So here's a topic that isnt covered anywhere, in my reading or in watching tv.

I assume you're not talking about #1....

I take a walk, find a downed tree, hang over it and fire away.

ok, allow me to explain further.

what do you do to mask the scent? cuz i know that your body waste has a large odor, and if you just sprayed yourself down with scent killer, and 2 hours in the hunt, i dont think you are just going to find a tree and mark your territory, allowing your human scent to stink up the area.

Deer don't know human urine is human so just go away from where you're hunting and go or if you nervous about it carry an empty bottle, as far as the other again away from your area and dig a hole.

I have a pack of scent free moist wipes that are biodegradable. I dig a hole, do the deed, spray some scent killer in the hole, scoop the dirt back in, 1 more spray of scent killer before making my way back to my hunting location.

When I'm in my tree stand I just go over the side in gun or bow season with 100% no effect on deer as I have shot plenty with my bow up close after relieving myself . Actually years back they did a study on this topic at a university (more tax money on a stupid grant) and their conclusion was human pee smells like pee , and no issue for the deer in the study and was ignored by them .

Posted By Dewnmoutain on 16 Jul 2012 01:21 PM
ok, allow me to explain further.

what do you do to mask the scent? cuz i know that your body waste has a large odor, and if you just sprayed yourself down with scent killer, and 2 hours in the hunt, i dont think you are just going to find a tree and mark your territory, allowing your human scent to stink up the area.

I don't do anything. I just take a walk because if it's a "bad one", I don't wanna get hit with the smell. 

People take this stuff WAY too seriously!  I've seen deer, bear, turkey, squirrels, etc walk IMMEDIATELY past our outhouse at the camp. Didn't phase 'em at all.

Keep believing all of the TV and magazine "experts" who can shoot anything when someone put's them into the stand it's known to frequent. Then they get rich on the product endorsements that you pay for. Why do you think they're doing it in the first place?  To sell you on buying chit, that's why.

My word, the Indians and settlers couldn't have possibly ever gotten any game without all of this fancy stuff...

No offense intended to you Dewnmountain, I just really don't grasp the concept of following all of the hype.

No offense taken steve.

Honestly, this year will be my first time in 20 years going hunting ( i was 13 the last time i went), so im asking the questions now so that i can be prepared come deer season.

I can't say that the issue has ever been a huge one for me.  Then again, the piece of land where I hunt isn't that big.  I belong to a hunt club that has a cabin and a johnny house.  I make sure to take a good dump prior to heading out.  Only once or twice have I had to get down from a stand to go.  Like I said, the property isn't that big so I can get back to the truck and get back to the cabin in no time.  As for watering down the foliage, I carry an old gator-ade container (nice wide opening) and fill that as necessary.  I do know guys who use Steve's technique of hanging over a fallen tree.  ( Make sure you bring paper with you.)

When I'm out, I'm a LONG way from any facilities.

That said, I suppose I should add a word of caution: take care and make sure that the fallen tree won't collapse when you take a seat. Otherwise you may end up in the snow and get frozen "assets"...

Don't ask me how I know that...

And TP should be a standard inclusion for any trip afield.

Posted By Steve on 16 Jul 2012 07:12 PM
I don't do anything. I just take a walk because if it's a "bad one", I don't wanna get hit with the smell. 

People take this stuff WAY too seriously!  I've seen deer, bear, turkey, squirrels, etc walk IMMEDIATELY past our outhouse at the camp. Didn't phase 'em at all.

LMAO "bad one" that is why I spray scent killer!   I don't want to be in my stand and have that hanging around me!

If we're talking about taking a dump I just go to a tree about 20 feet away , kick the leaves and or snow away and put my back against it in a sitting position , works fine . When done just cover it with the debris you just scraped away . Deer don't mind , their poop stinks too . I always carry T. paper because it is a multi-tool , works great to mark a blood trail and biodegradable .

Posted By MRD on 17 Jul 2012 05:08 PM
If we're talking about taking a dump I just go to a tree about 20 feet away , kick the leaves and or snow away and put my back against it in a sitting position , works fine . When done just cover it with the debris you just scraped away . Deer don't mind , their poop stinks too .

At's my line of thinking as well. I go a bit farther than that but.... 

I'm just not sold on all this scent blocker/cover stuff. Just another way to drain wallets IMO. Does it help?  I dunno, maybe but I sure took a LOT of deer in the prior 40 years when they weren't in vogue so I'm not spending my cash on S.I.D.N.

I have urinated over the side of a stand many a times with no side effects. One morning when I was on my way to the stand my stomach was absolutely killing me so I had to go right then and there so I found a hole (couldn't find a downed tree fast enough) and let her rip in it. After I got done I covered it up with leaves and it definitely had an odor. Well a couple of hours later a deer came RUNNING by my stand at about 10 yards. Don't know if he was just running or running from the smell, but hey at least I still saw one and where I had gone was only about 10 yds away.

Wish you guys could spend one day in the woods as a WOMAN...you have no clue how easy you have it...LOL

That being said......walking in or out...it's just drop and go...and I have watched many deer ...fox...even squirrel check deposits out...and yes TP..but during season..... I actually buy camo to carry on the ground...my blinds are set up with "facilities"...pail lined with no odor garbage bags and woods smell descent spray...more for me than the deer...but I do change my diet during season...less meat...garlic and coffee...more green veggies and fruit...apple and grape juice

I still hunt for the most part but if I used a blind or perm. stand I'd probably have one of these. We used 'em camping and they work pretty well.

http://www.campingworld.com/shoppin...ilet/61612

In my case #1 has no effect. #2 seems to put the deer into a flight. Watched a few deer react to #2 and ALL took off fast.

Would imagine deer being prey animals, that they wouldn't stickaround for "howlers" or "growlers"

I've actually read in several articles, that urinating in a scrape just smells like another deer. I've never had any adverse affects from just finding somewhere nearby to go. As for taking a dump, I've actually shot and killed deer while in the process, so once again I don't believe it creates a problem. Of course since I'm usually deep in the swamp, there are a lot of naturally occurring smells that aren't a whole lot different.

I'm a few days behind in ready these threads vs human body waste in the deer woods, but wanted to share one story of my deer hunt two years ago.  It was a BAD day for me, something I ate or a intestinal virus, whatever, but I was waiting on a deer crossing with a bad case of JONNY RUN QUICk or dirty pants.  Just got my Winter cover-alls down when a 13 Pointer walked toward me about 50 yards out.  I was firing from my back end and my gun was firing from the front end.  The sound from my behind stopped the deer, the bullet from my gun dropped the deer.  His head is on my wall.  I don't think it bothers them all that much. (Can't remember if I was down-wind or Up).

That just reminded me of a hunt many years ago hunting thick laural .Just got done taking care of things with a dump and was pulling the long underwear up when I saw legs moving down the ravine just across from me at just 40 yds. I grabbed my gun and got it up and froze in an instant before he came to a hole where I could see him . Shot him with my pants around my ankles .

I always find a good "sitting" log, in the area where when I put up a new stand.

A guy that we use to hunt with would always take his morning ritual out in the woods and within several hours would shoot his buck for the season. Never failed him.

Y'all are too funny. I do mine at the truck before i go out by leaning on my rear bumper. As far as #1, anywhere and everywhere is safe. Badger, as far as women go, my fiance, used to be terrified to go outside, when she met me and i got her hooked on fishing, i had to teach her how to grab my wheel well of my truck and lean back to go. Now, she can actually squat on her own (no truck assistance) and drip dry, lol, sounds bad but, i am proud of her. My future wife lol.

Not understanding your method, but then again... not sure I really care to.

And you've never had to go while in the woods?

lol not in the woods, no, before i go out i just lean back on my bumper of my truck before i walk out to my stand. as far as #1 i just go where ever i'm at at the time. If i'm on my way to the stand i go along the way, if i'm in the stand, i just go over the edge. to each is their own right steve. Your the one who i thought was too funny lol.

yep. While I try and avoid going in the woods, it happens if you've been hunting for 50 years. I don't stand hunt. I still hunt so I never know where I'll be when it hits. Ya have to make do. Plus when I was younger, we'd take multi-day trips into deep woods, mostly on the move so you either figure out methods or better be carrying a LOT of clothes. ;-)

lol, 50 years is a long time, alot of lessons learned i'm sure lol. just like the breaking of a tree you lean back on lol. i hunt a 100 acres with a 30 acres woods on it, other 70 is farm field and crp. Our woods sits on the back of our property so we park up front along the road. if i had to go once in the woods, its not but a 15 minute walk back to the truck through a crp lane surrounded by crop fields. but it sounds your pretty well prepared and experienced, i'll keep the log trick in mind if ever happens. thanks steve for the advice and the good laugh. lol

yeah, that one was a rude awakening... that's for sure! Lesson learned: always check tree FIRST. Talk about frozen assets!

I know I am new to this community of hunters with stories to tell and everything, but I have been and still am an avid camper and hiker. I have been helping with the Scouting community and one of the things that they teach in their "Leave No Trace" program is that if you relieve yourself, go on a rock and if it's covered with moss all the better. The heat from the day and the moss will soak up the fluids and leave the salt, giving you a chance to take a buck down if you catch them in the area. Plus you are keeping the damage to the surrounding woods is minimal.

With the other type of relief, going before works, but digging a "cat hole", a hole about a few inches in the ground. Use that and then cover it back up with the dirt and then move back to your area.

I hope that these help.

In 2010 I shot a buck in Hamilton county New York with my pants at my knee's. It was less then 50 yards away, and I had dippy eggs that morning. There is no way that the wind was strong enough to carry that smell away. After the shot, and the deer was down. I had to tell my hunting buddies that were calling on the radio, that yes I shot one, give me a few minutes and I'll call you back. Then I had to finish cleaning myself up.

This was actually good info. I always thought it scared them away so I have actually LearnEd something. Lol.

  GOOD !