| Practicing proper scent control techniques will | | | | ride out to your stand. Before you walk out to |
| really help you winthe battle with a deer's acute | | | | yourstand, grab that bottle of cover scent and |
| sense of smell. While it's nearlyimpossible to | | | | spray down everythingyou're taking with you - |
| eliminate all of your human scent, it is very | | | | your hat, gloves, jacket, pants, bow,backpack, |
| possibleto significantly reduce the emittance of | | | | boots, facemask and even your tree stand if you |
| human odor to levels thatwon't alarm deer. | | | | have one. |
| How many of you have gone on a hunting trip | | | | Keep that bottle of spray with you at all times. |
| with some buddies tohunt the day and play poker | | | | It's good to havewhen you break a sweat from |
| and party at night? How many of you wereall | | | | climbing 20 feet up a tree on a warmday. Boots |
| your hunting clothes while driving to and from the | | | | are very important when it comes to scent |
| hunting site? | | | | control. Ihighly recommend rubber boots that |
| And, here's another good one - you decide to cut | | | | cover at least the lower portionof your legs. If |
| away from the huntto go down to the local | | | | your boots are brand new, place them outside in |
| tavern and get some food, a beverage andwatch | | | | asunny location for about two weeks to allow |
| the game for an hour or so. Do you realize that | | | | them to lose the odorof the manufacturing plant |
| you might aswell go home because you've just | | | | that made them. You'd be surprised howpowerful |
| increased your odds of not seeingany deer. | | | | an odor new boots create. |
| Think of everything that you take out into the | | | | On your way out to your stand location, try to |
| woods as sacredtools of the trade. I'm not just | | | | take the clearestpath there. Try not to brush |
| talking about your clothes, either. | | | | against trees, branches and othervegetation as |
| Starting with the primary source of human odor - | | | | your walking. Avoiding these obstacles |
| you. Before you goout to hunt in the morning, | | | | preventsyou from leaving an alarming trail of |
| throw yourself through the shower andwash up | | | | human odor. When you haveto handle these |
| with special soaps, shampoos and deodorant that | | | | things, make sure your wearing gloves before |
| will helpreduce human odor. | | | | doingso. This is especially important when your |
| As for your clothes, wash them as well with a | | | | hanging scent wicks orscent drips from tree |
| specially formulatedanti-odor detergent and if you | | | | branches. |
| can, let them dry outside in thefresh air. Now, if | | | | The last important thing I want you to think |
| you live in town, I wouldn't recommend | | | | about is watching thewind directions. Always try |
| hangingyour clothes outside to dry, but rather | | | | to position yourself downwind from whereyou |
| throw them in the dryerwithout the dryer sheet. | | | | think the deer are coming from. Also be aware of |
| There are dryer sheets that you can | | | | rising andfalling thermal currents. Typically, from |
| buyspecifically for hunting clothes that you can | | | | morning on the day willget warmer causing air to |
| find at your localsporting goods store or online. | | | | rise and in the evening it's just theopposite. Now |
| When the clothes are dry, store them in a tightly | | | | because winds can change in an instant, make |
| sealed plasticcontainer. I like to throw dried leaves | | | | sure youuse some type of cover scent to |
| in there with them to adda little extra natural | | | | combat the release of human odor. |
| scent. When you're ready to go out hunting,be | | | | Leveling the playing field is tough when it comes |
| sure to bring along a small portable spray bottle | | | | to huntingwhitetail, but if you follow these tips |
| of cover-scentliquid. Leave as much of your | | | | your game will greatlyimprove. |
| outerwear in the plastic storagecontainer on the | | | | |