Activated Carbon Information

[Maustypsu]

Interesting, Sniper4Hire.
As soon as I started following John's scent control routine, I started seeing more deer. They hung around longer and closer.

And I noticed they would sniff right where I walked but not get spooked in anyway. People call that the void. They can see the ground disturbed but can't find the scent.

The thing to understand about scent is that it isn't just any scent that spooks deer. Meat-eaters have proteins in their glands that herbivores/prey recognize. It's keeping those scents in that makes the difference. It's probably why the bee smoker method works for so many.

I agree that nobody is ever 100% scent free. But there are scents other than those proteins that prey don't mind. And there is probably a threshold of those proteins that doesn't scare them... For instance, "I can smell something that eats meat has been here. But either it was a raccoon last night or a coyote two nights ago. Hey, what's this arrow doing in my side?"

 

[Sniper4hire]

Scent control is voodoo art. It can't be quantified in the field. Just hunt, is a poor strategy for any hunter to adopt because he has put on a scent loc suit, even if the greatest deer hunter alive says so.

 

[BigAl]

Please forgive my intrusion........carbon DOES filter....no doubt! Yes....I believe that the suit WILL absorb scent molecules and help the hunter. But like Sniper4hire says, we cannot be 100% sure the deer would or would not have spooked or what our scent molecules were doing all the time unless we can see them. As far as carbon goes...we aren't totally sealed up and we really don't know what direction the molecules are going when deer are present as well as if they are so fewer in number because of the suit the deer don't spook. Wind floaters tell us exactly what the air currents are doing as far as we can watch them. Scent reduction is the name of the game IMO and if you are able to go through John Eberharts protocol and have fun great! But his tactics work if you watch the wind also....clean boots on entrance too! Eberharts knowledge is his greatest asset....his protocol is the next asset. Most of us can't or won't put that much into it. I've applied his tactics and they work..... period ....and I don't use the suits.

 

[Hillclimber]

Id challenge my bloodhound to find John

 

[Sniper4hire]

Id challenge my bloodhound to find John

Your Bloodhound could easily find anyone and probably after 3 days. Your Bloodhound is actually the only animal that can testify in court. Your bloodhound is amazing within the amazing ability of dogs in general. I used a dog story/analogy earlier not to illustrate anything more than the olfactory ability of a deer, which are said to have better olfactory ability than a dog. John E, in his quest to discredit my comment reverted to ground disturbance to explain away the story.
My point was simply that there is no possible way a human can mask his scent 100% with any technology available today. The scent loc may work, to a very high level of success, but there are still a 1000 potential breeches in that hunt prep, and thats all I was saying. What needs to be considered is that 99 of 100 hunters will not be successful at setting up the "perfect hunt" if it is indeed even possible. That said, why would someone spend that kind of cash for a non-verifiable result?
Much like the HECS suit, I consider all scent control products a voodoo art. JMO

 

[electricstart]

I know older post by John Eberhart and a lot of stuff already said . I have been using Scentlok since they first started 30 plus years ago and must say from day one have always seen more deer. The Face mast most important. I still do watch the wind ,wash under clothes in scent free soap ,shower and brush teeth scent free soaps tooth paste. I do spray bottom of rubber Bogg boots with wildlife research or dead down wind I also rub bottom of boots in dirt way before I get to stand . Store everything air tight cabela's roll up bags and in totes. I reactivate in dryer every one to two weeks unless I sweat a lot then do more often . Really never wash unless have to . I don't go to high in tree and hunt only public land so sent control a must . I hunt for food not really for bone but have harvested my share of decent bucks . I have had deer within inches of me through the years . Don't get me wrong I have been winded many times but usually when I cut corners or use something new like boots or pack that I did not use scent control on and or wind shifted .Really what I came on to say is I mainly buy the product because for the price the clothing is well made well thought out for bow hunters and you get added scent control . If you get on there Email list you get some fantastic deals. I just wish they would make an insulated coverall or somebody would make . I think it would be great for saddle hunters also . I am no way affiliated with them wish I was then get the stuff for free

 

[BigAl]

I know older post by John Eberhart and a lot of stuff already said . I have been using Scentlok since they first started 30 plus years ago and must say from day one have always seen more deer. The Face mast most important. I still do watch the wind ,wash under clothes in scent free soap ,shower and brush teeth scent free soaps tooth paste. I do spray bottom of rubber Bogg boots with wildlife research or dead down wind I also rub bottom of boots in dirt way before I get to stand . Store everything air tight cabela's roll up bags and in totes. I reactivate in dryer every one to two weeks unless I sweat a lot then do more often . Really never wash unless have to . I don't go to high in tree and hunt only public land so sent control a must . I hunt for food not really for bone but have harvested my share of decent bucks . I have had deer within inches of me through the years . Don't get me wrong I have been winded many times but usually when I cut corners or use something new like boots or pack that I did not use scent control on and or wind shifted .Really what I came on to say is I mainly buy the product because for the price the clothing is well made well thought out for bow hunters and you get added scent control . If you get on there Email list you get some fantastic deals. I just wish they would make an insulated coverall or somebody would make . I think it would be great for saddle hunters also . I am no way affiliated with them wish I was then get the stuff for free

Great post.......the commitment to the system is sets people like you apart. Not all people are that committed to all that protocol you go through. Hats off to you for doing it so long.

 

[Davis21]

I think the science behind the idea is sound. And It seems that You have to be 100 percent committed or none at all. It seems like it takes ALOT of time and precaution to do it the right way. And that is probably why most people’s walls are bare compared to John. But what do you do when you have to work all day and then have an afternoon to hunt, without the time to run home and begin the process from the shower onward. Also, what about in the south where temps can be in the 80’s with 60-70 percent humidity? Those two issues seem to be the biggest hurdle southern hunters have to deal with??

 

[JAYBO]

I think the science behind the idea is sound. And It seems that You have to be 100 percent committed or none at all. It seems like it takes ALOT of time and precaution to do it the right way. And that is probably why most people’s walls are bare compared to John. But what do you do when you have to work all day and then have an afternoon to hunt, without the time to run home and begin the process from the shower onward. Also, what about in the south where temps can be in the 80’s with 60-70 percent humidity? Those two issues seem to be the biggest hurdle southern hunters have to deal with??

I think even John said that when your sweating heavyly, you don't stand a chance. I remember watching one of his recent videos and he made that comment.

 

[electricstart]

Early Season In NJ hard not to sweat. I try to slow down leave head net off until I get settled in . Good deodorant , scent free soap ,under armor under clothes that wicks and don't collect odor dry's fast . I do use scent lock aero hunter coveralls very light weight . ( still sweat though ) If to hot above 75 I just don't go out or use a ladder stand (easy in) .I wont use my climber or hang a stand when warm out .Have not tried saddle yet . One thing I do hate about the heat if you make a border line shot and it happens you will lose meat if you leave to long like over night .We have many coyotes so they will get them first anyway. I totally agree with John sweating a lot is not good.

 

[DMTJAGER]

As much as I respect John, and believe me when I tell you John Eberhart has influenced my hunting technique (and success) more than anyone ever, I have a strong dislike for all types of scent control garments, sprays, or anything pretty much with the possible exception of Buck and Doe Tarsel Gland and fresh deer urine. I feel most of them are gimmicks, and the ones that actually work, work with nominal results.

I truly believe carbon activated suits are oversold as far as ability is concerned. But my primary issue is simply that it is impossible to eliminate human scent completely. So with that said, if a hunter was to eliminate 90% of his or her scent on a given hunt, would a deer, any deer, not be able to smell you if it was to pass down wind.

A few years ago, I was so obsessed with scent control that it literally ruined the joy of the hunt. I was doing it all, keeping clothes outside, isolated from camp smells, washing them in pine-sol, using special soaps and sprays before a hunt. Heck I was even lining the seat of my truck with pine boughs so as not to make contact with the seat cloth driving in. It got crazy, so crazy, I was stressing constantly and finally realized one day I wasn't having fun anymore. Another big realization was that I wasn't doing any better on the deer as well.

Here's the best part. I have a friend who is a veteran police officer in one of the bigger Michigan cities and he had gotten in with the K9 unit. In a demonstration of a dog's nose ability, which we would all agree is on par with a deer's nose, the department had four of its officers do an experiment. A square mile was located and sequestered for the event. these guys had weeks to prepare for this by scouting the land and being allowed to use anything and everything to kill their scent, cover it, to trick their own family pets. On the day of the event, four officers went into this square mile to hide from their own dogs using every resource at their disposal, including a running stream about 10ft wide. Four hours later, their dogs were released into the same section of land. The longest it took of the four dogs to locate their master was 15 minutes. That really did it for me. I take a reasonable approach these days and hunt the wind proper as the mainstay of my efforts. I stay out of stand sites and woods during contrary breezes or not hunt at all. The results for me have been steady over this timeframe, and better than when I was in the fanatic stage of my career. Just some food for thought all.

I guess like Mr. Eberhart we will just have to politely agree to disagree in so much as I like Mr. Eberhart know that if properly and I do STRESS PROPERLY used activated carbon suits combined with a proper scent control system will work as advertised.

Where I will agree with you is it is A WHOLE LOT of work to get my scent control system to work properly. I have no way to scientifically prove my observations to anyone I have no video I only have my word and watching my milk weed float on the wind from me 20-25' up in a tree to the direction of the area the deer were standing or traveling in and through. In the last 12 deer seasons I have been able to hunt on private land for 9 of them and still used my same scent control system including activated charcoal clothing and suits. And I saw more than enough deer including mature bucks walk through what we hunters now refer to as out "scent cone" and yes some did react and got just enough scent to tell me they got of a hint of human scent strong enough to notice but not enough to bust me start blowing and haul a** away. I know it works that well because I have been successful to have killed a very good mature buck at least 4 years of age 3 of the last five years and continued to bow hunt in hopes of taking a delicious doe. Still practicing my scent control 100% but NOT wearing my activated carbon clothing but now paying very close attention to the wind and sure enough I got winded at least 20-30% of my sits due to very high deer density where I hunt. Bare in mind I have enough hunting clothing (under and outer ware) boots, release aids and even packs (if and when I use a pack) that I can hunt for 5 consecutive all day hunts without ever re-waring a single article of clothing and four days without ever reusing a release aid or bino harness. I know at times thermal currents and terrane features can and due control how the wind disperses our scent and sometimes it helps or even prevents us from getting winded and sometimes terrane and thermals cause us to get winded and I know it's not thermals, terrane or anything else that has kept me time after time from getting winded besides my scent control system combined with activated charcoal clothing when I wear ACC.

But yes it is a lot lot lot of work but my scent control system always was a lot of work even before I started using activated charcoal clothing. Including I wash and dry with single use only de-scented wash rags and towels, wear absolutely no hunting clothing or boots for the ride to or from my motel, only wear rubber boots, strip down to my birthday suit and get dressed in the field, yeah I know BUUURRRR touch none of my outer layers with my bare hands as I dress away from my truck, etc etc. Yes a lot of work.
Keep all my clothes in gasketed clamp shut air tight storage containers inside of garbage bags, wash and de-scent all my clothes and line dry for 3-4 days at least and so on and so on. That's not all of my scent control system but a fair over all synopsis.

In my 100% experienced based opinion if used correctly in concert with a proper scent control protocol activated carbon clothing will work as advertised. I can not prove it beyond a doubt to anyone but me, but weather or not it works only matters to those that use it.

Some times I think the arguments and feelings surrounding Activated charcoal clothing at times gets debated almost as much as mechanical's VS FBBH.

 

[Silvio]

I guess like Mr. Eberhart we will just have to politely agree to disagree in so much as I like Mr. Eberhart know that if properly and I do STRESS PROPERLY used activated carbon suits combined with a proper scent control system will work as advertised.

Where I will agree with you is it is A WHOLE LOT of work to get my scent control system to work properly. I have no way to scientifically prove my observations to anyone I have no video I only have my word and watching my milk weed float on the wind from me 20-25' up in a tree to the direction of the area the deer were standing or traveling in and through. In the last 12 deer seasons I have been able to hunt on private land for 9 of them and still used my same scent control system including activated charcoal clothing and suits. And I saw more than enough deer including mature bucks walk through what we hunters now refer to as out "scent cone" and yes some did react and got just enough scent to tell me they got of a hint of human scent strong enough to notice but not enough to bust me start blowing and haul a** away. I know it works that well because I have been successful to have killed a very good mature buck at least 4 years of age 3 of the last five years and continued to bow hunt in hopes of taking a delicious doe. Still practicing my scent control 100% but NOT wearing my activated carbon clothing but now paying very close attention to the wind and sure enough I got winded at least 20-30% of my sits due to very high deer density where I hunt. Bare in mind I have enough hunting clothing (under and outer ware) boots, release aids and even packs (if and when I use a pack) that I can hunt for 5 consecutive all day hunts without ever re-waring a single article of clothing and four days without ever reusing a release aid or bino harness. I know at times thermal currents and terrane features can and due control how the wind disperses our scent and sometimes it helps or even prevents us from getting winded and sometimes terrane and thermals cause us to get winded and I know it's not thermals, terrane or anything else that has kept me time after time from getting winded besides my scent control system combined with activated charcoal clothing when I wear ACC.

But yes it is a lot lot lot of work but my scent control system always was a lot of work even before I started using activated charcoal clothing. Including I wash and dry with single use only de-scented wash rags and towels, wear absolutely no hunting clothing or boots for the ride to or from my motel, only wear rubber boots, strip down to my birthday suit and get dressed in the field, yeah I know BUUURRRR touch none of my outer layers with my bare hands as I dress away from my truck, etc etc. Yes a lot of work.
Keep all my clothes in gasketed clamp shut air tight storage containers inside of garbage bags, wash and de-scent all my clothes and line dry for 3-4 days at least and so on and so on. That's not all of my scent control system but a fair over all synopsis.

In my 100% experienced based opinion if used correctly in concert with a proper scent control protocol activated carbon clothing will work as advertised. I can not prove it beyond a doubt to anyone but me, but weather or not it works only matters to those that use it.

Some times I think the arguments and feelings surrounding Activated charcoal clothing at times gets debated almost as much as mechanical's VS FBBH.

I'm going to chime in here, first let me say "seek to understand" is really the way to understand and set up a set up. Ok, carbon wear will give you an edge, but in highly concentrated deer populations that have been hunted very aggressively deer have been conditioned to recognize your scent as a danger. Why do I say this...first if all John hunts in Michigan primarily and is one of those states that represents extremely high hunting pressure. That hunting pressure can be measured in age class...just think about that for a moment...yes age class. Now let's consider deer populations that don't have extreme hunting pressure Ike many if the provinces of...Canada...and I'm going to use Iowa here in the states as an example....these places share one aspect others can't be compared to...they don't over exploit the younger age classes which in my experience sets the stage for recognizing your scent as a prescribed danger. In Canada I've had a mature buck nif my boot...and walk away...in Canada/ Iowa I've had numerous young and old bucks cruise thru my wind stream and never give it a thought...the answer is very simple "hunting pressure". Deer are conditioned over time and over generations. So the population your hunting is going to be different from Michigan to Alabama. I remember in my younger days Alabama was a place to shoot a buck a day...young buck harvest very high percentage....you actually can break thus down to states having over exploited young buck harvest to deer associating your human scent as an extreme danger...again those populations have been conditioned. Guys look at a state harvest data and you will realize the states that have the least amount of young buck harvest are the states that produce favorable deer populations that don't react negatively to your scent.
I agree, scent control can absorb and enslave every preparation move you make, but finding deer popultions that haven't been pressured is the best scent control you could ever consider...yes stay clean but recognize your states buck harvest data for what it is...in Michigan 78% of the buck yearling age class is shot off...when a deer hears your truck begin running from the field hes in, hears you walking, and smells danger no scent control is going to be the panacea for the season...

 

[Deerman406]

Unless John or anyone else can hold their breath the entire time on stand the scent regimen does little to help. I would love to have John film some hunts while releasing milkweed and it blowing directly at deer and see if they scent him. I am sorry he hunts the wind as much as anyone if not more. Shawn

 

[DroptineKrazy]

I'm going to chime in here, first let me say "seek to understand" is really the way to understand and set up a set up. Ok, carbon wear will give you an edge, but in highly concentrated deer populations that have been hunted very aggressively deer have been conditioned to recognize your scent as a danger. Why do I say this...first if all John hunts in Michigan primarily and is one of those states that represents extremely high hunting pressure. That hunting pressure can be measured in age class...just think about that for a moment...yes age class. Now let's consider deer populations that don't have extreme hunting pressure Ike many if the provinces of...Canada...and I'm going to use Iowa here in the states as an example....these places share one aspect others can't be compared to...they don't over exploit the younger age classes which in my experience sets the stage for recognizing your scent as a prescribed danger. In Canada I've had a mature buck nif my boot...and walk away...in Canada/ Iowa I've had numerous young and old bucks cruise thru my wind stream and never give it a thought...the answer is very simple "hunting pressure". Deer are conditioned over time and over generations. So the population your hunting is going to be different from Michigan to Alabama. I remember in my younger days Alabama was a place to shoot a buck a day...young buck harvest very high percentage....you actually can break thus down to states having over exploited young buck harvest to deer associating your human scent as an extreme danger...again those populations have been conditioned. Guys look at a state harvest data and you will realize the states that have the least amount of young buck harvest are the states that produce favorable deer populations that don't react negatively to your scent.
I agree, scent control can absorb and enslave every preparation move you make, but finding deer popultions that haven't been pressured is the best scent control you could ever consider...yes stay clean but recognize your states buck harvest data for what it is...in Michigan 78% of the buck yearling age class is shot off...when a deer hears your truck begin running from the field hes in, hears you walking, and smells danger no scent control is going to be the panacea for the season...

Very good point @Silvio . If the young ones aren't hunted and shot at the human scent won't spook them nearly as much. In my home state of Maine most of the hunters have a "if it's brown it's down" attitude therefor a very high percentage of bucks killed here are 1.5 year old. That is also why you hardly ever see deer around here out in the open fields during daylight during firearm season and that includes does. No matter where you hunt whitetails if you took 2 hunters out to the same woodlot to hunt with one of them practicing a strict scent control regime and one that hadn't bathed in 3 days they could both play the wind all they want but odds are the one that is less "stinky" will be successful a higher percentage than the other one.

 

[DroptineKrazy]

Unless John or anyone else can hold their breath the entire time on stand the scent regimen does little to help. I would love to have John film some hunts while releasing milkweed and it blowing directly at deer and see if they scent him. I am sorry he hunts the wind as much as anyone if not more. Shawn

You seem to make a lot of assumptions.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

You seem to make a lot of assumptions.

Yeah, maybe assuming that its the "odor(?)" of our breath as it comes from our lungs is what alarms deer. Could it be that its our MOUTH odor that our lungs transmit? If that is the case, then there would be a difference in the intensity of odor between someone with poor oral hygiene as opposed to someone with meticulous hygiene.
To an extent, we can control the levels and intensity of the odors we emit. The less we emit, the less intense odor busts will be.
I can't understand why that concept escapes some hunters.

 

[EricS]

Unless John or anyone else can hold their breath the entire time on stand the scent regimen does little to help. I would love to have John film some hunts while releasing milkweed and it blowing directly at deer and see if they scent him. I am sorry he hunts the wind as much as anyone if not more. Shawn

When It’s cold enough to see my breath it generally rises. That’s just until it cools to ambient of course. There’s a lot of unknown. I personally see positive results and don’t go through the full regimen that John and some of the others do.

 

[DroptineKrazy]

Yeah, maybe assuming that its the "odor(?)" of our breath as it comes from our lungs is what alarms deer. Could it be that its our MOUTH odor that our lungs transmit? If that is the case, then there would be a difference in the intensity of odor between someone with poor oral hygiene as opposed to someone with meticulous hygiene.
To an extent, we can control the levels and intensity of the odors we emit. The less we emit, the less intense odor busts will be.
I can't understand why that concept escapes some hunters.

I was actually referring to him assuming Eberharts success was due to playing the wind.

 

[DeadHeadSpread]

Scent lok works if used properly. Clean rubber boots work.. Do they make you 100% odorless? No. Over 90% less odor in the air? I think so. If you follow John E's routine it makes getting winded or ground scented almost non-existent. However, it's a ton of work and you've gotta be anal about everything. It's hard work and not real fun to do. This year I quit the scent control routine for all of my short 3-4 hour hunts. I had more fun just jumping into the woods to go hunting and playing the wind instead of spending the extra time to go through the scent control routine. But I did get blown at a few times. I did not get blown at on any of my long sits using strict scent control. I don't know why guys have to argue about it. If you want to put forth the money and effort then you can cheat the wind. If you'd rather be more strategic about your location and play the wind that works too.

 

[Deerman406]

I will pull a John here and tell you that I have bow killed over 200 deer and I did the entire scent thing. I mean to extremes that John does not even go too. Did it for 20 years. I than realized after seeing and watching a demonstration involving a bloodhoound. It made no difference what the person did that was trying to evade the dog. The dog found them either through groun scent or just circling down wind!! I no dount agree you can reduce your scent signature, but sorry not enough to fool older age class whitetails. Actually you are better off trying to disguise your odor than being scentfree. Guys are using misting techniques with pretty good success. Keep spending your hard earned money and doing what you are doing and I will save that money and hunt in a few good whitetail states each year and keep killing quality bucks year after year. Face it, if we as hunters could hunt every day of the season in areas that produce good bucks a lot of us would kill a good one each year. I have learned that very well the last 5 or 6 years. 7 bucks over 130"s in the last 5 years, why cause I hunt the wind and have had the time to hunt where big bucks live, not because of scent-lok, and sprays and oznics!! Shawn