Scent control in backcounty? & best deodorant?

[Jarom974]

What do all u backcountry guys do for scent control before and during your hunt? I always store my gear in the off season in sealed bags and then wash them before heading out, them just spray down in the mountians before we get on animals. I just don't wanna be packing around a bunch of extra scent killer(gets heavy).

Also I've had a heck of a time finding a the best pit-stick(deodorant) what have you used that you liked or didn't like. I like to start wearing scent killer type a month or so before my hunt to kinda detox the other out of my system, but I need to find one that works as I haven't been to happy with what I used in the past.

 

[BOHNTR]

In 35 years of bowhunting......I've never used scent killing products available from the hunting industry. It's been my experience no matter what you wear or put on your body, the moment you hike a few steps your body starts producing smell........and a wild animal's ability to sense it is second to none.

I simply try and keep as clean as I can so I can stand myself when I crawl into the sleeping bag at night. Part of that is using Mitchum unscented deodorant (solid).......it works very well.

In my opinion, the most important part to being successful (especially with a bow and arrow) is simply being downwind and understanding thermals. No matter how bad one smells, if they're downwind from their prey they will remain undetected by sense of smell. Good luck this year!

 

[Firearrow]

See above. I agree.

When I pack in I will bring a small chamie towel, or baby butt wipes in zip-lock bag. I will either go for the redneck standing bath near a small creek with the towel, or use the butt wipes before bed. But being as I watch what I bring because of weight, there wount be a lot of baby wipes.

 

[mthuntress]

I use Dead Down Wind and it works great.

 

[Graylight]

I second and agree 100% with BOHNTR... There's no substitute for hunting the wind and being smart... IMO NOT ONE product can guarantee you will be scent free from a buck while upwind, swirling or otherwise... They will bust you every time if the wind gets you.

 

[T43]

I just don't wanna be packing around a bunch of extra scent killer(gets heavy).

Buy the regular bottle of scent killer spray and then stop by Walmart / Target and pick up a travel air pump spray bottle for $.99. Then just put the scent spray in the little bottle and pack it. I sweat a lot so I have light weight clothes that I wear on the hike in. I'll hang them to dry the first night and then put them in a ziplock. The clothes I use for hunting from camp get a little spritz of scent killer from the pack bottle. You have to hunt the wind but every little bit helps as far as I'm concerned. As for pit stick I can't use anything with antiperspirant so I usually just do the field wipe thing a few times throughout the day. I also like EZ towels http://www.cabelas.com/boating-accessories-ez-towel-50-pack-1.shtml?WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=GoogleBaseUSA&WT.z_mc_id1=701655&rid=40&mr:trackingCode=35B5FDCB-958E-DF11-A0C8-002219318F67&mr:referralID=NA I picked some at a gas station a while ago and have been using them ever since. They weigh nothing and after a couple drops of water "poof" wet towel. I like a warm one in the morning to wash my face with and a cold one during the day can be refreshing. They weigh more once you use them but you can just throw them in a ziplock and then take them out to dry at camp for the pack out. They do tend to leave fuzzys stuck to your face after a couple days without a razor but who cares.

 

[hoytnut]

I agree w/ BOHNTR completely. One thing I like to do in the early season is wear one set of lightweight clothes to hike in with or move camp in and another set to hunt in. My hunting clothes seem to stay fresher that way. However, even at that, you still have to pay attention to and play the wind.

 

[BigSurArcher]

The best and only scent control I use is the smoke in a bottle wind checker. I use that stuff constantly while I'm out hiking/ stalking/ glassing.

I also try to keep my crotch as dry as possible as nothing produces odor like a smelly crotch or swamp ass. Been wondering if a dose of baking soda in the crotch before a hunt might tame things a bit... opinions?

 

[MT backcountry hunter]

Get down wind for sure. The one thing I will say is try to wear wool base layers. Wool does not stink even after 10 days of wearing it in a row. It will make your stink much more tolerable after multiple days in the backcountry.

 

[RUTTIN]

Get down wind for sure. The one thing I will say is try to wear wool base layers. Wool does not stink even after 10 days of wearing it in a row. It will make your stink much more tolerable after multiple days in the backcountry.

Try First Lite clothing, and as far as a pit stick, I think that dead down wind deodorant works great, but I don't like the sticky feeling from it.

 

[wolftalonID]

I use Hunters Specialty products. $20 at walmart gets a whole kit. Detergent, deodorant, dryer sheets and soap. I have a big base camp I set up and keep clean everynight. A little zodi shower and the scent free soap helps. Scent is something that is not going to just go away though as said before. For me though its the confidence in knowing I did what I could before I went out. The rest is all in the practice of your field craft to stay undetected.

 

[elkmtngear]

I like the First Lite gear also, and I use the Deodorant Stick from Trophy Blend, and also their wind checker.

Best of Luck,
Jeff

 

[Jarom974]

Thanks guys good info everyone nailed it on the head with playing the wind. Being as scent free as you can always helps. Thanks again

 

[Jungleman]

Best deodorant, Jungleman All-Natural Deodorant of course. www.junglemannaturals.com