Smoke cover scent?

[I Am Gunz]

I was talking with a guy at work and he had mentioned that he “smokes” his clothes before hunting. Either he will put them out around a bon fire, or hang them by his wood burner. Has anyone else ever used this method? Has it worked for you? I guess I have never thought to use it as a cover scent. Let me know your thoughts/experiences.

 

[Lukem]

I use a bee smoker and smoke my clothes for WT hunting. Nothing is perfect, deer still wind you, but I get a lot more "oh well" responses from deer than without smoking.

 

[Swamp Fox]

Same. Bee smoker and wood chips bought in bulk. One treatment will last a good while.

Smoking also supposedly has some anti-bacterial properties, so it's not just a matter of applying a masking scent. It may help "eliminate" some stank or the development of some stank, too.

I started doing it about 10 years ago, after I began to feel my normal scent control regime had taken a dive (too much gear to tend meticulously, taking shortcuts while traveling or camping, letting scruffy barn cats in the house after they had reached a certain age and the weather turned, etc. ---LOL).

I still bag and box my gear, spray down with a scent killer, avoid wearing my hunting clothes and boots in stinky places, and all the other stuff, but smoking has become just as important.

Try it, you'll like it.

 

[huntcookwrite]

I almost always burn a pinecone before I walk into the woods — confirms wind direction and also gives a little cover scent.

For whatever reason, animals don’t seem to mind the smell of smoke. It won’t negate your human scent, but I’ve heard it “muddles” it — so rather than smelling super fresh, it might smell to them like you were there a day or two ago.

I also like the ritual.

 

[Poser]

If it makes you feel better go for it, but the nose of a deer, elk etc is easily capable of separating/parsing out different scents. They smell the smoke, they smell your deodorant, they smell your toothpaste, they smell your boot leather, they smell the the Nikwax on your gaiters. Smoke doesn't "cover up" anything.

 

[camping1601]

I tried it and down wind deer still smelled me and it always made me hungry for bbq. I don't do it anymore.

 

[Cdnance]

I prefer to use Marlboro Reds. I find they work best!

 

[Poser]

I prefer to use Marlboro Reds. I find they work best!

The rich man's cover scent.