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Storing Hunting Gear in plastic bags

S

sad_story

Active Member
Joined
Oct 17, 2018
Messages
137
I’ve been fortunate enough over the years that I’ve been able to store my hunting gear off-season hanging up pretty much outdoors.

However, I am moving, and looking at storage solutions for my hunting gear. I’ve been looking at those airtight, vacuum seal bags, the ones that you use a vacuum cleaner to suck the air out and it compresses everything.

My question is do I need to do anything to the bags prior to packing my hunting gear? As in does the plastic odor, new plastic smell need to be mitigated prior to packing?

Are there any additional tips to packing in plastic bags?
 
I store my gear including saddles, ropes, packs etc. in totes in my shed so mice don’t eat it. Platforms, sticks, etc. hang on the wall in my shed. My bows are in my house hanging; my guns are in the safe except my sidearm and one REM 870 12 ga. loaded with buckshot is always available for uninvited guests. The rest are in my safe(s). I don’t store any hunting gear in my garage due to potential exposure to fumes.
 
Understood thanks!

I’m specifically asking about using the plastic storage bags, do they need any kind of preparation to be de-scented or can they be used as is?
 
sad_story said:
Understood thanks!

I’m specifically asking about using the plastic storage bags, do they need any kind of preparation to be de-scented or can they be used as is?
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It depends upon you.

I just use garbage bags that don't have an added scent.

But I'm not worried about a little lingering plastic bag smell.

There's no definitive proof on this or studies. Just a bunch of anecdotes from different guys and how careful you personally want to be.

If you want to go all in, you can buy the expensive bags from ScentLok or some other maker.
 
raisins said:
It depends upon you.

I just use garbage bags that don't have an added scent.

But I'm not worried about a little lingering plastic bag smell.

There's no definitive proof on this or studies. Just a bunch of anecdotes from different guys and how careful you personally want to be.

If you want to go all in, you can buy the expensive bags from ScentLok or some other maker.
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PS....soaking your bags in something like activated carbon slurry or baking soda slurry would probably help the scent.....but I believe that typical plastics (that aren't treated or specially for food or something) might continually off gas volatile compounds for a bit (why your new car smell doesn't go away the first time you clean interior)
 
One thing I learned was if I pack branches (as in pine) in my plastic you don't want to seal it air tight. My branches mildewed and leaked sap where they'd been trimmed. I'll bet clothes in totes, with branches would work. Sorry, not much experience with the sealed vacuum-packed.
 
i'm not a scent control guy, but i highly doubt you'd have any noticeable smell transferring from the bags to your clothes. if you're really worried just get them out a week or so before season and hang em outside for a day or two. (is this a long term storage solution or just a during the move need?) or spend a bunch of money one an ozone setup and "treat" them with that when you take them out. (i think those things are a waste of money personally) good luck with the move.

edit to add: the mold/moldew thing is your real concern. make sure your clothes are bone dry/ possibly invest in dessicant packs to make sure they dont mildew in the bags
 
I don’t store anything with scent at all just hang out before I hunt and try to do the best I can with wind direction. Ideally, I wash my clothes in the Atsko detergent then hang it outside to air dry and then pack it in my totes. Stuff cleaned and hung to dry and stored just gets used or I will hang it out to air for a day or two before opening day. When both t drying or being used my clothes are in my clean totes with no additional scents of any kind.

For the first time in my life ( for the 23 season) I bought a scent-lok suit this spring on sale for 60% off and am going to try it. I believe it’s their Revenant series top and bottom and will throw that in the dryer before I hunt with it and keep it in clean totes otherwise.
 
I would worry less about smells and more about mold. Some materials attract moisture and will mold like crazy in a humid environment. A plastic tote won’t keep out the moisture either. Leather is really bad about molding. Lots of factors, where you live, etc. but something to be aware of. Good Luck!
 
2Sloe said:
I would worry less about smells and more about mold. Some materials attract moisture and will mold like crazy in a humid environment. A plastic tote won’t keep out the moisture either. Leather is really bad about molding. Lots of factors, where you live, etc. but something to be aware of. Good Luck!
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I put some hunting clothes right out of the dryer (still warm) into a sealed garbage bag...next day I opened it and the hot air of the clothes could hold more moisture and as they cooled the entire inside of the garbage bag was covered in water.

I'm glad I caught this and let them air out. I also now let my clothes fully cool in the dryer before dealing with them.

This is probably Home Ec 101, but I did a dew point experiment with my hunting clothes.
 
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Like @woodsdog2 Im new to scentlok, about a year into it… but storing clothes the same way I have been for years. when I really have my act together (beginning of season), different kits are stored in vacuum bags inside rubber sealed totes. I keep a few extra plastic bags available for lightly used clothes. For lofty layers I don’t squish the bags down as much to avoid compressing the insulation. But I can’t tell you if the deers can smell my plastic or not.
 
I'd also be concerned about compromising the insulating ability of any clothes stored in vacuum seal bags. Insulation operates largely by trapping air in the little material, and you might reduce that ability.
 
2Sloe said:
I would worry less about smells and more about mold. Some materials attract moisture and will mold like crazy in a humid environment. A plastic tote won’t keep out the moisture either. Leather is really bad about molding. Lots of factors, where you live, etc. but something to be aware of. Good Luck!
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Yes never put away anything wet or damp. During the season if my gear gets wet and it’s raining or snowing here I’ll either hang it on a clothesline line on my covered porch or if it’s just too damp or cold I drape my stuff over a collapsible clothes hanger made out of wood dowels and hang my ropes, saddle and packs and clothes on that in my shop where I have a space heater going or a dehumidifier it keeps everything dry and mildew free. During the season my shop is a mess because all of my gear is constantly being dried etc. if the weather is bad. I’ll change out my tether and lineman’s belt lines if the others have been soaked from the evening before and still not dried out. I never put anything near a flame or high level heat source just place them in a warm room with the door closed to increase the heat level in that room. It works in gun safes so I figured why not for other applications???
 
depends on the brand of bag you wind up getting, I'm sure the V.O.C. content in different brands is different. I would look at activated carbon packs and desiccant packs to add to each bag for a pretty good way of controlling odor and moisture. you could also just dump some baking soda in the bottom of the bags for odor control
 
woodsdog2 said:
Yes never put away anything wet or damp. During the season if my gear gets wet and it’s raining or snowing here I’ll either hang it on a clothesline line on my covered porch or if it’s just too damp or cold I drape my stuff over a collapsible clothes hanger made out of wood dowels and hang my ropes, saddle and packs and clothes on that in my shop where I have a space heater going or a dehumidifier it keeps everything dry and mildew free. During the season my shop is a mess because all of my gear is constantly being dried etc. if the weather is bad. I’ll change out my tether and lineman’s belt lines if the others have been soaked from the evening before and still not dried out. I never put anything near a flame or high level heat source just place them in a warm room with the door closed to increase the heat level in that room. It works in gun safes so I figured why not for other applications???
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Adding a fan to blow on your gear will really speed up the dry time.

I really like having a backup saddle/tether/linesman for this reason. If it is going to rain a day or two, I'll often wear the backup those days and switch back to the main while it dries.
 
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