Sportsman]

This isnt really cover scent, but I have heard that instead of buying special non-scent detergent from some cover scent company you can just buy detergent made for washing babies clothes. It costs about the same as regular detergent and has no fragrance.

[brademan76]

That cant work at all. Theres just no way. My daddy told me the only way to be sure not to be scented by a deer is to make your clothes outta fresh roadkill deer, no more than a week before your hunt. Then you gotta chase down a skunk and get srayed by it. Anyone that thinks different is CRAZY!

Seriously though. That sounds like a good idea. Carbon is great at removing odor. Its the same concept when people throw charcoal somewhere to get rid of a smell. Also lots of air filters use carbon. So I bet thats a pretty good method!

[fearnofish]

Yeah but you dont stand in cig smoke and waft it onto you do you? I have done what you are talking about while elk hunting and it helps.

[tjm]

Originally Posted by NE_Sportsman

This isnt really cover scent, but I have heard that instead of buying special non-scent detergent from some cover scent company you can just buy detergent made for washing babies clothes. It costs about the same as regular detergent and has no fragrance.

I haven't looked a baby detergent lately, but if there are UV brightners in it, then its no good since deer see well in UV range.

[DeerSlayer]

They do make coveralls that are "charcoal lined" but I forget where I saw them. My old English teacher was really into the whole scent killing deal, he had it all. I just use the spray on the boots, add a little apple scent or doe pee, and walk to my stand. When you are 12+ feet in the air, that covers your scent plenty.

[smokeybear z]

How would you know if there is UV brightners in it or not? Is it listed as "color fast" or something along those lines? OR is it a special ingredient?

[Plasticsjunkie]

Originally Posted by smokeybear z

How would you know if there is UV brightners in it or not? Is it listed as "color fast" or something along those lines? OR is it a special ingredient?

Use a black light. That will tell you if there is UV birghtners or not.

[smokeybear z]

But is there a way to tell by looking at the contents while I am looking at it in the store, so I don't have to buy it first? Remember, I'm tight!!

[Black Lab 1]

I take what is natural to the surroundings and place them in plastic garbage bag then place my hunting clothes in the bag then I twist tie it closed. I've been doing this for over 20 years and it seems to work really well.

If hunting in an area with cedars I will use fresh cedar branches along with leaves and or grass from that area. In addition I will scoop up some fresh dirt and place it in the bad with my closes then shake it up and let it sit until I get dressed in the morning or when I hunt again.

[obert]

I walk through the thick cedars on the way to my stand. And where we hunt smokey, as you know, those aren't hard to find. Wash in a uv elimiator, put in my air tight tub, a quick spray with elimiator, then walk through cedars on the way to hunt. But as always, wind is most important.

[Scotty]

If available walk through cow pies on the way to your stand, good cheap cover-up scent. Just remember to leave knee boots in the back of the truck for the ride home!

[BoB_25]

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']I don't worry about it during deer season. I don't know how many times I have had to rest a smoke in the corner of a tree branch to shot a buck. [/font]

[Slack Jaw]

Before I started using Beano deer wouldn't come within a half mile. Now they practically eat out of my hand.

[tjm]

Originally Posted by smokeybear z

But is there a way to tell by looking at the contents while I am looking at it in the store, so I don't have to buy it first? Remember, I'm tight!!

I don't know what ingredient to look for, but I would assume any typical detergent at a grocery store would have UV brighteners in them.

[fearnofish]

Go to walmarts hunting department and they have all kinds of hunting clothes wash that contains no uv brightners.

[fearnofish]

[quote=brademan76;138792]That cant work at all. Theres just no way. My daddy told me the only way to be sure not to be scented by a deer is to make your clothes outta fresh roadkill deer, no more than a week before your hunt. Then you gotta chase down a skunk and get srayed by it. Anyone that thinks different is CRAZY!



Where in the heck did that statement come from? Actually brademan thats a pretty good idea. Bet if you smelled like skunk piss you would be completely unstoppable in the deer woods.

[laughingwatr]

I do a lot of controlled burning on my ranch and you don't see deer getting spooked by the smell of smoke. The fire, thick smoke, or fire personnel will push them but even strong smoke isn't too big of a deal. We have had coyotes, racoons and especially porcupines hole up until they catch on fire because they wouldn't run from the smoke. This why I believe cigarette smoke doesn't bother them because it is a burning plant. I assume this would pertain to smoke on your coat and pants as well.

[NE_Sportsman]

I just looked at the baby detergent and it says it does have a "brightening agent". So may be that wont work. But if you are rifle hunting cant deer see that big blaze orange blob sitting in the tree?

[tjm]

Originally Posted by NE_Sportsman

I just looked at the baby detergent and it says it does have a "brightening agent". So may be that wont work. But if you are rifle hunting cant deer see that big blaze orange blob sitting in the tree?

Deer are not completely color blind as many people think. Its just that they see wavelengths of light more in the blue/green spectrum than they do in the red/yellow spectrum. Sort of when the color adjustment on your tv is messed up and everthing looks blue and green. The UV brightners in detergent makes your clothes look blueish to deer, which could stand out from the rest of the background.