What does everyone do to prepare for hunting? Do you use a scent or something thinking it will fool the deer or does it matter. I have a bet with my stepson who plan on showering the morning before he goes hunting with "earth scent". I say it doesn't matter. He also wants to leave his clothes overnight in a bag of leaves to disguise the scent as well. I think it's a bunch of bullshit but I'll await any and all replys.

A deers nose is it's most keen sense. I always use cover scents and am aware of wind direction. Of course a deer can make mistakes, but if you want to consistantly kill big wary bucks you better do all you can to keep them from winding you. One thing you'll never know is how many deer you didn't see because they smelled you first.

back when i bow hunted i used to wash my clothes a few days before the season in arm and hammer baking soda and then when i would take them off at night i would take them outside and store them in fir boughs. course these were just my outwears like my camo. use a good commerciallly available cover nuetralizer for your shoes and try to wear rubber soled shoes as the rubber is less permeable for odor. as HFS has said pay attention to the wind, a deers nose is one of the most powerful weapons on the planet and its hearing is almost as good, while it is colorblind it can spot any movement you make and be gone before you can say shit.

ive pissed at my blind before when hunting for deer, and still saw deer come as close as 15 feet away from me :linemup:

I read (can't remember the exact source) but one of the Southern Univ's did a test with human urine and buck urine, and the results were inconclusive>>the deer didn't care.

I keep my clothes in a bag of earth scent. I use a non-orderless antipersperant throughout the season (Certain-Dri>>>any major drug store). Wear rubber boots and eat apples in my stand....while on the ground I have had deer close enough to punch....well if I hand 8 foot arms.

Same here....still use cover scent. As Muttley said.




I shot mine last year at 5 paces, while I was sitting on the ground dressed in flouresent orange. Young buck though. Trophy bucks usually don't make that mistake.

Both are good ideas, but no matter what you use, the wind direction HAS to be the top priority. I used to use cover, and loved it. But I stopped using it, but watch the wind more. I don't think the amount of deer I've seen has gone up or down since.

I am very scent concious. I use cover scent before every hunt and am not sure of how beneficial they are. They make me feel more confident. The most important thing for scent control in my opinion is some type of scent lok or scent blocking clothing (stored in scent proof bags) and knee high rubber boots. You can use all the cover scent in the world and not mask your natural body odors. These types of clothes help you contain the odors so there is not as much to mask. I have had deer walking in circles around me to try and get my scent (because they knew something wasn't right with the big guy up in the tree) and not been successful. I am a firm believer in Scent Lok and scent Blocker clothing. Most important thing hands down is the wind direction of course. If a smart deer gets down wind of you and suspects you're there, most of the time it's OVER!!! I'm no expert, just a guy who spends a lot of time archery hunting. My success depends on stand placement and scent control. I think it is very important if you want to harvest BIG bucks. Just my 2 cents

Good point guys, wind direction IS EVERYTHING...

always shower with scent killer soap all season. my whole family does this.we also wear scent-lok or scent blocker clothing and spray down with scent killer. sometimes i use tarsal gland or doe estrus urine. but mostly do not hunt a stand if the wind does not cooperate. You can take all the preventative measures, but you cannot totally eliminate your human scent, just control it as much as possible.

This year, I tried peanut butter as a scent block. I figured that it was a natural order that would cover my scent. Since this was my first year at a new location to hunt, I wasn't able to scout before hand and set up a blind/stand in an ideal location. I don't know what the deer travel pattern is for the area.
Peanut butter was placed on tree branches about 36' off the ground. The does would make a bee-line for the peanut butter and clean off the branches. Never saw any shootable bucks (6 point or better, property rule)but, saw a few smaller ones and some does. All the does were with fawns and some were still nursing.

I usually dont even bother with scent coverings, as long as the wind is in your favor, ive shot alot, nothinhg trophy, but i know guys that have who dont use anything, just sit in the stand, as for peanut butter?, ill put sum by my stand and let y'all know