[Abolt.270]

I was just wondering how many use the Scent Away products, and how much faith you put in them? Do you think they actually work, or a waste of money? I use the fresh earth scent alot, almost religously. If it works or not, Im not totally sure. I have went afield without it many times, but cannot say that I see more deer either way. I prefer to use it, waste of money or not, I dont think it can hurt. As a matter of fact I almost use the entire line, laundry detergent, fresh earth dryer sheets, body wash, deodorant, and spray. I know others around my area use the stuff because when it gets close to the rifle opener for deer, you cant hardly find any of it at the local wal-mart.

I was also wondering about deer scents. What brand and type do you use? I have always used that tinks stuff. Doe p and 69 go with me always.

Some may consider this their trade secret or somthing, if that is the case, by all means keep your secret. Any input will be appreciated. I just want to know if others use this stuff, or if I am just the lonely idiot who has given in to the marketing ploys of hunting shows.

 

[Saskshooter]

You cannot stop a deer from smelling you if it is paying attention. All effort to do so is a waste of time and/or money. Your only hope is to control your scent "shadow" and hunt accordingly.

Attractants, if properly used, seem to me to be able to attract deer, at least make them curious (as long as they can't smell you at the same time).

 

[roverboy]

I've used different brands of cover scents and deer lures. I like Scent A Way and have used it for about 3 years. Several of the deer lures are good even if your just using them as a curiousity or cover scent. Tinks is good as any in my opinion, and a friend said he made a drag rag with Tinks 69 on it and had a young buck almost run over him. The Code Blue is supposed to be good, but its expensive.

 

[Chief RID]

Had a buck turn inside out week before last where I had doe in heat scent waffers out. I also had a mock scrape that I peed in there too. He blew and headed up the skidder trail and stopped. Got him! I think deer are very curious. Scents are their favorite thing to investigate. Old big deer have lost their curiosity.

 

[ROGER T]

i use use dead down wind & wear the sent blocker camo.i keep my hunting clothes(underwear & socks to) in a sealed container & dress when i get to the woods.i also shower in sent control soaps,use the antiperspirant & where clothes that have been washed in sent control detergent to the hunt club.i use the spray like crazy,although you cant totaly eliminate human oder you can tone it down to an absolute minimum if you follow the steps religously.i have seen more than enough proof while hunting with,halfway with,& without the sent control to know its works 90% of the time. but if you are lucky enough to always be down wind of the game you persue & the wind is never swirling,then i would say no you dont need sent control. ive used tons of buck lure for 20 years & the only time i have had success was when i used harmons tripple heat last week & had a spike follow my drag trail in. hope you get a biggin.

 

[Pawpaw Tony]

the key to hunting unbaited stands is total quiet,patience,and hunting where you have seen sighn..the further into hunting season ,the less apt you are to get lucky..nervouse deer
are just hard for me to out think..
now my soninlaw is real big into scent prevention..this year has been a good yr. for him..
8 pt-10 pt. an several does.. he just knows what hes doing. good luck

 

[broom_jm]

I use scent control products, cover scents and attractants, but none of those are as important as keeping the wind in your face and being as still and quiet as possible, like Tony said. Anybody who thinks he can beat a deer's nose is kidding himself...just ask any successful bowhunters you know.

It really comes down to hunting on good ground and knowing your area. If you've figured the deer patterns out and only hunt when the conditions are in your favor, particularly the wind, you can stink to high heaven, not put out any other scents, and still take deer every season. I know way too many guys that pull it off every year for me to argue otherwise. Anybody who thinks he can beat a deer's nose is kidding himself and falling for the ad hype. Myself included!

 

[shane256]

I use the Fresh Earth sometimes. I don't know if it really works or not. I try to take the wind into account more. As far as whether they work or not, remember there weren't that many of them around until the 90s maybe? I can't tell you how many deer stories my dad has that include somewhere in there "I put out my cigarette and picked up my gun" and he's killed a *lot* of deer in his time. He knows how to deal with the wind and where to be.

 

[hunter177]

Scent-Away Usage

I use the HS Scent Away brand in Fresh Earth scent. I think it works ok but not great. Over the last two years I've seen just as many deer as I did without it but it does take away the cabin scents. By that I mean bacon and eggs and human scent. It works good on gas and car exhaust too.

 

[Saskshooter]

A guy is walking down the street snapping his fingers every time his left foot hits the ground. Someone finally asks him, "Hey, how come you keep snapping your fingers like that?"

"It keeps tarantulas away," says the guy.

"But we're in northern Saskatchewan here; there isn't a trantula within 1000 miles!" says the other.

"See, it really works!" says the guy.

The same process is going on with cover scents. Some human can't smell anything, so he assumes a deer can't. It would be like trying to get a deer to understand the difference between two shades of blue. He just won't ever get it because he has no way of even imagining it.

Deer have very similar olfactory powers do a dog. Drug dogs have found drugs inside plastic bags inside sacks of coffee. Bloodhounds have been known to track people AFTER they got into a car and drove away. Do you really think a spray or rubber suit will work?

Try to smell the odor of the scent twig that deer mark over all their scrapes. You won't smell a thing, but it is a powerful identifying marker to a deer. Scent masking products are a rip off.

Attractants are different, and may attract deer in the right mood, but there is no way you can fool a deer's nose if he is paying attention.

Now, occasionally they don't pay attention, just like we don't sometimes. Once, I drove my truck right up beside a mule deer buck who was trailing a doe that crossed a field (I don't know how many hours earlier). We stopped the truck about 20 feet to his left, and he ignored us completely while my partner took pictures out the passenger door window. Sometimes they get distracted.

But any deer that is trying to use its nose will know you are there, no matter what products you spray on your clothes or what rubber suits you wear.

 

[tpv]

Go buy some vanilla extract and soak some cotton balls around you. Old bowhunter in me,,, old cheap bowhunter,,, but it works.
I've had them walk up and sniff it and try to eat it.
You ought to see a young buck try to eat a cotton ball, pretty funny!