Hunting boot scent control

I grew up hunting with my grandpa all he used was the wind to hide his scent. I have decided to help increase my odds I will try some scent control. I am wondering is it necessary to have a hunting specific boots? How far should you take your hunting boot scent control? If I wear them into the garage or wear them in the truck will it really absorb human scent?

I have two pairs of insulated boots for deer hunting, one warmer thn the other. Both are covered with blood and gut juice and I never worry about scent. Every year I have deer follow me right to and past the stand while wearing the….right up the same trail. I think a lot of it depends on the deer’s exposure to human traffic. Where I hunt people scent is everywhere as are sounds of rural living and deer don’t pay it no mind at all.

A lot of people wear rubber “knee” boots. Those are pretty scent proof as long as the inside doesn’t stink. I think people get too anal about this scent-free stuff. Stop and think about it….you have to breathe and there’s more hunters busted because they reek of yesterdays dinner and booze than body smells. I honestly think deer get spooked more because they see something out of character for the area they are in or they see movement.

I agree with Tom. Rubber boots don’t carry as much scent but it all comes down to wind regardless. I can’t say the scent blockers don’t help any but wind is your number one friend.

I have rubber boots just for deer hunting and that’s all I do with them. I spray them with scent killer before every hunt. Ground scent is one of my worst enemies in the deer woods.

Nicholas wrote:

If I wear them into the garage or wear them in the truck will it really absorb human scent?

What cracks me up with scent control is all the stupid things I see people do. #1 on my list is the gas station. Nothing like seeing the Pretty Boy Bowhunter with all the latest/greatest camo, getting out of his LPT, and walking through spilled fuel with his new gortex boots.

To me, scent is all about what is “normal” or out of place. Around my farm, activity is high. Between Forestry projects, farming, maint, and everything else its common to have deer nearly walk up to you while running a chainsaw. On the other side of normal, are tracks of land where no activity is present. Thats where things are much more critical.

For me, its hunting clothes and boots in my tote until I’m at my farm. Once there, they are worn most of the time. Little grease from the chain saw, saw dust, mud from the field….all natural to their daily activity

Randy brings up a good point in that the more remote of an area you are hunting, the more one would want to concern themselves about scent.

Honestly, scent control starts with one’s carcass and what is being put into it. Staying clean and using scent free soaps and body washes will help because there’s no perfume in them. Cut out “stink foods” like chili, garlic and onions along with over consumption of alcohol beginning a couple days prior to the time you want to hunt. A good rule of thumb is if you eat it or drink it it’ll come out of your pores with sweat even if its not actually warm enough to sweat. You can’t change the mechanics of how your body works but you can change what you put in it.

If you’re hunting Whitetails I say save your money for a nice practical camo outfit or two, maybe one lighter weight and one for cold wear. If you’re headed to the Rocky’s to chase elk or Mulies, maybe an under layer of the scent control, but keep in mind that the claims being made regarding controlling scent are done under tightly controlled study conditions, and probably NOT under actual hunting conditions where just seeing an animal can excite a sweat response in your body. This odor control clothing has limits and the makers do not tell you what those limits are.