Beards

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oldmanelrod

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We wash our bodies and cloths in scent free products and store them in air tight containers. Use scent free boots. With all that I wonder if those nice warm, cold wind breaking beards get saturated by our breath and food we eat and drinks while hunting? I have had a beard and it is nice on cold winter days but still I have to wonder.
 
I shower before I go out mornings and afternoons both, when I can. I use unscented dove bar soap on my face/beard. When cooler out I will use my scentlok fleece facemask.
 
oldmanelrod said:
We wash our bodies and cloths in scent free products and store them in air tight containers. Use scent free boots. With all that I wonder if those nice warm, cold wind breaking beards get saturated by our breath and food we eat and drinks while hunting? I have had a beard and it is nice on cold winter days but still I have to wonder.
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John Eberhart swears against beards for scent control.
 
oldmanelrod said:
We wash our bodies and cloths in scent free products and store them in air tight containers. Use scent free boots. With all that I wonder if those nice warm, cold wind breaking beards get saturated by our breath and food we eat and drinks while hunting? I have had a beard and it is nice on cold winter days but still I have to wonder.
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Shave that pubic hair off your face 😐

You'll eliminate odors, look 10-15 years younger, and crumbs from potato chips won't be nearly as bothersome.

😀 you asked.

Plus your mask will fit properly... mic drop.
😅
 
In all seriousness though, I don't think it will matter if you have a beard or not. If you prefer growing one, and most of all, the woman in your life likes the beard, then you shouldn't worry about it when it comes to hunting.

As posted earlier, it's impossible to eliminate 100% of our scent. We probably do well to hide 10% of it, as hard as we try.
 
I have a beard. I've always tried to keep scent control a priority, possibly over board at times. I think I have finally learned the truth: if the deer gets downwind, they can smell you. If the wind is in your favor, the deer can't smell you. I say grow the beard and check the wind.
 
CBU93 said:
Personally, I don't think a beard is warm on the face. In fact, I find it colder most of the time…but I agree with the wind comments above.
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Really? I know it's off topic, but man, even with mine being short and trimmed, I find it SO much warmer
 
Personally I think trying to control your scent is, well, beyond your control. Be careful where and how much you walk around leaving scent, and watch the wind and thermals. If a deer doesn't smell you downwind it's not because of scentlock and body soap. Most guys drive in their clothes. A lot of guys ride a 4 wheeler when they get to their property, and any number of other things that get scents on their clothes, and I don't think we can keep our bodies from producing human scent that wafts all around. Having said all that, I don't kill big deer either, so there's that to consider.
 
oldmanelrod said:
Just thinking about as we go through the day and our beards catch our exhaling. I am probably over analyzing it.
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I don't think you're over-analyzing. Hair holds far more scent than skin. For that reason, I have my hair cut short just before MZ season opens. Less hair to hold scent. I don't have a beard, but I do go unshaven on the weekends during deer season, only shaving mid-week to keep from growing a full beard. I want a substantial stubble to take the shine off my face. However, I've gotten so old my stubble is now snow white, and I'm afraid the deer must think they are seeing a flag-up deer butt when they look at my face!
 
poorhunter said:
Personally I think trying to control your scent is, well, beyond your control. Be careful where and how much you walk around leaving scent, and watch the wind and thermals. If a deer doesn't smell you downwind it's not because of scentlock and body soap. Most guys drive in their clothes. A lot of guys ride a 4 wheeler when they get to their property, and any number of other things that get scents on their clothes, and I don't think we can keep our bodies from producing human scent that wafts all around. Having said all that, I don't kill big deer either, so there's that to consider.
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I agree that we cannot eliminate our scent. No matter how hard we try, a deer downwind will still smell us. Their sense of smell is beyond what we can comprehend. However, I do go to great lengths to reduce my scent. Not because I think I won't be winded, but because deer judge distance to a predatory threat by the intensity of the smell. Very strong, and the predator is close, requiring an immediate flight response. But if the smell is just a wiff, the predator is a long way away, requiring only extreme diligence and caution. I would much rather try to pull off a shot at a deer showing extreme caution than one blasting off in fear.
 
I always recommend to my buddies with beards to rub doe piss in them before we head out. It's the gift that keeps on giving...aaaallll day long.
christmas vacation GIF
 
BSK said:
I agree that we cannot eliminate our scent. No matter how hard we try, a deer downwind will still smell us. Their sense of smell is beyond what we can comprehend. However, I do go to great lengths to reduce my scent. Not because I think I won't be winded, but because deer judge distance to a predatory threat by the intensity of the smell. Very strong, and the predator is close, requiring an immediate flight response. But if the smell is just a wiff, the predator is a long way away, requiring only extreme diligence and caution. I would much rather try to pull off a shot at a deer showing extreme caution than one blasting off in fear.
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That makes good scents...er, sense.:)
 

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