I wanted to post this for informational purposes and for those who are on the fence about investing in an elaborate scent control regimen. These experiences are mine alone and I don't intend to advocate or discredit anything. I just wanted to share my experiences and I'll try to keep it short.....
2010-2017:
In 2010 began to make an effort to cover my scent. Before this I never really gave it a whole lot of thought. I began to purchase and religiously utilize products such as scent free detergents, field sprays, air tight containers, and cover scents. I never thought it would work completely but I thought it may help and could be the difference between killing and not killing a deer. During this time if I didn't have "clean clothes" to hunt in I would rather not go. I became somewhat dependent on the idea of "hunting clean". Keep in mind I also hunt in the South and you begin to sweat the moment you step out of the truck. Needless to say, throughout this time period I got winded. A lot. Either by a deer getting my wind or by a deer crossing my entry route. After this happening so many times I wanted to make a huge change and immersed myself in information put out by John Eberhart. I studied everything he did and decided to dive in head first with scentlok.
2018:
For me this was a season of experimentation. I learned a lot. I had a complete early season suit and a mid season suit with all required accessories to use it properly to include the gloves and facemask. I cared for it and used it EXACTLY like John E says to and it became an obsession to keep it in ready to hunt mode. It was constant work but if it worked to me it would be worth it. No matter how hot it would be early season (sometimes in the 90s) I would at a minimum be wearing a full scentlok early season suit with rubber boots, never taking my facemask or gloves off. I had mixed experiences with it. To sum it all up I seemed to still get winded by older deer but I would have younger deer meandering around under my tree with no clue I was there. Honestly, it took a lot of the fun out of hunting for me. At home, I was constantly tending to my scentlok garments or washing other gear in scent free detergent and ensuring my containers stayed sealed at all times. Hunting in that stuff in the heat was miserable. Hunting was becoming a stressful second full time job for me. I finished the season and that was that.
2019:
This year I conducted my first bowhunt in September in a full scentlok suit. While in the tree I thought to myself I'm not doing this anymore. Weather it works or not this just isn't for me. Hunting should be fun and it just wasn't anymore. I got home from that hunt and threw my scentlok stuff in a tote and decided I was done. Following that decision I have been running another experiment. The exact opposite actually. I don't wear scentlok anything and most of the time I haven't washed my clothes in a few hunts since the weather has cooled down . This year, taking the Dan Infalt approach, I have had more fun than ever hunting and scouting, seen more deer, and spent a whole lot less money. This season I feel like I have learned so much by getting away from the trickery and just employing old school woodsmanship, playing the wind, and forgetting everything else. I have learned that keeping the wind and thermals in your favor is the only form of scent control that is guaranteed to work. When I got my first still hunting kill, I was covered in sweat, hadn't showered in two days, and was wearing leather boots. The doe was so close I could lob a rock underhand and hit her. I killed her standing beside her at 15 yards with the wind in my favor. She had no clue I was there. I have had a bunch of other encounters like this, this season all without one ounce of scent control.
I didn't post this to detract anyone from employing any form of scent control. I wanted to share my experiences and what I have learned by not using it. I also wanted to inform those who are on the fence about buying scent control items that you do not have to spend the money on that stuff to kill deer. Playing the wind and pre planning your routes is free and adds to the experience. Hope this helps anyone who is interested.
2010-2017:
In 2010 began to make an effort to cover my scent. Before this I never really gave it a whole lot of thought. I began to purchase and religiously utilize products such as scent free detergents, field sprays, air tight containers, and cover scents. I never thought it would work completely but I thought it may help and could be the difference between killing and not killing a deer. During this time if I didn't have "clean clothes" to hunt in I would rather not go. I became somewhat dependent on the idea of "hunting clean". Keep in mind I also hunt in the South and you begin to sweat the moment you step out of the truck. Needless to say, throughout this time period I got winded. A lot. Either by a deer getting my wind or by a deer crossing my entry route. After this happening so many times I wanted to make a huge change and immersed myself in information put out by John Eberhart. I studied everything he did and decided to dive in head first with scentlok.
2018:
For me this was a season of experimentation. I learned a lot. I had a complete early season suit and a mid season suit with all required accessories to use it properly to include the gloves and facemask. I cared for it and used it EXACTLY like John E says to and it became an obsession to keep it in ready to hunt mode. It was constant work but if it worked to me it would be worth it. No matter how hot it would be early season (sometimes in the 90s) I would at a minimum be wearing a full scentlok early season suit with rubber boots, never taking my facemask or gloves off. I had mixed experiences with it. To sum it all up I seemed to still get winded by older deer but I would have younger deer meandering around under my tree with no clue I was there. Honestly, it took a lot of the fun out of hunting for me. At home, I was constantly tending to my scentlok garments or washing other gear in scent free detergent and ensuring my containers stayed sealed at all times. Hunting in that stuff in the heat was miserable. Hunting was becoming a stressful second full time job for me. I finished the season and that was that.
2019:
This year I conducted my first bowhunt in September in a full scentlok suit. While in the tree I thought to myself I'm not doing this anymore. Weather it works or not this just isn't for me. Hunting should be fun and it just wasn't anymore. I got home from that hunt and threw my scentlok stuff in a tote and decided I was done. Following that decision I have been running another experiment. The exact opposite actually. I don't wear scentlok anything and most of the time I haven't washed my clothes in a few hunts since the weather has cooled down . This year, taking the Dan Infalt approach, I have had more fun than ever hunting and scouting, seen more deer, and spent a whole lot less money. This season I feel like I have learned so much by getting away from the trickery and just employing old school woodsmanship, playing the wind, and forgetting everything else. I have learned that keeping the wind and thermals in your favor is the only form of scent control that is guaranteed to work. When I got my first still hunting kill, I was covered in sweat, hadn't showered in two days, and was wearing leather boots. The doe was so close I could lob a rock underhand and hit her. I killed her standing beside her at 15 yards with the wind in my favor. She had no clue I was there. I have had a bunch of other encounters like this, this season all without one ounce of scent control.
I didn't post this to detract anyone from employing any form of scent control. I wanted to share my experiences and what I have learned by not using it. I also wanted to inform those who are on the fence about buying scent control items that you do not have to spend the money on that stuff to kill deer. Playing the wind and pre planning your routes is free and adds to the experience. Hope this helps anyone who is interested.
