DIY Scent Control

As I was looking up activated carbon for filtering purposes, I thought why not use this a scent control measure with my hunting gear? So of course hop on the google machine and it's already being done. I found some recipes on archery talk, some included activated carbon, others included baking soda, distilled water, and scentless shampoo. Are any of you folks making your own scent control?

Seems the simplest thing to do is just mix powdered active carbon with distilled water and spray it accordingly.

BBQ charcoal in a plastic bin with your hunting clothes. The charcoal will absorb odor for a while then you need to replace it it doubles as....BBQ charcoal.

I found an old cedar chest in my parents shop when they moved, touched up in the inside with a light sandpapering which rejuvenated the cedar smell and now store my hunting clothes in there year round. No moths to speak of and smell like a cedar tree when in the bush.

Here's a different way of looking at it. Instead of spending all that coin on sprays, carbon clothing etc that are only somewhat effective, why not absorb and cover your scent at the same time with smoke. As it is essentially carbon it absorbs human odor while also providing a cover scent that is very effective, doesn't spook animals and lasts a long time. Some guys buy the bee smokers or one of those chimney charcoal starters for $15 work great. After that it's free for the most part.
Here's a thread about it on Archery Talk forums. 60 posts and I was amazed at the number of positive comments on "smoking up" being very effective.
https://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showt...1344968&page=3

Cheers

That's a very interesting idea Smitty..thanks. I'm a Bee Keeper myself and use one of those 'smokers' and yes they would work great as a cover smoke. I think I'll give it try. I use hard wood shavings in it for the bees but may even try using a cedar chip as my stand is in a clump of cedar.

I've used the Deer Quest Scent sticks for many many years now. They work, proven, time and time again. Cover or mask you scent, great attractant.

I hunt deep in the bush and trying to 'beat' the wind is impossible. It swirls around on the forest floor and changes direction constantly. So I use scent sticks and use the wind to carry an attractant to them and mask my smell.

The single most effective way is to hunt the wind to your advantage. Some days, your favorite spots woin't be worth going to because of this. Stay home or find a different spot.
But if it boosts your confidence, go for it.
My opinion is scent control products are a marketing jedi mind trick, the scent control only works on humans. ( we have a guy in our camp that spends money on these products, and does his little spray down ritual every morning before going into his watch, and strangely enough, our beagles find him just the same as the rest of the watchers)

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Originally Posted by B Wilson

The single most effective way is to hunt the wind to your advantage. Some days, your favorite spots woin't be worth going to because of this. Stay home or find a different spot.
But if it boosts your confidence, go for it.
My opinion is scent control products are a marketing jedi mind trick, the scent control only works on humans. ( we have a guy in our camp that spends money on these products, and does his little spray down ritual every morning before going into his watch, and strangely enough, our beagles find him just the same as the rest of the watchers)

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I agree with the point of marketing jedi mind tricks to an extent, hence the essence of the thread being a DIY. I do feel better sitting in a tree knowing I've done my due diligence to get in there with as little disturbance to the environment as possible.

Playing the wind should always be top priority, but there are so many factors that can influence where your scent is carried, thermals, swirling, wind changing direction.

The guys in my Bear camp swear by the Ozonics machine. They claim animals have come up down-wind & never smelled them. I checked them out & no way I'm spending $500.00 on something that might work... lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by B Wilson

The single most effective way is to hunt the wind to your advantage. Some days, your favorite spots woin't be worth going to because of this. Stay home or find a different spot.
But if it boosts your confidence, go for it.
My opinion is scent control products are a marketing jedi mind trick, the scent control only works on humans. ( we have a guy in our camp that spends money on these products, and does his little spray down ritual every morning before going into his watch, and strangely enough, our beagles find him just the same as the rest of the watchers)

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These debates come up all the time, and sure wind is the most important option. If only wind never changed directions or reacted to temp differences. I've yet to hunt a stand that the wind doesn't change over a morning hunt.

And I don't think anyone believes that scent control products are 100%. If they do they are dilusional. Until we can stop breathing, your going to smell. Non-believers always through out the arguement that dogs find people that are wearing scent control. I don't find that surprising at all. Everyone and everything smells to point, but its not an all or nothing issue.

What I do believe is that scent control practices can minimize your scent. Kind of like standing in line at the grocery store behind the old lady that used way too much perfume or the old guy that obviously hasn't had a bath in a week. They smell much worse than most other people in the store, and from farther away.

So If I've taken scent control measures and you haven't and were both 50yrds from a deer. I believe that you will be perceived as more of a threat. It will probably smell both of us, but very will may think that I'm out of the range that presents a danger. And I'll take that advantage.

I could be completely wrong, but feel that over the years i've gained an advantage of a few occasions compared to my hunting buddies that take no control measures. Either way it gives me more confidence and so I think its worth the time and expense.

I'll take any advantage I can get. wind being a huge one, scent control a lesser one, but both an advantage in my mind.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bellerivercrossbowhunter

The guys in my Bear camp swear by the Ozonics machine. They claim animals have come up down-wind & never smelled them. I checked them out & no way I'm spending $500.00 on something that might work... lol

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Skeeter is a big fan of ozone. I believe he builds his own units for a fraction of the cost.

Picked up some activated carbon, and going to try the homemade spray. Will report back with my findings.

Got a fire pit in my yard... going to wear my huntin clothes for an while and stand by the fire...

re: using smoke as a cover scent. I started doing this about 4 years ago. I keep a small metal pail in my blind when I am on the way in I will gather a few dead twigs off the Hemlocks and cedars and a tiny bit of greenery. When I get settled into the blind toss the sticks into the pail and get a small fire going, then toss the greenery on top to snuff the fire, smokes like crazy, sometimes forcing me to stick head out the window for a bit. I have had many deer walk by the blind directly downwind at about 15 yards and not even twitch. The smoke smell stays on the clothes for a long time though so depending on your domestic situation you may not want to wear them into the house. :P

Guys who smoke in their tree stands have sworn it works....and I know it hard to argue with the results when they shoot deer year in and out.

Smoke in your clothes works but what about your breath and your body odor when in the stand. I have used cheaper ozonic machines and they do help...https://www.cabelas.ca/product/90239...zone-generator. I have this one...