Two Ways to Eliminate Ground Scent | Bowhunting Whitetails w/ Bill Winke
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- I have been bowhunting for a long time, and I have probably seen more than a thousand deer cross my scent trail. After all this research I have concluded that there are only two ways you can completely eliminate the deer's ability to smell your entry and exit route. You can beat some of the deer some of the time, but it is really hard to beat all the deer all the time. Here are two ways you can do that.
I don't think most hunters, from the videos I've seen, talk about this, awesome stuff!
Thanks for the support and the comment. Have a great day.
I wear rubber knee boots and tuck my pants into them. This helps with scent and the noise those boots can make. I then spray them down with Scent Killer Autumn Formula each time I hunt. I swear that actually attracts the deer, and they like the smell. Clearing the paths and getting it closer to bare dirt seems to be the trick. A leaf blower comes in handy for loose vegetation not only for scent, but for noise reduction when going to and from the stand and doesn't seem to spook the deer. Seems like if you use the leaf blower a couple times in the fall in the off hours, it doesn't bother them too much. People need to realize how lazy and curious deer are and they will be more apt to go down the trail you cleared just like you said in the video, so something to consider when making paths.
Very good comment Mike. You are so correct about how lazy and curious they are, especially the does. They will turn your trail into their trail in no time. You have a great plan.
Great Video Bill and Jordan, great reminder, and it’s the attention to small details that payoff the Large Reward of what we’re all trying to do, harvest deer, and especially mature bucks!
I have used pvc waders to walk in and out of stand spots many times to avoid leaving any scent on the ground totally and it works extremely well.
I change to other footwear when up in the stand.
It makes it possible to hunt a hunting spot much more often than you normally can before you might burn it as deer crossing where you walk in and out never picks up on you being there or having been there.
Many times have I observed deer cross the path I have used to the stand when I sit in it and they don't react at all.
I use these waders when it is not possible to make an entry/exit route that deer will not cross.
I also make sure during the spring/summer to remove any branches or other vegetation that might brush against my body when I walk in and out.
At the latest when I hang up my tree stand.
By doing this, I mainly need to care about where my scent that is in the air goes.
That is the extreme measure that will work. I have done it myself. In fact, I hunted in those waders for an entire season and it was amazing what I got away with. I found a "miniature" version of this system by using Elimitrax booties. Those aren't on the market any longer, but are a more portable way of doing this. Suppose you have to walk a long ways or climb a bluff to get to your stand - the waders will be a lot to carry until they are needed. I would carry the Elimitrax and put them on about 200 yards from the stand. That worked well too.
@@bill-winke
I have a pair of hip waders as well that I use at times if I need to walk long and the terrain is tough.
These are rather light and I have used them on all day hunts where I have walked for hours in tough and wet terrain, hunting for moose as well.
And as you said, by using waders you can get away with much that would totally ruin your hunt if you didn't use them.
Personally I think that many hunters are to lazy and want it so easy,.
Often not willing to the little extra that might be the difference from success and failure.
Often they have the wrong priority as well.
Many are obsessed with buying all sorts of expensive "scent free" hunting cloths, sprays and more, but pay little to no attention to all the scent they leave on the ground walking in or out.
And often they don't plan good routes to use in and out as well.
I hope many watch your videos and do some if not all that you try to teach them, as I think many have much to learn from them.
Good topic here, I do like the rubber boots because you can tuck your pants into them and they're just quicker to out on since I'm usually running later than I'd like to be not living on the property I hunt.
There is no doubt they have some advantages.
Been doing some experimenting with scent control the last 2yrs on my cameras I’ve used scent thief ,a portable ozone generator and nothing to see if deer reacted differently. Definitely had different reactions the camera that I used nothing deer that past it seemed to react more the first day I visited the camera . The other 2 cameras had less reaction the first day after my visits . Ozone generator seemed to work the best and had very little reaction at all. Scent thief seemed to take a few hours after my visits before the deer didn’t react. Love all ur videos! Thanks for all the content!!
Good input. Thanks Paul. I appreciate it. Have a great day.
Great content Bill. As another precaution I put my hunting clothes, boots, backpack, etc in a cloth hanging closet, zip it up tight, and run a home-sized ozone generator to remove all scents. I do this before and after each hunt. I also travel in the woods where deer activity is unlikely such as a steep side hill to access my stands.
Those are great tips. Thanks for the input Paul. I need to set up an ozone closet. It is just really hard to do scent elimination right with two people and the stuff we have to carry. Pretty frustrating.
@@bill-winke My brother and I each have a fabric closet. We keep them outside. I run the ozone generator and then my brother does his or vice versa. It only takes about 10 minutes for each ozone treatment with a room-sized ozone unit.
Great reminders Bill and Jordan. Thank you. I’ll admit, I have gotten lazy and my successes have diminished. Time to amp it up and see more game!
I've got a Rubbermaid container that I put fresh walnuts with the Rind and more than covering the bottom. Put about 10 in of water in it and set it by my entry into the woods. Before I go in I do a little dance in it and Crush what I can. I continue to use that through the whole season sometimes I'll add more walnuts
That's a good idea. I know guys that actually soak their outerwear on a brew like that and then let it dry in the sun as an effective cover scent. I don't believe any cover scent works 100%, but that is a good free one. Good luck.
Bill i learned not to brush against vegetation years ago. First hunt of the year an old doe smelled a multiflora rose bush. Let every deer in the county know that deer season had started haha thx for the video
Dan
Great topic and content. Lots of good thoughts and comments. Deer are in their house, any scent different, human or not, leaf scent this, un-“stinkable” that, is smelled and if different than what they smell everyday is going to get attention. Put a cedar garment on in a banana forest and they got you :)
Last year I tried to he pretty scent conscious and wore rubber boots and other scent lock clothing. I walked about a mile to my stand on public property here in MI. My target buck showed up 120yds away and instead of walking the way I thought they would, he walked up towards where I walked in. The area was hardwood so no brush to really speak of. He hit my trail and got super nervous. Turned and stiff legged for a bit, looked my way, and then trotted off. I'm not sure how he smelled me and wondered if just simply the indentation in the ground from my weight or maybe some sort of heat change even though it had been a good hour maybe tipped him off.. just something other than actual scent that they can tell. He was probably a 5yr old so I'm sure he has lots of experience. But I was baffled that he would smell my path in based on the way I tried to prevent my scent from spreading.
Amazing how the big ones just seem to know how to avoid being shot. 😅
So smart and so much experience. The dude is a true student of deer
I appreciate the nice comment and the support, Mark. Have a great day.
Youve explained to me the times I've seen them step on my boot print in the snow and doesn't phase them. Im not that scent conscious but I do leave my get up outside the house. Sometimes I swear they don't have to smell you they just know... ESP? Thanks for your info I look forward to them and as a recent subscriber I have been catching up on past videos.
Interesting discussion. I’ve had deer pick up on boot scent in 3” of grass/plot growth. No brush nearby.
There are many variables in trying to figure out what they really smelled. Even three inch grass can brush against your pant cuffs and carry scent. It is rare for that to happen if you have your pants tucked into rubber boots though, for example.
I always wear rubber boots, pants tucked in, and always spray down before I leave the truck with odorless spray. I’ve had deer sniff where I’ve walked many times. Mature does seem to spook the Most. And deer seemed to pick up dead downwind spray the most. 🤷♂️
Jeff, great input. I appreciate it. That is a good plan, the key is tucking those pants in so they aren't rubbing against grass and low brush. Have a great day.
Love the Drake Bulldog sweatshirt! I’m an alum, as is my wife, her sister, and brother-in-law.
Thanks Jimmy. Jordan ran unattached in the 10k race at the most recent Drake Relays. I coach high school track also and our team has some good competitors there (and at the state meet) every year. A great tradition.
Good topic to talk about, even in summer. May sound a little strange but depending on where I go scouting, when I decide it's an area I want to hunt I'll make one more trip and bring a good knife and machete to blaze a small trail. It's time consuming but it really seems to work for what you were talking about. Not trying to promote anything, but Dead Down Wind helps me a lot I believe - wash my cloths in it, keep them separate and carry a small spray bottle to spray down my boot and lower legs. I ground hunt a lot. and I've watched deer walk down the trail I came in as I sat 25ft above them (mountain terrain) ... Not sure if this proves anything, but the wheel isn't broke, so I'm not messing with it LOL! Appreciate the discussion as always - it might be May but, like every other month, I'm dreaming BIG!!!
That was great information Bill thanks! Seen your old farm is for sell
I saw that too. If they get anywhere near that price, I sold too soon! But, I did need to get back closer to family so this has worked out OK.
@@bill-winke Lol that's the way it happens. I don't blame you for getting back closer to family and the farm you have now is only going to get better with the work y'all are putting into it!
Good topic, thanks Bill!
I appreciate the comment. Have a great day David.
I don’t think it’s that easy. I always tuck my pants into the boots and deer still track me. Boots reduce scent but don’t eliminate it. It’s like driving over a dead skunk in the road and even though you never touched it, the odor is in your vehicle for a period of time. I believe that your body, regardless of what you wear, leaves an odor on anything you walk by that’s within a certain distance and deer can pick up on that. I believe that boots leave a “boot “ odor which is less threatening than human odor but non the less not normal in the woods, so they follow it or choose not to. If you brush human scent onto something, deer are alarmed and react accordingly. Just my opinion.
Another topic for you would be your thoughts on commercial scent killers. Do they work? Are they worth it? Love to hear your opinion and do you use them.
Good video. I look forward to all your posts. Thanks for sharing.
Try the PVC waders (boot foot not stockingfoot) next time you are in a critical situation. I bet you be surprised how well they work. Place them in the sun for a few days fist so all the synthetic odors evaporate first. I spent whole season in them in 2003. Learned a ton that year.
Seek One did a video on scent killers with a dog. They're all useless. 100% useless.
Your scent containment coveralls that Cabela's sold a few years back work good. Also the chemical resistant coveralls that the home improvement stores sell will keep your scent contained.
Daniel, yes I really liked that garment. Ev Tarrell (the guy who now owns Code of Silence) was the person I worked with at Cabela's to create those. We have talked about making another version some day. Thanks for the comment.
Great subject, I started looking into bloodhounds. There’s not enough study about our beloved deer noses. And a deer noses is stronger than bloodhounds noses.
Witness a fawn walk up to my tracks, stop and came past my stand. Doe, she walk up to the bike trial, sniff “looked left (the direction I walked) then looked right. (Very light wind) looked right and then, very slowly walked, licking her nose and at 10yds. Stopped and looked up! “
I believe they can tell by smell which way I traveled (I maid a 20yds loop) and was 20yds in and
18’ up. The cyclist used that trail all the time even at night.
Which is also how Bucks can get on a doe that past hours ago,
They are amazing. I have learned that there is a big difference between what they detect and what they actually react to. Some deer are much spookier regarding ground scent than others. They may be reacting to ground disturbance odors (like bloodhounds do on a cold trail). In general, deer don't react to everything they detect. I think they have an internal clock that tells them that some messages aren't worth worrying about because they are "too old". It is super interesting stuff.
Great information. Thanks a lot
Thanks for the comment.
Good day to you sir. Great info. I practice both these methods and agree with you completely. If I’m not mistaken, did you write an article somewhere around 20 years ago about how you wore a plastic sweat suite and taped the seams? Just to see the results. Love your content.
Thanks for the comment. Yes, it was actually a PVC wader and PVC rain jacket. I wore that setup for an entire season. It worked really well.
I’m getting ready to spray my trails with roundup, I do bring a machete with me if needed. It works great and have nice trails weed free in the fall. I do hunt only private land so I can get away with spraying roundup.
That is a really good plan. I bet the deer love those trails too! Thanks for the comment.
I've worked more in the last few years on ins and outs big help .
In my experience with my dogs field trials, scenting conditions change with the seasons and weather. Green grass full of chlorophyll, maybe wet, lends to poor scenting with the dogs while dry brown grass like in hunting season is optimal. I would think this would hold true for deer as well.
That is a great point, Keith. I have also heard from lion hunters that when it is hot and dry their dogs lose the scent much earlier in the day than when it is cooler and more humid - presumably because the scent molecules evaporate or are otherwise destroyed much faster when it is dry and hot.
Wipe your Boots/ step in wood ashes.
Been doing that for a few years. Works great.
And campfire smoke where deer are used to campfires. Hard scrabble hunting in the national forests in Virginia and all my boys got within yards of their first deer after sitting a night or two by the campfire.
Always good bill and jordan
Thanks Don. Much appreciated.
I have seen deer smell where plants have been crushed by footsteps or equipment. They don't seem to overreact, but they do seem to notice.
Good observation. That makes sense. I interviewed a guy that trains trailing dogs once and he said that the dogs trail just as much (if not more) on what he called "Ground disturbance odors" as on the scent of the person themselves. He said that ground disturbance odors last longer. Have a great day.
Thanks Bill for responding. I have been bow hunting for 50 years, and I am still learning. I greatly appreciate all that you have done for the hunters like me. I truly believe you would be helping us even if you had to do it gratis. I pray that God continues to bless your outreach.
Great video lots of hunters don't take the boot thing seriously !
Thanks Jason. We appreciate the comment.
Rub an apple on your boots while waking to your stand … if had deer come in on a line to my stand
Or I use Evercalm both work great
Great input Mike. Thanks for the comment.
@@bill-winke I rub the apple underneath my boots … I’ve had follow my footsteps right to my stand doesn’t happen all the time, but for my experience, it has not spoke to them ….
Thanks for the response Bill
Can you please film a bow hunt for turkeys ?.......love the content thanks
I apologize for lack of turkey footage. We just haven't had the time. I have coached high school track since 2013, I think. That takes a ton of time each spring so between that and the projects on the farm and the daily stuff related to this channel, I haven't gotten out turkey hunting. Hopefully, next year. Thanks for the support and the comment.
Bill do you think they recognize the ground disturbance from our feet walking in. I really watch where I walk for rubbing against any vegetation, but they seem to always pick up something. I’ve used powder charcoal like from coconuts doesn’t have the smell like charcoal. It’s an absorbent type charcoal.cant think of the actual name . I’ve had some success with that too.
They can and maybe some deer do, but in general I would say few react to that. I know that bloodhounds are trained to key on that because human odor doesn't last as long as the ground disturbance scents. I have just not seen enough evidence to think that most deer key on that. Regarding the coconut charcoal, I do believe that is what the original Scent-Lok suits contained. Have a great day.
I tuck in pants , try different boots. Nothing really works great. I do leave my rubber boots outdoors all year. Wind direction is key but it’s extremely complicated and can surely makes your best stands useless on those perfect mornings.
Agree. If you are hunting one buck you have to be super careful in his core area, otherwise, you can afford to take some chances on those perfect mornings. I have done it, but not when I am hunting a specific buck, unfortunately.
How long do you feel human scent stays on the ground? I realize different weather conditions can affect that.
That is a good question that I am sure depends on a lot of variables. I think it is there longer than the amount of time that deer react to it. In other words, the better question might be, "How long after you pass will deer react to your scent?" I think that answer is roughly a day if you do nothing to reduce ground scent and (obviously, as I discussed here) much less if you take precautions. That is really just a guess as I am not 100% sure but I have hunted stands two days in a row and seen how the deer related to stuff I did around the stand (maybe cutting shooting lanes, etc.) the day before. They didn't seem to react to ground scent that was a day old, at least not the deer I hunt. Other deer might be spookier and react to small amounts of human scent longer (and for sure where they find it will also determine how long they react to it.). Good question.
Dream Big brother 🙏
Thanks Edward. You too.
Awesome video
Thanks for the comment. Have a great day.
For me getting past this whole idea of scent control was what finally enabled me to start killing mature bucks on a yearly basis. I own a piece of hunting ground away from home. Anyway I have to keep mothballs in it to prevent mice. My hunting clothes smelt so bad like mothballs you could smell me 50 yards away. Anyway I would still get bucks straight downwind of me. It was my eureka moment. There is something about this scent elimination we don't understand fully. Trust me go without using it for a year. You'll never buy scent control again. I've killed a 165 plus buck the last 5 years off of a little 60 acre parcel. True story
So what strategy are you promoting?
@@Bbbb4life none. I used to not even go out hunting if I forgot my Scent Away that's how important I thought it was. I think I used to waste too much of my "hunting energy" trying to be "scent free" now I just pay attention to wind direction and use milk weed. I have noticed mature does walk right through my ground scent and not even pick there head up using nose jammer. I think overpowering a deers sense of smell is more important. I'm not selling nothing. Just what I've noticed
@@Bbbb4lifeI got buddies who shoot big deer almost on a yearly basis as well and they smoke cigarettes in the treestand. I pee right outta them as well. I've had bucks come up and lick it. Honestly
@@Bbbb4life another thing too. Some of my best "buck stands" I have to hunt with a wrong wind to hunt correctly. Meaning I have to surrender the advantage of the wind otherwise I won't see mature bucks there. Meaning they only show up there if the buck has the wind to his favor. You'd be surprised how often they show up when you do this. I think they are more complacent. Crosswind is my favorite. East wind is the best
@@mattkrapfl6349 yeah i think i would agree with you on this. A good buck isn't going to walk past any of my stands all that often during daylight on a day i can hunt so if one stand seems to clearly give me better odds of having an encounter with that deer, I'm going there regardless of wind. Otherwise I will probably end up missing my only opportunity at him the whole season. I don't get smelled enough to justify sitting in an inferior location
just curious, do you put sent spray on every time your in the woods? Unless you hunt way out in the middle of nowhere you don't need it! I personal don't use it and i get deer every year. But good video for people that don't know.
I don't use it, but I do understand the science behind most of them. I am sure scent eliminating spray plays a small role in reducing ground scent - but not near a 100% solution. I do "hunt in the middle of nowhere quite often. Our farm is kind of like that. The only time deer smell human scent in most of the farm is when I am hunting or maybe running cameras or planting a few plots. Otherwise, the place is pretty remote. What you are saying is very true. In areas where deer are used to people, and especially on trails that people often walk, you can get away with a lot more than you can in areas with much less non-threatening human activity.
Good info 👍
Thanks for the comment Jonathan. Have a great day.
The problem is that rubber boots and waders smell like rubber. Wish they could be made odorless. Deer can smell rubber brushing against vegetation.
That's why I recommended the PVC waders. If you leave rubber out in the sun for a few days a lot of the new rubber smell bakes off.
What about your bare hands touching the trail cameras at waist high? Any spray down on those cameras after checking? I’ve had deer react to human scent on camera
Yes, that is a concern, but my hands were dry and that helps to leave less odor and the sun baking them would also evaporate the odor molecules within a few hours. Would be nice to wear gloves, but it is super hard for me to work the buttons with gloves. Spraying down would be the best option.
One big buck killer here on youtube swears by a spray made of black walnuts. Only keeps for a week or two. I would think that you would still need the rubber coverings.
Meet a fellow here in eastern Kentucky that puts his hunting cloths in a bucket covered all around with walnuts - not sure what to think but the numerous photos of him in the field with great bucks don't lie I guess!
I think that makes sense. I know other guys that do stuff like that too and swear by the results. I believe them.
I do think that would work. It is a strong cover scent.
Nice
Thanks Steve. Have a great day.
I wear my rubber boots all year on my property work and play. I use paths that i walk to stands all year. For resident deer that we have on the property become desensitized to my particular smell. I can't prove this theory with any scientific evidence. But urban deer near my home could give a flying hoot about me all year long.
It does make total sense. It is possible to do something similar even in rural areas. One of the best stands on my old farm was about 150 yards from the house. It was east of the house so the prevailing westerly and southwesterly winds would carry our scent to them all the time. The deer there didn't seem to react to human scent (in the air) as much as those in areas where they almost never smelled people). They get used to non-threatening human activity and sometimes we can use that to our advantage.
I've been doing what I can to control scent. What do you think about a drag line?
AJ, I have not used them but I don't see why they aren't worth at least trying. I would still take the path designed to keep away from any deer trails and cover your scent. I would not trust the scent drag to cover human ground scent - I guess that is what I am trying to say. Good luck.
@bill-winke Thanks for the Reply.
If you wanna kill big bucks. Hunt where there are big bucks. Even if it means not hunting the 40 acre parcel you and you're buddy have hunted together for the last 20 years. I've seen public land deer in se iowa that would make the bubble gum fall right outta your month. Bumbling one up. On to the next. You gotta increase your number of encounters. That's it
What about scentlok
Denny, I have had some success with it, but it is not 100% solution either, like most things you can do. To be really scent-free you need to go to almost insane extremes and then I think the deer still smell something but it is not enough for them to react to. I remember one year wearing the PVC waders and PVC rain jacket on stand to seal in the odors, I had a doe straight downwind of me about 40 yards away. She smelled something but her reaction was to walk to my stand and look way upwind as if she was thinking that with the scent amount so small I had to be longs ways away. She was one of the few that actually reacted though likely others smelled a bit of human scent also. My point: all these things you can do to reduce your scent will help to a certain degree but not 100%. The best we can hope for is to reduce the distance over which deer can smell us. Good luck.
@@bill-winke thank you sir You're in sight is much appreciated
I just extend my arms, open my hands, focus really hard....then levitate, and away I go. No ground scent
Now you are talking. I have consider zip lines also.
Having a dog come out to the woods too checking cameras or doing things with tree stands is a bad idea too! That can really damage an area,
The deer don't care about those dogs. On our other farm the dogs were free ranging but one of my best stands was only 150 yards from the house. The dogs didn't affect deer movement one bit.
I’m talking about properties/spots that do not have dogs ever. I have noticed this on multiple occasions on different properties.
Bill I hunt by a horse farm and will find a pile of manure an step in it. But take your boots of before you get in your vehicle.
When I was young my dad told me “step in a cow pie to cover your scent”. Well if you do that make sure you have a hold of something or you might get more cover scent then you want, those cow patties are slippery lol. Live and learn.
@@WilliamAM43 That is too funny. I did that all the time too. It does work.
Good point, I leave them in the back of my truck. Never wear them inside the truck or even into the shop.
Love the Drake Bulldog sweatshirt! I’m an alum, as is my wife, her sister, and brother-in-law.
I know this doesn’t fix all situations (as you can’t always get a bicycle into every bit of woods) but last year I used a bicycle to ride through the edges of alfalfa Feilds (left the bicycle 10 yards from the tree with a camo cover over it) and fooled way more deer with my foot trail than I had in the past… I bought a newE bike this year, for that reason
First
Thanks Kurt.
I shot a 14 point 2 years ago seconds after I pissed out of my tree stand... Y'all take this too serious.
Congrats, that is great. Deer don't react to the smell of human urine as there is no "human scent" in human urine. But they sure do react to the smell of "human scent" in the air and on the ground.
@@bill-winke I dont believe that keeps deer away or deters them what so ever. I never use a scent blocker and never have, I tag out almost every year
Blind squirrels find a nut on occasion…