Smell Ya Later: How Do Hunting Scent Blockers Work?

Deer (and other wild game) have an amazing sense of smell. Whether you can smell yourself or not, you can bet a deer can smell you coming long before you ever see it.

We often talk about hunting the wind and using it to your advantage, but what else can hunters do to mask their scents? Do hunting scent blockers work?

Today, we'll talk about the importance of not getting winded (or smelled) and if scent blockers can help you keep your smells to yourself so those big bucks smell ya later (or never).

They Will Smell You First

There's not really an argument about it: deer will smell you first, maybe before they hear you trying to sneak into your stand quietly.

If you approach your tree stand or hunting blind from the wrong direction, you've already given yourself away before your day in the field even begins. So, hunters must think about wind direction and masking their scents to avoid detection. It must be one of your first priorities for every hunt.

Wild game use their keen senses of smell to avoid predators and make sure the animals in their vicinities are friendly. So, even though you haven't seen that buck yet, it can smell you coming from hundreds of yards away. They'll leave the area to get to safety if they perceive (or smell) a threat.

And by "scent" we mean the way you smell — even if you're starting the day fresh and clean. A deer can tell you are not another deer by your scent, and that's enough for them to move on to a safer spot away from human smells.

What Are Scent Blockers?

When it comes to scent control, should you consider a scent blocker? What do they do for you?

There are many ways to help control your scent before and during a hunt — and we recommend you apply as many of them as you feel work to mask your scent. Every hunter's preference is different, but the goal is the same: to keep deer or other wild game from catching a whiff of you before you can get your shot off.

A scent blocker (specifically) is clothing or a spray you can apply to clothing to "scrub" your odor. Essentially, it's a protective layer that helps you keep your scent to yourself, neutralizing your sweat and other odors so you don't smell any differently than your surroundings (and deer can't pick up your scent).

You might also use a scent-eliminating soap to start your day, not smelling like yourself. Whether it's an activated carbon spray, soap, or clothing, the idea is to trap your scent and keep it from reaching that buck's nostrils.

ScentLok Voyage Pant	ScentLok Voyage Jacket

For example, the ScentLok BE:1 Voyage Pant applies a proprietary carbon alloy technology for odor absorption and moisture management. Pair it with the Voyage Jacket, and you'll be scentblocked from chest to feet.

Learn more about these clothing items and more essential mid-season gear from HuntWise team member Nate Huizenga in the video below! You can also save money on some of the scent-blocking clothing from our partners through your HuntWise subscription.

Experiment Until You Find What Works Best for You

Some hunters go with smell-blocking clothing, and that's all they need. However, other hunters use multiple products and techniques to ensure they enter the field as scent-stealthily as possible.

Every hunt is a new opportunity to try different deer hunting scent blocker strategies to find what works best for you.

Storing Your Clothes

Before heading into the field, many hunters keep their hunting clothes and packs in airtight containers — away from their other clothing. Doing this protects the clothing from picking up your scent from your other clothes while in your closet or drawers, in the truck on the way to the field, or from simply being out in the open.

Once in the field, unseal your hunting gear and get changed before heading out to your stand.

Wash Clothing Separately

You might love that fresh Downy scent on your laundry, but deer won't stick around if you smell like fabric softener.

Keep your hunting clothes separate from your regular laundry routine and wash them in scent-free laundry detergent. Then, store these items separately in a sealed container, as we mentioned above.

Control Your Scent During Your Hunt

Clothing like the ScentLok pieces we mentioned above will go a long way in canceling your scent in the air after you're in your blind or stand or as you stalk your prey. However, there are additional measures you can take to stay scent-free in the field.

Some hunters carry pine or vanilla scents with them to use in the stand, at the base of the tree, or outside the blind to mask any scent you might still leave behind as you head up into your tree or into your blind. These are smells that are already out in the field, and they can help you blend in with your surroundings (like camo, but for noses).

You might also want to try an ozone generator in the stand or the blind. If you plan to sit for a long stretch of the day, these small, quiet devices generate ozone particles to neutralize your odor while you sit. The key is to make sure it's quiet so deer don't hear where you are.

When you find a scent blocker you like (or a combination of blockers and routines), you'll reduce the chances of deer smelling you before your day even starts. You'll also be more confident that the tools and techniques you've applied won't give you away, so you can hunt without worrying that your smell is giving you away.

Always Remember the Wind

There is one catch: you can use every scent-blocking technique, tool, and piece of clothing in the field — but if you aren't downwind, there's a good chance you've already given yourself away anyway.

So, in addition to what we've already talked about, make sure you have the right tool to help you plan around the wind. Of course, I'm talking about the HuntWise hunting app and the WindCast feature.

WindCast takes the guesswork out of the wind's direction and where you should hunt. By setting your ideal wind direction in the app, HuntWise then tells you the best spot to place your stand or blind. The app also helps you plan your approach to your hunting location based on the direction of the wind throughout the day.

If you have multiple stands or blinds, you can mark each of them in the app, then choose the one that is in the best location based on animal movement and wind direction. The WindCast Ideal Wind Report tells you how many days each stand in each future month is your best place to hunt, so you have the best chance of getting in undetected and not letting your scent drift toward the deer you're hunting.

It's a feature you can't risk hunting without for the best success every season!

WindCast and Scent Blockers Smell Like Success This Season

Outsmarting a deer or elk's nose isn't easy, but it's crucial to try and be as scent-free as you can be every time you enter the field for a hunt.

We hope these tips help you find the right combination of tricks, clothing, and wind awareness to help you tag out this season. WindCast is a game changer for planning your hunt while minimizing the potential for animals to smell you coming before you even get settled into your spot.

To access the WindCast Ideal Wind Report in the HuntWise hunting app, make sure you're an Elite subscriber. You can try it free for seven days!