Am I wasting my time on scent control?

[MUP]

I am still very conscientious of my scent control. Too many times I have had deer come from where they weren't expected to and end up downwind of me. I think it can make a big difference, and while you may not be able to fool a deer's nose, you can definitely cut down your scent profile and make them less likely to catch your wind when they happen to come in from the wrong way or get around you.

This is my reasoning as well. I don't use scent cover/elimination sprays at all, but I shower with event free soaps and shampoo, and use scent free deodorant, also wash my clothes in scent free detergent. In my overall experience thru the years, it has indeed helped at times, as I've had deer come thru downwind and tho they were alerted to my presence, they didn't spook and run, just cautiously proceed on by. Just my 2¢.

 

[deerhunter10]

This is my reasoning as well. I don't use scent cover/elimination sprays at all, but I shower with event free soaps and shampoo, and use scent free deodorant, also wash my clothes in scent free detergent. In my overall experience thru the years, it has indeed helped at times, as I've had deer come thru downwind and tho they were alerted to my presence, they didn't spook and run, just cautiously proceed on by. Just my 2¢.

I don't do any and know quite a few people that don't do any. And have the same experience. A lot of that is thermals at work. And a lot of that is those deer just weren't all out spooked. Could be for a lot of reasons. How many mature does or mature bucks down wind that stood there and didn't spook. I would say that percentage is extremely low.

 

[MUP]

Oh I hunt on wind direction, thermals, and terrain driven wind currents (@BSK) first and foremost, just do the scent free wash and shower as an extra measure. I've had some success over the years so I'm happy with my routine.

 

[archer19]

I wash clothes in Free & Clear, that's it!
Pay zero attention to wind, pick a stand and go to it. Never know which way or where deer come from in mountains.

 

[nso123]

I mainly play the wind, and the yardage. I mainly hunt crop fields that I have hunted for 20 years. I can count on one hand the times I have seen a deer come from an unexpected direction on this farm. I'm fortunate that the terrain really helps control their movement. I'm comfortable with long range shots, so my blinds are set in areas that put a good bit of distance between the deer and me. I also don't think it hurts that I hunt a working farm where the deer are almost constantly subjected to human scent and presence.

 

[DayTrader]

So you guys that play the wind how do you tell the deer which way to come to your stand?

During the rut this year I only had one buck heading into the wind when he came out of the woods into a field into a south wind. All the other deer I saw came with the wind at their back. Never saw a single deer come across the wind. This may or may not be because there are a lot of coyote here.