- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Deer Scents
Posted on 10/25/23 at 9:27 am
Posted on 10/25/23 at 9:27 am
A couple of the members of our bow hunting group, (all public land in Missouri) are fanatical about the use of certain deer scents. I have not used any for years. Last thing I remember using was something in a white bottle, Pete somebody? That was back in the 70's. Anyway, they swear by a product called EverCalm. These days I consider all these products a way to separate hunters from their cash.. I'm open to being wrong, anyone have any experiences with scents that really work?
Posted on 10/25/23 at 9:41 am to mcpotiger
Ask any police officer who uses drug dogs. People often try to mask the scent of something with another more powerful scent. The problem is that the dogs can disseminate both scents. Deer are no different. Therefore, I do not buy the "cover scent" premise. As far as attractants go, I'm not sure how effective they are, but I'm sure your human odor will be mixed in with it. I'm interested to hear if anything works.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 10:22 am to mcpotiger
Hunt the wind like grand pow pow taught me. Cover scents are a joke and a waste of money
Posted on 10/25/23 at 11:07 am to Bama and Beer
quote:
Hunt the wind like grand pow pow taught me. Cover scents are a joke and a waste of money
You mean you don't wear your Scent Loc suit and "Forget the wind, Just Hunt"?
agree 100% Wind direction is the most important thing in your hunts.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 11:48 am to EarlyBird
quote:
People often try to mask the scent of something with another more powerful scent. The problem is that the dogs can disseminate both scents. Deer are no different. Therefore, I do not buy the "cover scent" premise
All true, deer can smell like we can see color and adding another scent doesn’t accomplish much but there may be something to the evercalm. Blood trackers will tell you the dogs aren’t following blood, they’re following stress hormones from the interdigital glands. That’s why a good tracking dog can cross multiple deer trails and stay on the scent. Evercalm is marketed as the other hormones, ones that the same gland emits when they feel content and safe, so there may be something to it making them feel more comfortable and less spooky in bow range if placed where they can smell it and not you. No idea if it actually works, it’s just sitting in a grey area between cover scent and attractant. There’s some evidence now that deer can identify each other by that hormone signature and do so in scrapes, so even if it does work it may put them on edge that a new deer has showed up.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 12:23 pm to TheDrunkenTigah
How many scent-related fads have come and gone? Activated charcoal, then everything was embedded or lined with silver threads. This is another with just enough "science" attached to convince people to spend money.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 1:16 pm to mcpotiger
I dont use cover scents. I do use the scent away laundry detergent just so i dont have sweet laundry scent lol. Also use the scent away deoderant so i dont have old spice blazing. But no cover scent
Posted on 10/25/23 at 1:24 pm to oleyeller
quote:
I do use the scent away laundry detergent just so i dont have sweet laundry scent lol. Also use the scent away deoderant so i dont have old spice blazing. But no cover scent
Same. I don't think is keeps deer from smelling you but it doesn't hurt to keep from smelling like Tide. Any limiting factor helps some but no 100%
I also think those detergents are good as they don't have UV brighteners in them.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 1:59 pm to mcpotiger
Any scent is going to put the deer on alert.
You are better off with them calm and cruising / feeding.
You are better off with them calm and cruising / feeding.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 2:01 pm to SoFla Tideroller
quote:
How many scent-related fads have come and gone? Activated charcoal, then everything was embedded or lined with silver threads. This is another with just enough "science" attached to convince people to spend money.
I don’t use it or own stock in the company, just that the particular science attached to this one is pretty interesting and may make you a better hunter to understand it, as opposed to the complete bullshite that’s usually trotted out like these clothes give you a fkn EMP shield. Every once in awhile one will touch on something that’s useful, in this case that deer convey info to one another about danger or the lack thereof through scent as much or more than blowing or flagging. UV brighteners in most household detergents have been proven to make you contrast against a backdrop and easier for a deer to spot. You don’t need the $30/gal bottle of detergent with a deer on it or a bottle of “UV Killer” spray, you just buy the cheap “free and clear” stuff that doesn’t have brighteners added, and wash your hunting clothes in that.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 2:06 pm to TigerDeacon
quote:
also think those detergents are good as they don't have UV brighteners in them.
Not arguing, but the brighteners do add cost to normal detergents since they’re there to make clothes look better. Some of the cheapest stuff on the shelf at the grocery store will do the same.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 2:08 pm to mcpotiger
quote:
Anyway, they swear by a product called EverCalm
I have used evercalm and still use it occasionally. I have watched younger spikes yearling does following it right up to my tree.
I have also had same age class come to the base of my tree smelling tobacco juice spit.
I have zero evedience it works on mature deer.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 2:09 pm to oleyeller
quote:
I dont use cover scents. I do use the scent away laundry detergent just so i dont have sweet laundry scent lol. Also use the scent away deoderant so i dont have old spice blazing. But no cover scent
I do the same. I try to not be super scent loud.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 3:47 pm to Ol boy
I sweat profusely and for years had issues of deer catching my wind and spooking. I found a stick (looked like a deodorant stick) of the evercalm in the woods on a well used management area a few years ago. Gave it a try that season and had an increase in close encounters with deer even with swirling winds. Still get the occasional “blow” when I’m sweating my arse off and a deer comes from downwind.
Does it work 100% of the time? No. Does it help? For me I think so. Since using it I have been able to watch deer do deer things in close proximity at a much higher rate than before.
Does it work 100% of the time? No. Does it help? For me I think so. Since using it I have been able to watch deer do deer things in close proximity at a much higher rate than before.
This post was edited on 10/25/23 at 3:49 pm
Posted on 10/25/23 at 3:51 pm to mcpotiger
You ever made out with a chick that smokes and then uses body spray to cover the cigarette smell?
Same shite x1000
YOu can help your cause SOME by not smoking, and being vigilant about certain things but between my thermacell, the gas I walked in at the gas station, the 4 wheeler exhaust, the coffee im drinking, the axe body spray all over my clothes cause I let my son drive my truck last night, If the wind is not right, the deer know.
Last year my teenage son still had cologne on from the night before. A deer blows at us from 100 yards or so through the woods. He says "I wonder who its blowing at?" I said you man, you might as well be wearing a neon sign that says run deer.
Same shite x1000
YOu can help your cause SOME by not smoking, and being vigilant about certain things but between my thermacell, the gas I walked in at the gas station, the 4 wheeler exhaust, the coffee im drinking, the axe body spray all over my clothes cause I let my son drive my truck last night, If the wind is not right, the deer know.
Last year my teenage son still had cologne on from the night before. A deer blows at us from 100 yards or so through the woods. He says "I wonder who its blowing at?" I said you man, you might as well be wearing a neon sign that says run deer.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 4:26 pm to mcpotiger
I usually grab some fresh pine needles off a tree on the walk in and rub that all over to mask some of my scent
Posted on 10/25/23 at 4:26 pm to mcpotiger
I keep my clothes sealed in 5 gallon buckets with split Fat Pine. Grind corn to a powder and store in Ziplocks. Dust up with the corn just before I hit the woods. I hunt on the ground and it has worked well for me
Posted on 10/25/23 at 5:26 pm to mcpotiger
I use All Free and Clear detergent and Scent Killer spray. That's it.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 5:45 pm to mcpotiger
Go to YouTube and watch the Mark Rober video on dog tracking. You’ll realize real quick any attempt at masking your scent is futile.
There is only the wind that matters when hunting. Deer or any other animal out there will smell you regardless of what you try to do to hide your scent.
There is only the wind that matters when hunting. Deer or any other animal out there will smell you regardless of what you try to do to hide your scent.
Posted on 10/25/23 at 8:58 pm to mcpotiger
If I was using scents, evercalm would be the choice.
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News