If you know where they're bedding or will likely be coming from, you don't want to be upwind from them so they can smell your scent. They'll likely avoid you if they "catch wind" of you.
Printable View
Just try to stay downwind is all...
Same as Hokkmike above.
Wind it typically west to east where I hunt... Just hang down wind.
I suppose I could go rub up against a cow on the farm if I needed. ...I'm sure the cow would enjoy it.
For many years I was a scent control FREAK...and of course it all matters...but now I only really care about the wind. I have been in the woods observing deer for a couple of decades...and I firmly believe there is nothing more important than making sure I keep deer upwind of where I am if possible.
I*ll wash my clothes in unscented detergent......then spray them with one of those scent-begone sprays. I don*t know if the sprats work, but it can*t hurt.
One thing that seems to work for me is to build a small, warming fire. The smoke permeates my clothing.......seems to work too.
The bean/campfire scene in Blazing Saddles was based on my grandfather. His farts had a blast radius of 8-10 yards. They would cause hearing loss. They could remove the paint from your truck. He killed deer every year till he died at 89. Never worried about scent (or noise) or wind direction. Ymmv...
If you are worried about your scent and take special care with special washing, airing, et cetera, I have a question. How long do you hold your breath out there? Or, do you charcoal filter your exhalations? If not, you're wasting your money trying to eliminate scent. My not so humble opinion. As said above, mind the wind or air currents.
Hunt the wind. Learn how air rises or sinks at certain times during the day in relation to ridges etc and it doesn't matter nearly as much if you smell like " people"
I keep my clothes as scent free as possible, wash in scent shield.
I bathe, wear dead downwind deodorant and shampoo.
I sweat and smell like a skunk ape.
If your that concerned about it get a treestand, it lofts your scent higher up and disperses it more in the trees.
But I have shot almost as many deer on the ground than from a stand.
I spread my scent everywhere. Some call it cropdusting.