Every year, I wonder how much wasted money is spent on items that are marketed as the best, newest, and most effective ways to kill deer. The scent sprays are downright expensive. I buy them every year, but always wonder if it's a potion I could make at home. Does anyone have any Do it Yourself recipes? I usually buy the hunter specialties stuff. Thanks for any insight.
DIY Scent Spray
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catman529
Well-Known Member
they use enzymes and such in the commercial sprays that I dont think I can make at home. But I'm not a religious scent control guy so I buy a bottle here and there and use it to cut back on extra odor sometimes.
ImThere
Well-Known Member
I seen where someone made it years ago and I'm not sure I remember much. I do know they went to where they hunted and picked weeds bushes and what ever else. They took it home and blended it all together in a water / alcohol? Maybe Mix? Maybe just water. it seemed they used something so it wouldn't mold. Maybe it was bleach not alcohol?
the one and only "ImThere"
the one and only "ImThere"
Crosshairy
Well-Known Member
I've made some before. There are different varieties, but the scent killer properties come mostly from hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, dissolved and cut with water. Other varieties (like those with plant ingredients, are really more like "cover scents"
Using the wind is free ;)
HuntFish714
Well-Known Member
A few years back I made cover scents like crosshairy had mentioned. Grab some leaves, twigs etc of the local vegetation where youll be hunting and simmer with a little bit of water in a covered frying pan for a few minutes until the water turns a nasty color. Let cool then strain the liquid into a spray bottle. It takes a little bit of experimenting to get a good combo but ultimately saves u a few bucks.
I shower with scent free soap before every hunt and I use some of the store bought stuff to spray my hat and head. I wash my hunting cloths in baking soda and play the wind.
You can never be scent free, but I try to be as less smelly as possible. IMO, it the MOST important ingredient to a successful hunt.
"Cover scent" is useless for deer. You cannot cover your scent with them. Spray down with coon piss and you just smell like a human that walked through coon piss. Same goes for cedar scent, dirt and everything else I've heard of using.
You can never be scent free, but I try to be as less smelly as possible. IMO, it the MOST important ingredient to a successful hunt.
"Cover scent" is useless for deer. You cannot cover your scent with them. Spray down with coon piss and you just smell like a human that walked through coon piss. Same goes for cedar scent, dirt and everything else I've heard of using.
Crappie Luck":1zvwwanj said:
I read an article a while back that said essentially this same thing. They went on to explain that deer don't smell vegetable soup, they smell peas, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes and so forth. From some of my very limited experience this is what I have seen as well. The best hunters I know(the ones who actually make good buck kills) try and get as "less" smelly as they can by using no scent soap and laundry detergents and letting their clothes air dry outside but the number one rule they always adhere to is always play the wind if the wind isn't right don't go in that area or to that stand, period.
Humans can identify 3 scents simultaneously. A deer can identify about 20,000. That makes cover scent a gimmick.
the way you described the smell of soup is exactly right.
the way you described the smell of soup is exactly right.
Sure wouldn't use bleach or alcohol.
Had a recipe for a scent remover spray, used fish tank carbon and baking soda if I remember right. Guess it worked ok, really is a lot easier to just buy the commercial saw spray when they have the bundle deals.
Use fresh cedar limbs in the totes my clothes are in, cedars around pretty well every stand so a natural smell. Clothes get washed usually with sportswash.
Had a recipe for a scent remover spray, used fish tank carbon and baking soda if I remember right. Guess it worked ok, really is a lot easier to just buy the commercial saw spray when they have the bundle deals.
Use fresh cedar limbs in the totes my clothes are in, cedars around pretty well every stand so a natural smell. Clothes get washed usually with sportswash.
Hunter 257W
Well-Known Member
Eating Bean-O the night before helps. :)
I fill a tub with deer corn and roll around in it before I head to the lease. I have to fight the deer off.
I tried one of those DIY scent sprays back in my rookie years. Gave me a terrible rash. :shock:
I discovered that baking soda water turns into dry crusty baking soda when it dries. Much like sand or salt crystals. Very itchy in your armpits and it burns when you sweat it into your eyes. :rotf: :rotf:
I discovered that baking soda water turns into dry crusty baking soda when it dries. Much like sand or salt crystals. Very itchy in your armpits and it burns when you sweat it into your eyes. :rotf: :rotf:
Agree with doing the most you can to control your scent and to play the wind.
Maybe, dunno though. Not so sure what they would hurt so long as the scent is a natural scent in that area, and maybe just maybe on a stroke of luck the right cover may give just enough confusion to give an edge in that swirl that puts my wind in the wrong direction at the wrong time. Native American Indians smoked their clothes for some reason, was told it was to act as a cover scent, ironically I have had deer get VERY close when I have been around fires burning brush piles.
Crappie Luck":2aoqepim said:
Maybe, dunno though. Not so sure what they would hurt so long as the scent is a natural scent in that area, and maybe just maybe on a stroke of luck the right cover may give just enough confusion to give an edge in that swirl that puts my wind in the wrong direction at the wrong time. Native American Indians smoked their clothes for some reason, was told it was to act as a cover scent, ironically I have had deer get VERY close when I have been around fires burning brush piles.
Smoke is not a cover scent. smoking kills the bacteria that causes BO. It eliminates human oder.
There is no scent that can disguise or "Cover" human scent with deer. It work well with trapping, but not with deer hunting.
The stuff on the shelves are mostly designed to separate the hunter from whats in his wallet. It helps you with deer about as much as a camo wallet :D
There is no scent that can disguise or "Cover" human scent with deer. It work well with trapping, but not with deer hunting.
The stuff on the shelves are mostly designed to separate the hunter from whats in his wallet. It helps you with deer about as much as a camo wallet :D
ImThere
Well-Known Member
Idk if it makes them think I'm 50yds away instead of 20 I'm good[emoji2] [emoji2]
the one and only "ImThere"
the one and only "ImThere"
Yep it it .Back Home":1j6byqb6 said:
I found this recipe several years ago and have used it ever since.
Ingredients:
2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide (the brown bottles at the drug stores)
2 cups of distilled water
1/4 cup Arm & Hammer baking soda
1 oz. unscented shampoo
Directions:
(1) Mix ingredients in large bowl in this order: water, peroxide, baking soda, shampoo.
(2) Stir until baking soda dissolves.
(3) Pour into clean plastic jug (a clean milk jug works well) Don't shake it because it will foam like crazy if you do.
(3) Leave the cap loose since it will 'off gas' for a few days.
(4) Let it sit somewhere inside for several days until the chemical reaction settles down.
(4) Pour into a clean spray bottle (I've used the same old Scent Killer bottle for several years)
You will probably have to buy the distilled water by the gallon so go ahead and buy 2 bottles of peroxide and 2 boxes of baking soda and you can make over 1/2 gallon of scent spray for about $8.00 or so. Once I mix it up it smells just like Scent Killer to me.
Good luck with it.
Ingredients:
2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide (the brown bottles at the drug stores)
2 cups of distilled water
1/4 cup Arm & Hammer baking soda
1 oz. unscented shampoo
Directions:
(1) Mix ingredients in large bowl in this order: water, peroxide, baking soda, shampoo.
(2) Stir until baking soda dissolves.
(3) Pour into clean plastic jug (a clean milk jug works well) Don't shake it because it will foam like crazy if you do.
(3) Leave the cap loose since it will 'off gas' for a few days.
(4) Let it sit somewhere inside for several days until the chemical reaction settles down.
(4) Pour into a clean spray bottle (I've used the same old Scent Killer bottle for several years)
You will probably have to buy the distilled water by the gallon so go ahead and buy 2 bottles of peroxide and 2 boxes of baking soda and you can make over 1/2 gallon of scent spray for about $8.00 or so. Once I mix it up it smells just like Scent Killer to me.
Good luck with it.
Backstrapcrazy
Well-Known Member
I use this recipe as well, except for 1 oz of unscented shampoo. what is this used for?
