I thought I would touch on a subject that hasn't been discussed yet with all the elk threads.
What are your opinions about scent control?
Do you worry about your scent, when it comes to elk?
If so, what preparations, or precautions to you use, and make?
Here are some of the things we do, and don't do.
I for one, believe that scent control is very important, when it comes to elk. I am one of those hunters, that does allot of belly crawling, taking great care, to see how close I can get to my prey. It started with deer and hogs, and progressed to everything I have hunted. It is a huge rush, when you get into an animal's space, without it knowing you are there. It is an extreme challenge, and depending on the animal, and the conditions, can be really difficult.
Elk use there senses to their fullest, combining all of them, even at long distances, but, they really utilize their sense of smell. I have witnessed them winding hunters at long distances, depending on the conditions.
Personal care: We take great care in keeping our scent to a minimum. Our base camp has provisions for hot showers. We use scent free soap, deodorant, and foot powder. We wash in scent eliminating soap. We change and wash our clothes as often as possible, again with scent eliminating, scent free soap. We carry scent wipes,(especially if the weather is warm), and use them often, especially after taking a big dump in the woods. We also never take a big dump near elk beds and other areas they are using.
We spend allot of time out at spike camps as well, but still wash allot, even if it is in a cold stream. We always leave extra clothes at our spike camps, as well. We don't have fires that often, and never wear the clothes that we are hunting in, while cooking, or doing camp activities that could put odors on our clothes. At our base camp, we have a separate cook and eating tent. Our clothes and hunting gear are never kept in the cook tent.
Some may think this is all a little extreme, but, it has proven to make a difference over the years. It depends on how you hunt, and how far you push your encounters with the animals.
We have had guys in camp, that don't consider their odor. They rarely spend much time close to the elk, and wonder why they can't slip in close. You don't always have the wind in your favor, and it can change in a heartbeat. I spent several days one year trying to help an old guy that camps with us hook up with a bull. I called for him, took him to several hot spots, and set him up with quite a few shot scenarios. He always got busted. I finally suggested he clean himself up a bit.(I could smell him whenever he got up wind of me). He got a couple shots after that, and commented on how close he got to the bulls.
Keeping your scent to a minimum is a pain, but, it could make a difference for only a few seconds, and give you an opportunity of a lifetime.
What are your opinions about scent control?
Do you worry about your scent, when it comes to elk?
If so, what preparations, or precautions to you use, and make?
Here are some of the things we do, and don't do.
I for one, believe that scent control is very important, when it comes to elk. I am one of those hunters, that does allot of belly crawling, taking great care, to see how close I can get to my prey. It started with deer and hogs, and progressed to everything I have hunted. It is a huge rush, when you get into an animal's space, without it knowing you are there. It is an extreme challenge, and depending on the animal, and the conditions, can be really difficult.
Elk use there senses to their fullest, combining all of them, even at long distances, but, they really utilize their sense of smell. I have witnessed them winding hunters at long distances, depending on the conditions.
Personal care: We take great care in keeping our scent to a minimum. Our base camp has provisions for hot showers. We use scent free soap, deodorant, and foot powder. We wash in scent eliminating soap. We change and wash our clothes as often as possible, again with scent eliminating, scent free soap. We carry scent wipes,(especially if the weather is warm), and use them often, especially after taking a big dump in the woods. We also never take a big dump near elk beds and other areas they are using.
We spend allot of time out at spike camps as well, but still wash allot, even if it is in a cold stream. We always leave extra clothes at our spike camps, as well. We don't have fires that often, and never wear the clothes that we are hunting in, while cooking, or doing camp activities that could put odors on our clothes. At our base camp, we have a separate cook and eating tent. Our clothes and hunting gear are never kept in the cook tent.
Some may think this is all a little extreme, but, it has proven to make a difference over the years. It depends on how you hunt, and how far you push your encounters with the animals.
We have had guys in camp, that don't consider their odor. They rarely spend much time close to the elk, and wonder why they can't slip in close. You don't always have the wind in your favor, and it can change in a heartbeat. I spent several days one year trying to help an old guy that camps with us hook up with a bull. I called for him, took him to several hot spots, and set him up with quite a few shot scenarios. He always got busted. I finally suggested he clean himself up a bit.(I could smell him whenever he got up wind of me). He got a couple shots after that, and commented on how close he got to the bulls.
Keeping your scent to a minimum is a pain, but, it could make a difference for only a few seconds, and give you an opportunity of a lifetime.
ukey:
