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HOT Weather Scent Control

ssramage

Active Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2020
Messages
191
Location
Saint Simons Island, GA
What do you guys do in the heat? In Southeast Georgia, we'll still be very hot and humid at the opener. Obviously playing the wind is important, but sometimes it's not 100% possible down here, especially on those days with light winds.

Any other tips/tricks/products to consider for us big dudes that sweat in the heat?
 
I don't think it's possible to implement scent control in a meaningful way if you're dealing with 80°+ temps, no wind, and high humidity. I just stay out of my traditional honey holes, hunt new areas, and accept that I will get busted. A lot of times it's more fruitful to stalk hunt pigs or squirrel hunt.

All that said, it's worth remembering some deer are stupid. Early season I hunt stupid deer.
 
I don't think it's possible to implement scent control in a meaningful way if you're dealing with 80°+ temps, no wind, and high humidity. I just stay out of my traditional honey holes, hunt new areas, and accept that I will get busted. A lot of times it's more fruitful to stalk hunt pigs or squirrel hunt.

All that said, it's worth remembering some deer are stupid. Early season I hunt stupid deer.

Ha! You just described 75% of our season in SEGA. I've hunted in shorts in Nov before.
 
Ha! You just described 75% of our season in SEGA. I've hunted in shorts in Nov before.
Yep. We usually don't get cold weather until after Christmas.

All I can tell you is I do have a "system" but it focuses more on me being comfortable, with scent reduction as a side-effect.

First of all, I do not wear cotton. Polyester is preferred, nylon is acceptable. Synthetics don't hold sweat as bad or feel as miserable when wet. I generally wear performance t shirts and thin, ripstop poly long pants. Be careful of camo and make sure it isn't printed on in a way that will impede the breathability of the garment. Cotton socks and underoos are definitely a do-not-even-consider.

I keep my hair cut short, and generally shave facial hair or keep it buzzed short. I also think it's helpful to shave pits and pubes. I apply scent-free (not hunting stuff, just hypoallergenic, cheaper that way) deodorant to my underarms, groin, and usually feet. This keeps things dry and to some extent obviously reduces odor.

Mainly, it's about staying clean, dry, and fresh feeling for me. I generally undo any scent-reduction by covering myself in 98% DEET.
 
I usually don't hunt if its too hot here, the deer don't seem to move much, and I usually can find something cooler to occupy my time with. Even once it get cooler though I agree with NutterBuster, buzz, deodorant, but I had that I really douse myself in scent free powder. Head, neck, back, crack, front, feet, everywhere. It really seems to keep me pretty dry so that I don't sweat up on the way in and then get cold once on stand.
 
I think one of the benefits of saddle hunting is that you can easily position yourself on the shade side of the tree. With a hang-on or ladder stand, you are pretty much stuck on the same side of the tree all day long and its often on the hot side.
I also like it for cold weather hunting because I can absorb a little heat from the sun on those cold, sunny mornings. There are cold mornings that I can't wait for the sun to poke up over the ridge. Sitting in a hang-on in hot weather, I sometimes can't wait until the sun sets. Saddles can help us moderate our temps.

I don't hunt the kinds of temps that you southern guys do so I'm not the best guy to comment on hot weather clothing for hunting, but I do spend a lot of time in a canoe in hot weather. One piece of clothes that I like is the zip-off, convertible pant/shorts. You don't even have to remove the legs to maximize cooling. Just zip the legs open 75% and let the heat out and air in.
And not all synthetic clothes are equal when it comes to skank resistance. Some stuff gets nasty. I like the stuff with silver, or other anti-microbial properties manufactured into the fabric.

I have a bunch of sweat bands that are a little sponge on an elastic cord. I double them up and flip them back and forth as the one against my skin gets saturated. Nothing worse than sweat running in the eyes.

Freeze a water bottled top it off with a little water. It will thaw at a nice rate during the day and give you a nice cold sip.

I've never carried those disposable ice bags that are used for 1st aid but I guess they could be the hot weather version of a chemical hand warmer.
 
In NC it seems deer season is over before it gets cold and sometimes duck season is over before it gets the coldest and it SUCKS!!!!!
 
Just found a way for my wife to look forward to hunting season.
First time I swaggered up the the bed after putting the boys under the knife, she looked at me, narrowed her eyes and said, "I know it has to have something to do with deer hunting."

Anywho....less hair makes a lot of outdoor activities more pleasant. I think there's definitely a reason most natives plucked and shaved. Cleaner, cooler, easier to check for ticks...lots of advantages. Also makes the ole baby wipe bath way more effective.
 
It’s still in the 90’s here. I just try to limit myself to 2-3 hour hunts. I wear scentlok and believe it helps even in warm weather but it’s definitely not foolproof. I would stay out of the woods all together but I just see too many deer during early season not to hunt it.
 
It’s still in the 90’s here. I just try to limit myself to 2-3 hour hunts. I wear scentlok and believe it helps even in warm weather but it’s definitely not foolproof. I would stay out of the woods all together but I just see too many deer during early season not to hunt it.
I have a savanna suit, but that stuff is like death in the heat. And it soaks up water like a sponge. I'm sure activated carbon is awesome stuff, but when I can wring sweat out of it I begin to question why I brought it.

Maybe if you bought the powder and just dusted your body with it?
 
I have a savanna suit, but that stuff is like death in the heat. And it soaks up water like a sponge. I'm sure activated carbon is awesome stuff, but when I can wring sweat out of it I begin to question why I brought it.

Maybe if you bought the powder and just dusted your body with it?
It’s not terrible if you can get to the tree and climb without heating up. Ten I’ve got everything unzipped trying to cool off. I only wear it for presets and I’m not walking more than a few hundred yards in it before Halloween.
 
Check out the Kuiu Tiburon I think it is pants. Super light weight, hip vents, pit zips, I bought a set second hand from archery talk and man do I love them for turkey season.
 
Ha! You just described 75% of our season in SEGA. I've hunted in shorts in Nov before.

I hear ya! 80 degrees is a dream in South GA at the opener :). 85-100 is generally what I expect. I hunt southwest GA and its damn hot well into firearm season. I wear sport shorts and t shirt with a lightweight 3d leafy suit. Scent control impossible but staying as cool as possible helps. Changing up my cover scent seems to work a bit. Deer smell better than german shepards though. You aren't going to fool them. White wood ash from a campfire has been recommended to me by a primitive skills friend of mine. When cool and DRY apply to skin. Do NOT apply to wet skin as it will burn. He said wouldnt matter if I sweat later for some reason. He said to use black ash on groin and armpits white everywhere else. Sounds like a lot of work that will get a ton of odd looks from everyone I hunt with but might try it this year.

My brother is a big believer in the evercalm stuff. Might try that this year too.
 
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I was hoping for some more tips here. We hike in wearing baggies (board shorts) down here in Central Florida. Soaked by the time we are in the tree.. gonna try the wipes this year... might slip into scentlock after cool down. First season with scentlock so we'll see..
 
White wood ash from a campfire has been recommended to me by a primitive skills friend of mine. When cool and DRY apply to skin. Do NOT apply to wet skin as it will burn. He said wouldnt matter if I sweat later for some reason. He said to use black ash on groin and armpits white everywhere else.
Can't wait to hear how this goes...
 
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