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.

 

[I Am Gunz]

It sure seems after reading all this that I definitely don’t think it would hurt. Might as well give it a whirl then.

 

[Matt5266]

Not the same thing but years ago I archery elk hunted very close to a wildfire. The woods were filled with smoke in the air. Best elk hunting ive ever had. Elk were running into cow call from all direction trying to locate their friends. It certainly cover human scent many just kept walking 360 degrees around me looking for the cow call.

 

[nubraskan]

I used to know some guys who hunted with dogs, they said they would try to avoid burn areas because it would mess with their smell for a couple days. Stands to reason that the smoke smell would have a somewhat similar effect, probably just not as intense.

 

[jayhawk]

My night before the hunt ritual provides a nice “burnt woodland pine” and “cheap beer with skoal” scent that drives big bucks wild

 

[Pulleye16]

I spray myself down with liquid smoke

 

[Acharenio]

the wind is your friend.

 

[Brushcreekbill]

I know that after being at camp a couple of days and sitting next to the fire…..seem like it helps.

But I still have to play the wind

 

[dtrkyman]

I tried it for a season, did not work for me.

 

[.204smokechaser]

I was with a hunting buddy who was smoking a bowl yesterday right before I shot an elk. I think that kind of smoke scent seems to work. I can’t try doing that though since I get drug tested.

 

[Ucsdryder]

As said, it’s all a joke. Keep them from getting your wind or your cooked.

That being said, I remember as a kid smearing that cow in heat goo all over my boots and pack. Then when I came across the first elk bed I’d rub my hat in the elk piss. I walked all over the woods nauseous. That cow in heat shit would make your stomach turn.

When I finally gave up on that stupid shit I actually started smelling real elk.

 

[Shark943]

Yeah, I've done it for years with my camo hang 'em near the woodstove overnight or let 'em catch a little campfire smoke. Deer don't spook from that natural woodsy smell like they do from laundry detergent or human stink. Works way better than store bought cover scents for me.

 

[sodaksooner]

place I used to hunt, they would burn cattails on field edges after harvest. We'd smoke our stuff in cattail smoke from a little bonfire. Seemed to help.