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Leaving gear at base of tree

A deer is not going to see it whether it's at the base or hung up beside you. As for the scent, I'm not a scent control guy whatsoever but my pack is one of the stinkiest things I own and I'd rather have that up high where than on the ground where the air currents are completely different.
 
ImThere said:
I don’t even want to disturb the ground enough to cover it up with leaves. Not sure it matters but in my head it does.


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Makes good sense. Hunting cottonwoods in Nebraska, most have Russian olives or cedars at the base, so it's pretty good coverage at ground level. Now that I'm a saddle guy, got even less great with me
 
Just not a good idea on any level with me. Deer have such a keen sense of smell I`m afraid to touch anything unnecessarily or leave anything at ground level anywhere near me .
 
When I carry my big pack, I usually stash it a fair distance before I get to my tree. Far enough away, and in a spot where I'm not worrying about scent, but close enough that I can get to it if I need it. Word of advice, mark it's location so you can find it in the dark.

Anything that I bring to my tree goes up with me.
 
I left the strap that help the top and bottom of a summit climber together at the bottom of a tree one time and had a doe turn inside out because she saw or smelled the strap. Deer around here are ridiculously nervous. I try not to leave anything laying around that might spook them.
 
I wouldn’t leave anything on the ground lol I’ve had deer come right under me and sniff around the base of the tree few times.
I dropped an arrow once and a button buck came and started sniffing it from broadhead to nock


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Curious, how do guys who are sitting on the ground kill deer? If the deer make it that close to my tree, they hit the lottery and were getting a pass. Realistically, I consider every deer in the woods "Dead deer walking", so once I decide I'm shooting, they won't get close enough to my stuff on the ground to notice.
 
How do you kill deer on the ground? Have a decent cover and wind in your favor. A ground set up should be very specific for where a deer will pass, if you are sitting in the open woods like your backpack would be then you won’t kill much. And a deer that comes in at say 20 yards, may be out of your scent path from height but something you leave in the ground goes right to them. It is generally poor practice and may be the difference in a successful hunt. Deer are keen and notice damn near anything that is out of place in the woods, why do anything that aids in them possibly getting you figured out before you can kill them. Just my opinion, happy hunting


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shwacker said:
How do you kill deer on the ground? Have a decent cover and wind in your favor. A ground set up should be very specific for where a deer will pass, if you are sitting in the open woods like your backpack would be then you won’t kill much. And a deer that comes in at say 20 yards, may be out of your scent path from height but something you leave in the ground goes right to them. It is generally poor practice and may be the difference in a successful hunt. Deer are keen and notice damn near anything that is out of place in the woods, why do anything that aids in them possibly getting you figured out before you can kill them. Just my opinion, happy hunting


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I was being sarcastic. Plenty of deer have been killed from the ground. The game plan for wind remains the same whether on the ground or 20 feet up. Just curious, do you guys take your climbing methods up behind you too? First 2 sticks are going to be pretty darn low and sticks / straps will have your scent and are noticeable. My opinion, seems like it's being overthought a little much. With that said, if it works for you, have at it.
 
All my equipment goes through the same regimen . I always use rubber gloves or scentlok gloves when handling or climbing with my sticks and aiders. My sticks are left outside most of the year in totes and my aiders washed and stored scent free . I`m doing pretty much what I can . I get deer feeding under me and they don't get spooked by my stuff that I know of. There's always that day when no deer show up and you wonder! Who really knows?
 
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here’s the photo of the button buck I was talking about


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Almost everyone practices scent control. Even if you don’t do anything to minimize scent you are still trying to control where it’s going. Having a small pack at the base of the tree produces another scent cone. Depending on the air currents you have the potential to increase your scent footprint by 10-25% or more. I guess it really depends on how you hunt and if you consider everything in a down wind direction as contaminated. I personally put in too much work to risk even a 10 percent chance at ruining a hunt over not having to manage a backpack in a tree.
 
Even the people that say they don’t practice scent control do. They aren’t wearing camo at work and walking in to the woods. They probably aren’t washing it it Tide either.
I would say 99.99% of hunters at least wash there clothes in scent free soap and keep them in totes. There fore practice scent control.

Another thing where your scent is going 20-25’ up will be completely different from ground level


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I gun hunt in November. It’s usually a hilly hour or so hike in. We run dogs. So getting into position on time is important and sweat is a problem. Also the gun case is not coming up the tree.
I use an unscented garbage bag to place items in and clip it shut.
Does it work? I dunno. But it makes me feel better.


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I don’t worry about it since my scent is already at the base of the tree. It all depends on the deer. Some completely freak out at the slightest trace amount of scent and others are almost curious and will linger around checking things out. I actually killed a buck that was sniffing my pack left at the base of the tree. He checked it out for quite awhile, walked 10 yards and I killed him with a perfect broadside shot.
 
Dewey said:
I don’t worry about it since my scent is already at the base of the tree. It all depends on the deer. Some completely freak out at the slightest trace amount of scent and others are almost curious and will linger around checking things out. I actually killed a buck that was sniffing my pack left at the base of the tree. He checked it out for quite awhile, walked 10 yards and I killed him with a perfect broadside shot.
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True two years ago I had a decent buck put his nose right up to the base of the tree sniffing it he then jumped back and forgot about it and lingered around till dark I could have shot him a few times but didn’t just wasn’t sure if he was quality. This past October I dropped my hat and a button buck came and sniffed around it didn’t seem to faze him


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