Keep Your Stands “Smoking Hot”

Keep Your Stands “Smoking Hot”

By Wildlife Research Center

You’ve probably heard that the first time you hunt a stand is

your best chance of intercepting that trophy buck you’re

hoping to tag. It’s true. However, the reason this is true is

because the deer doesn’t know he’s being hunted yet. After

you set-up the first time, it may become apparent the hunt is

on.

There are a lot of variables that can lead to diminished returns

from a tree stand. If a deer sees you moving in the stand or

walking to or from the stand, it will surely tip your hand. But

the number one overlooked factor is leaving behind lingering

human odor.

One major misconception when it comes to scent elimination

is that it’s only beneficial for the hunt you’re on. That couldn’t

be farther from the truth. Scent elimination practices may play

a more important role after the hunt, than they do while

you’re actually on stand.

Most hunters believe hunting

downwind from where they

expect the deer to pass by,

reduces their chances of

being scented. Although this

is true to a point, there is

clearly more to be concerned

about. If you intend to hunt

this stand again, any odor you

leave in the area is a serious problem.

If a hunter has not taken steps to reduce human odor before

the hunt, the stand location will accumulate human odor

molecules. These human

odor molecules will collect

on the vegetation around the

stand that’s occupied. The

path taken in and out from

the hunting site is also a

concern. Any animal with a

sense of smell equal to that

of a whitetail will have no

problem detecting this alarm

scent. Depending on

conditions, the human odor

molecules can be detectable

for days to come. Human odor molecules can also be left

behind from boots where you walked and left on the

vegetation where you brushed against it with your hands or

clothing while slipping in and out from your stand. It’s really

the last thing you want if you plan on hunting the same stand

in the near future.

While the hunter is on stand, deer might come through upwind

from the hunter and never smell him. Shortly after

sunset, the hunter heads back to camp. After this, other deer

are likely to come by the stand and site. If they notice the

telltale signs of a predator, the deer have been educated and

most likely put on alert status. It is quite likely that for some

time, they may take a different route or avoid the area

altogether, especially if the deer happens to be a mature

buck.

Had the hunter utilized the Scent Killer System before

taking step one toward his stand location, he would have

dramatically reduced the amount of human odor molecules

left behind. Had that hunter taken steps to reduce his human

odor, this stand would most likely still be hot. However,

without these simple steps, this stand’s trophy potential has

been greatly diminished.

Imagine for a moment that you had a portable smoker in your

tree stand. The lit smoker would send out very visible smoke

going with the breeze and thermals away from and around

your stand location. You would get a very good picture of

what the wind is doing and at the same time get a clear

picture to where your human odor molecules were being

deposited. It would most likely amaze you, if you could see

what a deer can smell. It’s very important to avoid leaving

human odor molecules at your stand location or the route to

and from it, if you want to maximize the stand’s ongoing

trophy potential.

If you reduce the amount of human scent molecules to a low

enough level, a deer coming though may not even notice

them. As the hours pass, they will be even less likely to be

detectable.

Besides

taking

steps to

reduce

your

human

scent, a

great

tactic for

going to and from you stand is to pick a route that does not

cross the areas where you most expect the deer to pass by.

If you expect the deer to mainly be in front of your stand,

come in and go out the back way.

Reducing human odor molecules to whatever extent the time

and situation allows is a must, if you want to be consistently

successful.

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