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Masking your sounds?

Stevey220

Active Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2019
Messages
121
We all go to great extents to deaden unnatural sounds (metal clanking, zippers, velcro, etc) but there are other things no amount of stealth stripping or bicycle tubing can fix (sneezing, peeing, blowing your nose.....). What are your secret techniques for masking the "misc." sounds?

I will start with a couple of mine.

When I have to pee I try to wait for a good breeze and aim for a branch of leaves to simulate leaves rustling in the wind.

When I have to blow my nose I emulate a snort weez by doing a "two two" then blow my nose.

One time I tried to mask a cough by coughing into my grunt call. I do not recommend this. It sounded like a duck.... but more like a very loud 170lb duck. Not natural.

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Sometimes, if I'm walking in really crunch corn flake leaves, I'll break up my 1 - 2 step pattern by throwing in an extra step, dragging a foot momentarily, or using a walking stick. Anything that make it sound like you're NOT something on two legs. I've been able to walk up on deer slowly using this technique.
 
For sneezing and coughs I burry my face in my elbow as tight as I can get it... if executed correctly not much sound is produced and have done it with deer inside 20 yards with no negative effects. Zippers I try to pinch the slider on both sides and drag it a bit slower this muffles the zip sound a bit. Peeing, I just wait for a breeze or the squirrels to get loud and let it fly. Walking in on crunchy leaves or in water I move very deliberatly but slow focusing on heel down first and slowly roll to toe... slow is smooth smooth is fast type approach for sure makes it much quieter. I typically dont blow my nose while hunting but the snort wheeze idea mentioned above is a decent idea... for me I pinch my nose and suck in hard.
 
When I'm wearing gloves I just cup my hands over mouth and nose... muffles noise pretty well. I piss in an empty water bottle... not because of noise or scent but because I always end up pissing on my sticks or their straps. When I climb down I dump the piss bottles out. I don't think the scent matters at all. I spit Copenhagen all over the ground under me and have killed plenty of deer under 20yds so they don't seem to mind that smell either.
 
Walking in noisy leaves I like to stop frequently and use a diaphragm turkey call to call softly as I go. Only two legged creature deer ignore. If I forget the call I try to deer walk as G Fred Asbell describes in his book the, Stalking and Still Hunting book. Great read by the way.
 
Walking on crunchy leaves, I've heard letting out a fawn bleat was also supposed to be effective.

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Sometimes, if I'm walking in really crunch corn flake leaves, I'll break up my 1 - 2 step pattern by throwing in an extra step, dragging a foot momentarily, or using a walking stick. Anything that make it sound like you're NOT something on two legs. I've been able to walk up on deer slowly using this technique.

I feel like a walking stick it's the most underutilized tool. I use it to do a soft little stomp when I stop, clear spider webs, climb up creek banks, check the depth of water...
 
Completely exhale before you let the sneeze go. Brings it way down.
I have used a coyote call after getting busted, on the way home after the hunt. Maybe nearby deer that cant see or smell me might fall for it.
 
When I eat my granola bar, I hold it right in front of my mouth with both hands using just the fingertips. I take very small bites and nibble very fast to emulate the sound of a squirrel eating nuts.
That's a black belt trick because it actually doubles as a smell and sound attractant.

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This sounds crazy if you haven't done it, but when you are about to sneeze, holding your eyes open with your fingers will prevent you from sneezing.
 
This sounds crazy if you haven't done it, but when you are about to sneeze, holding your eyes open with your fingers will prevent you from sneezing.
I tried this..... it didn't work for me. Maybe my technique was wrong?

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