In Bowhunting it’s all about getting as close to game as you possibly can. A 30-yard shot at the range may seem easy enough, but may look impossible in the wooded or brushy situations, that most hunters regularly encounter.

So what can you do to shorten the distance for that slamdunk opportunity? Try to eliminate and reduce as much human and foreign odors on you and your equipment as you can.



Now, is it possible to be totally scent free as some manufacturers of “Scent Control” products claim?  In all reality not really, but we can reduce and eliminate game alerting scent to a level that will allow a hunter, with the right wind conditions to get closer shot opportunities.


Here are some things to consider:


  1. Skin, Hair & Body – It won’t matter if you have washed all you clothing if you haven’t washed yourself first. Take a pre-hunt shower or sponge bath using a quality body soap. A good lather, and complete rinseability is the key here. You do not want to leave behind any soap residue that will hold redeveloping odors. Residue free means scent free longer. Even if you can’t smell the left over soap residue, a deer probably can. There are several products on the market that deliver these features.


  1. Clothing – It’s not enough to just wash your clothing in scent-free soap, said Kurt Baumgartner, a bowhunting friend of mine. He said it’s a must to use a detergent without UV brighteners that is exclusively designed to rinse 100% residue free. Remember, wash all your clothing that you will be wearing into the field, this means t-shirts, underwear and socks, as well. Just putting cleaned outer garments over these often forgotten undergarments means game animals giving you a wide path.


  1. Gear  – Spray your backpack, fannypack, hat, gloves, release strap, bow sling, binocular straps, head net, etc with a scent eliminator. Don’t overlook these items, scent kill them ahead of time. A scent eliminating spray is a must have in the field as well. Touching up in the field is always a good thing, especially after a long walk to a stand, or during a spot and stalk.


  1. Footwear – Rubber? Neoprene? Leather, Cordura? What should I wear? You can successfully wear any, or a combination of these materials if they are scent treated before heading into the field. Any type of boot needs to be liberally sprayed down with scent elimination spray, (even rubber). Remember this is your main contact with the environment as you move about the woods and fields. Spray the entire boot and don’t forget the bottoms. Tuck or not to tuck? You will get opinions for both, but remember a pant leg tucked into a “knee high” rubber or neoprene boot is ripe to become a stinky scent wick if your legs and feet sweat inside your boots.


The final thing to remember is that while scent elimination works, it does not guarantee that you will kill a deer. So many times you hear people complain that they used this and used that and didn’t kill anything better. You still need to conduct quality scouting, you still need to sit still and smart while you are hunting and you need to be a good shot.