I already use unscented body wash, laundry detergent, (no towel sheets), and deodorant, due to allergy issues (oh, and for
the same reason, I can NOT wear any antiperspirant).   With all of that in mind, do I still need to buy the Scent-A-Way
equivalent products?  Or is what I'm already using doing the same thing, without having to buy duplicate products?

Thanks,
   --jim

I think you're good . For everyone else buy a bar of Ivory soap and a box of Borax soap for the cloths and get the same results for alot less $ compared to hunting specific products .

Thanks. Am I correct in assuming that I still need the products for clothes, boots, etc.?

Questions on the need of scent control products are difficult to answer. I believe it more of a personal preference. Before all the hype about scent control, I've had birds and squirrels actually land on my hat or on tree branches just right beside me. I had a covey of quail parade across my boots while I was backed up in the branches of a cedar tree. I've had deer close enough that I could scratch their backs, in fact I did touch one doe on the back as she passed by me and it didn't seem to faze her, I guess she thought it was a tree limb touching her. All these close encounters and more before I started using scent control products, and I was a pack a day smoker to boot.
Now I use the scent and UV control on my hunting clothes and the scent free soap and deodorant on me, and I've reduced my smoking to about a pack a week, and the deer seem to be able to sense me from 75-80 yards away. I can't get close to them anymore. Their senses must be better than they use to be.

Posted By grandpops on 10 Sep 2012 04:29 AM
Questions on the need of scent control products are difficult to answer. I believe it more of a personal preference. Before all the hype about scent control, I've had birds and squirrels actually land on my hat or on tree branches just right beside me. I had a covey of quail parade across my boots while I was backed up in the branches of a cedar tree. I've had deer close enough that I could scratch their backs, in fact I did touch one doe on the back as she passed by me and it didn't seem to faze her, I guess she thought it was a tree limb touching her. All these close encounters and more before I started using scent control products, and I was a pack a day smoker to boot. 

This is one of the reasons why I'm uncertain about all of this.  Back when I was a kid, we used to hunt very successfully
without having even heard of scent control (this was around 1980--84).  My uncle, who taught my cousin and me, bagged
his limit (both bucks and does) every year.

I'm not at all clear which way to go on this.  And that's not good, because the $20 or so that I'd spend on scent-control
products is $20 or so that could go for something else I might need more.  When you're on a budget where that $20 is
very significant, it'd be nice to know for sure where to spend it......  Right now, I can see both views as going either way,
correct or otherwise.  :-(

I wonder if it varies depending more on WHERE you hunt (geography, public vs private land, etc.).  The scientist/engineer
that's been in me since I was around 4 years old just shouted that out in my mind.... (not literally...you know what I mean).

Thanks,
   --jim

I too grew up without all this new stuff, we wore levis, plaid shirts and bathed in whatever the household was using at the time. We still managed to shoot game and at times got really up close and personal with critters. That being said, I too now wear full camo when archery hunting, launder my clothes in scent free detergent, use the fresh earth dryer sheets, put all my hunting clothes in a sealed tub with fresh earth waffers in it, spray down several times a day with a fresh earth or scent removing spray, wear rubber boots and go thru all the extra steps to blend in with the surroundings. I'm not 100% certain that all this gives me more opportunities, I do feel however that the animals are usually less tense or alert when in the area that i'm hunting than they were in the "old day's", and as long as I think it helps will continue to go through the extra steps. Yes I still think about the day's of levis & flannel shirts a lot and a lot of my firearm hunting is done that way, with the added precaution of blaze orange per state requirements. Wind is still a major factor in any hunting situation, if they detect you they tend to move on, wether at a run or cautious walk, gone is gone..Just my humble opinion.
Steve Albers

Thanks.  I already have no choice but to use the free & clear type laundry detergent, stopped using dryer sheets because I
didn't know they were available in unscented (allergies---the stuff with the various fragrances and dyes cause the skin
allergies I inherited to go absolutely nuts ... as do all antiperspirants).  Aside from that, I suppose I'll buy the other
stuff, just to be safe.  I bought normal hunting boots, so I'll just spray them (they are waterproof, at least, not snake
proof, or anything like that).  They are, at least, RedTree AP cammo.....

Wow.  My habanero sauce[1] that I had with breakfast is really heating up the room...or is it just me?

Thanks,
   --jim

[1] homemade, with home-grown habaneros (vast majority of chile[2] content), tabascos, and cayennes.  I call it
Habanero Hellfire Heaven.  It's actually closer to a mash...you can "spoon" it out with a fork.  Goes great with
breakfast (and lunch, and ...)  :-)

[2] Or chilli, depending on what part of the world you're in....but not chili (that's something you make with chiles).

I have hunted deer for many years and has killed more than my share. But I never shot one with the bow or the rifle using scent control. Don't get me wrong I have it but even my scentlock suit has never taken a deer . I just watch the wind, noise, and movements, seems to work for me. The wind is the most important factor to consider when hunting. So I don't know what to say about scent control products.

Posted By mowgle on 14 Sep 2012 09:30 AM
I have hunted deer for many years and has killed more than my share. But I never shot one with the bow or the rifle using scent control. Don't get me wrong I have it but even my scentlock suit has never taken a deer . I just watch the wind, noise, and movements, seems to work for me. The wind is the most important factor to consider when hunting. So I don't know what to say about scent control products.

I decided to go ahead and buy the Scent-Killer spray and field wipes, and no more than that.  It's the one I see recommended
here and in Melissa Bachman's tips, so I'm pretty sure it's good.  :-)

Thanks,
   --jim

Scent-a-way by Hunter's Specialties, Scent Killer and Scent Killer Gold by Wildlife Research, Dead Downwind, and Primos' Silver all make excellent scent killer sprays, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, deodorant, and shampoo. I've tried all of them and use combinations of each every day. I've killed plenty of deer that were downwind of my stands while using them, as well as, when dog hunting down in the swamp. Since I never hunted from a tree stand with a rifle, until I was in my 20's, I don't have a lot of experience with the old days; although I had been hunting with dogs since I was 8 or 9 years old, and we never used any scent control........or paid attention to the wind.

I will say this, Wal-Mart usually beats the prices of everyone else, regardless of which brand you choose. I had to buy some more Scent Killer Gold, yesterday and it was only $6.95 at Wal-Mart. Shop around, prices are constantly changing as retailers get incentives to push certain brands periodically.

Posted By rthomas4 on 14 Sep 2012 10:45 AM
Scent-a-way by Hunter's Specialties, Scent Killer and Scent Killer Gold by Wildlife Research, Dead Downwind, and Primos' Silver all make excellent scent killer sprays, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, deodorant, and shampoo. I've tried all of them and use combinations of each every day. I've killed plenty of deer that were downwind of my stands while using them, as well as, when dog hunting down in the swamp. Since I never hunted from a tree stand with a rifle, until I was in my 20's, I don't have a lot of experience with the old days; although I had been hunting with dogs since I was 8 or 9 years old, and we never used any scent control........or paid attention to the wind.

I will say this, Wal-Mart usually beats the prices of everyone else, regardless of which brand you choose. I had to buy some more Scent Killer Gold, yesterday and it was only $6.95 at Wal-Mart. Shop around, prices are constantly changing as retailers get incentives to push certain brands periodically.

I already use scent-free laundry detergent (no option---allergic to the scents and dyes), and my next bottle (and all after it)
of body wash soap (for hair, too) will also be unscented.  I'll be buying that really soon, as the one I have is nearly empty.
I have not seen a deodorant from any of these---only antiperspirant/deodorant, which for me, is not an option (allergic
response to the antiperspirant part INSTANTLY upon applying it).  I don't use dryer sheets, so I skipped those, too.  So I
think I've got it covered.

And you're right about WalMart ... they do normally have the best prices, but not always the best products (usually ok, but
sometimes, no).    But as you say, always shop around.  For October's and November's purchases (bipod for shooting,
rangefinder, rifle cleaning stuff that I used up on my first target-shooting outing with my new deer rifle, deer cart, game
scale, and deer processing kit), I'll be buying all of that from Sportsman's Guide (along with the membership to get their
standard discounts), and getting better stuff than I'd get from wally world, at about the same price...EXCEPT for the
GPS.   The only GPS units I found there start at several hundred dollars out of my range, where wally world has two that
fit my budget (but they're out of stock right now, so I might be buying the one I want online).  I'll be getting the
"Bushnell HuntTrack 360500 1.63" Handheld GPS with Digital Barometer" from [???].  It's around $95, +/- $2, and
should do fine for my needs.

Thanks,
   --jim

The best thing also happens to be the cheapest and has been around my whole life and it is Arm & Hammer baking soda. They make soap and under arm deodorant ( it should not cause any allergic reactions as it is simply baking soda ) now and I wash all my hunting clothes with 2 boxes in the washing machine and then I take them outside and hang'em in one of my apple trees to dry and then they go into a scent control bag. You can aslo make a spray by using warm water when mixing it and be sure to shake good when starting to spray. I buy the new spray bottles at the Hardware store and make it as I need it. I keep at least 6 boxes in my cupboard at all times as well as a box in my refrigerator and freezer. No fancy advertising, packaging, or guarantees as folks know it works and has since it's beginning. I have never spent money on any other product that is supposed to control scent. Using my hunting clothes and ghillie suit all washed in baking soda I have had deer, hogs, and even a coyote walk close enough that I could have killed them with a small caliber handgun shot to the head and once at dusk I had an owl land on my rifle barrel. The owl scared the HOM but I think it scared him worse when he swiveled his head around and found his self looking into my eyes. Give it a try and I think you will be pleasantly surprised at just how good it works and how cheap it is.

Posted By Big Dawg on 14 Sep 2012 11:48 AM
The best thing also happens to be the cheapest and has been around my whole life and it is Arm & Hammer baking soda. They make soap and under arm deodorant ( it should not cause any allergic reactions as it is simply baking soda ) now and I wash all my hunting clothes with 2 boxes in the washing machine and then I take them outside and hang'em in one of my apple trees to dry and then they go into a scent control bag. You can aslo make a spray by using warm water when mixing it and be sure to shake good when starting to spray. I buy the new spray bottles at the Hardware store and make it as I need it. I keep at least 6 boxes in my cupboard at all times as well as a box in my refrigerator and freezer. No fancy advertising, packaging, or guarantees as folks know it works and has since it's beginning. I have never spent money on any other product that is supposed to control scent. Using my hunting clothes and ghillie suit all washed in baking soda I have had deer, hogs, and even a coyote walk close enough that I could have killed them with a small caliber handgun shot to the head and once at dusk I had an owl land on my rifle barrel. The owl scared the HOM but I think it scared him worse when he swiveled his head around and found his self looking into my eyes. Give it a try and I think you will be pleasantly surprised at just how good it works and how cheap it is.

I completely forgot all about baking soda...and you're right, it's been a refrigerator/freezer freshener for long before I was
born...probably before my parents were born (and I'm 46).  I'll definitely look for their deodorant, I don't think I've seen
it, but that might just mean I wasn't looking for it.   I don't have any scent control bags, or anything like that, so I'll have
to rely on it staying fresh between laundry day (for hunting clothes, anyways, as right now, I've got one shirt and one pair
of pants---buying more when I have money again) ... once they come out of the dryer, maybe I'll put them in a big, clear
garbage type bag (clear so it doesn't get confused with actual garbage).

Thanks,
   --jim

I wash all of my hunting clothes in baking soda. Where I hunt is farm land and the animals are somewhat used to humans. Watch the wind.

I wash all of my hunting clothes in baking soda. Where I hunt is farm land and the animals are somewhat used to humans. Watch the wind.

Posted By mwilkey1 on 14 Sep 2012 01:07 PM
I wash all of my hunting clothes in baking soda. Where I hunt is farm land and the animals are somewhat used to humans. Watch the wind.

Yeah, I keep meaning to say I know about watching the wind (while all of this was a lot different when I was hunting as a kid,
I've been learning this new stuff a from a lot of sources over the last several weeks)....and I keep forgetting to mention that.
As usual, cancer #1 takes the blame, and rightly so.....  (the way I put it is this:  "my brain holds memory about as well as
my cast net holds water" ... ok, it's not quite THAT bad, but....)

Thanks,
   --jim

Trash bags usually have some type of cover scent in them that may contaminate your clothes. I bought two of those big plastic storage boxes at somewhere like Family Dollar. I lined the bottom of them with the scent free dryer sheets, and then dropped a pine scented wafer in each one ( I still hunt my own property and it's all planted pine), after washing and treating my clothes, I just store 'em in those containers. I have one for cold weather clothes and one for early season. I don't think I spent over $20.00 for both of them, of course that was probably 8 or 9 years ago.

Posted By rthomas4 on 14 Sep 2012 03:02 PM
Trash bags usually have some type of cover scent in them that may contaminate your clothes. I bought two of those big plastic storage boxes at somewhere like Family Dollar. I lined the bottom of them with the scent free dryer sheets, and then dropped a pine scented wafer in each one ( I still hunt my.

Ok, no problem.  I've got a bunch of plastic storage bags on a big roll that I covered my pepper garden with last year, when
winter was setting in (around December---all but a few of my habanero plants survived, btw).  I'll use those.  They're huge.
I got these at wally world for around $6 for a roll that weighs about 6 lbs (or it did).

Thanks for the tip,
   --jim

GTbrewer, I checked on my Primo's Silver deodorant. The black container is deodorant only, the white one is also an antiperspirant. I had been getting the black one, but the last time I bought some I could only find the white one. You might want to check out their site and see if the deodorant in the black container is still available if you can't find any in your area.

Posted By rthomas4 on 15 Sep 2012 01:15 PM
GTbrewer, I checked on my Primo's Silver deodorant. The black container is deodorant only, the white one is also an antiperspirant. I had been getting the black one, but the last time I bought some I could only find the white one. You might want to check out their site and see if the deodorant in the black container is still available if you can't find any in your area.

I didn't find their site, specifically, but everywhere I looked for the deodorant only product, I found one of two things,
the deodorant/antiperspirant or "This product is no longer available."   Great.  More and more, I'm finding this---product
lines that once had deodorant only are now dumping those in favor of antiperspirants, which, of course, I can't use.  :-(

I DID, however, find an unscented deodorant at a CVS about 20 seconds from where I live.  That should be better than
nothing (ok, that's really obvious, isn't it?  I realized that as I typed it ).

Thanks,
   --jim

I should have left the apostrophe out and posted it as just Primos. I might have caused you the problem I'll go in and see if I can access it, and get back to you.

I just went to www.Primos Hunting.com and discovered that evidently the silver line has been totally replaced by the new control freak line, and the old stuff is no longer available........that's a damn shame, I liked the silver deodorant!!!!!!!!!!!

I hunted with a guy who swore if you ate a toe of raw garlic in the morning that your breath would confuse the deer. He thought some of them actually came in to try and see what the smell was. Work? No idea, but in his mind it helped so I guess that's what counts.

My Uncle had a similar theory about hanging a 9V transistor radio on the tree right beside his ear turned on so he could just barely hear it drew 'em in. Work? No idea, but he got his deer every year...

Posted By Steve on 16 Sep 2012 02:35 PM
I hunted with a guy who swore if you ate a toe of raw garlic in the morning that your breath would confuse the deer. He thought some of them actually came in to try and see what the smell was. Work? No idea, but in his mind it helped so I guess that's what counts.

My Uncle had a similar theory about hanging a 9V transistor radio on the tree right beside his ear turned on so he could just barely hear it drew 'em in. Work? No idea, but he got his deer every year...

That basically leaves me planing what I was from the start:  use the same dye/scent free laundry detergent I already have
to use, use unscented deodorant from the CVS around the corner, use the 99% Scent Killer Gold spray and field wipes
(on my boots, clothes, etc., right before going out), take my coffee with me in the morning, and of course, pay attention
to the wind (if there is any to pay attention to, that is).   And from there, see what happens while I'm out in October
looking for where the deer are moving (finding my spot and shooting with a camera instead of a rifle).

Thanks,
   --jim