Smoking in a tree stand???

I have had a lot of heated discussions over this as many of us (our group of friends) smoke. I never smoke in my stand but as the time goes on in the stand you get shaky. If a tough shot comes up some say if they haven't had a smoke in 3 hours and with your heart beating when that buck walks out they are more likely to miss. Has anyone had a kill right after lighting up? Very curious about this as some say it's just a natural smoke smell which is better than the human scent? I've even heard about smoking your hunting clothes with a campfire to mask your smell. I haven't had many busts with scent as I'm picky with wind direction and I keep all my hunting gear in a Rubbermaid with pine and cedar branches. What your insight on all of this?

Thanks

not personally but im sure there are guys on here that shot deer with a smoke hanging out of their mouth and missed too because smoke got in their eyes lol

O.K. I have C.O.P.D. I need oxygen to walk to my watch.[I'm not laying down] truth be said , after I tell you to quit smoking, I smoked on my watch for years, and shot tons of deer. If anything, you don't smell human. I've shot deer , with a bon fire burning at my feet. I didn't shoot every deer that came around my stand,...but I shot most of them. Don't move , and pick your shot.

I Shot with a smoke and got my deer. My Cousin smokes while hunting and always get's his deer. Have had deer check out my camp fires even moose. You don't smell human when you smoke.

I got my only deer while smoking in my stand. It's become a joke over the years when people talk about smell and scent control products. I now consider lighting a smoke just so I can get another deer (I quit cold turkey a few years back)

it was the last day of deer season in dec, i gave up at the end of the day and had a smoke, it fell out of my hands and was at the base of my tree smoking. I had a nice doe walk towards me and shot it with my bow at 5yards. so i don't think it bothers them

I was a smoker since I was a braindead 14 year old. I have shot lots of deer. (This years 8 pt makes 31) but I never smoked in my stand or on my watch. This year I tissed the darts and went to one of those electronic vapor suckers. I have seen more deer than ever. I was never able to still hunt my way downwind and see deer. Now I can. I think it made a big difference.

Not saying you won't shoot deer while smoking. But how many of those deer will be the wisest of the wise monster bucks?

i shot my first buck with a smoke hanging out of my mouth (8pt)... then again i was smoking while driving my quad down the trail, saw the buck (about 30yrds), stopped, he just watched me as I got off the bike, took my rifle out, unclocked the trigger guard, chambered a round and set him in my crosshairs. So i dont know if smoking had any effect on this hunt as this Deer was either stupid, or depressed. either way he didnt give me any trouble lol

I am a smoker an I personally find that when I do lite up it never fails to have a deer show up!
This yr I sat in my stand an lite up an low an behold a 6pt walked out, I shot it at 25yds with my comopound!
For some reason where I hunt it brings them out without being so spooky..
Maybe it's just me, but it dosen't seem to freak em out!
flip

My buddy and I both shot deer while smoking our wind indicators this year

I smoke cigars during hunting season (rifle), and have shot a deer after just putting out a cigar, and had also just finished taking a leak. If you're pushing the bush and the wind is in your favour, its much less of a concern. A friend this year shot a doe and the tree stand closely resembled an ashtray.

IMO,you are more likely to get busted from the movement of smoking than the smoke itself.mac

My uncle smokes continuously (light a smoke the moment he finishes his last) at his watch every year and he gets a deer annually. Then again he usually only ever shoots does and young bucks, but he is a meat hunter and doesn't really care to go after a larger bodied deer.

I personally do not smoke and have shot lots of deer as well. I guess its personal opinion, but maybe the older bucks catch on quicker

I use to smoke and shot deer and quite an still shoot deer .

I'm a believer in both arguments. I think it attracts young deer (3 and under) because they are curious. I believe it scares the older/ educated ones. We do the nov shotgun every year. I have got a 149" BC, my neighbour a 202, 165, and 175 BC and my brother this year a 160. All of which shot when worrying about scent. The others in my group have shot deer to but all young bucks and does. I'm going 11 deer for 10 years ( mostly does other then a small 10 the big 10 and a couple spikes). But we are all out there to enjoy the outdoors. Just do what makes you happy :)

Isn't it a bit like using those smoke sticks you can buy (Tinks?), it just covers up your scent, the deer will either ignore it or walk off?

Mind you I thought those smoke sticks were meant to attract deer?

my hunting partner smokes on our drive smokes on walk in and smokes in his stand always sees deer, get shots at deer and always gets deer but i always think about the deer he doesnt see because of the non stop smoking lol to each his own i guess lol! whatever works for him !

IMO it doesn't matter if people smoke on their stands or not as their skin, clothing, houses, vehicles, etc will all hold the smell of smoke and be contaminated even if you quit smoking for 24 fours before heading to your stand. Like someone else mentioned, I'd be more concerned about the smoke spooking deer and they may even see the change from gray ash to bright orange when inhaling.

Deer are very curious. Smoking conceals your scent and the smoke draws them in. So I've heard.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by huntermac

IMO,you are more likely to get busted from the movement of smoking than the smoke itself.mac

---

This is true

Dad killed many deer smoking,smoking killed him at 60!!!

I quit smoking and started hunting. 7 years later really happy with my decision. I'd never smoke in my stand.