I think one of the absolute biggest factors in killing mature bucks on a regular basis is beating his nose. There’s different ways you can do it: you can get high in a tree, use cover scent and take every precaution you possibly can, and then, even then, he may beat you at your own game.

One thing I think we tend to forget as hunters is that we’re in their domain. We’re in his neck of the woods. Sometimes we as hunters, don’t take all of the necessary precautions when even scouting. Many great bow hunters have said it takes 90% scouting and 10% hunting, and how true that is. If you don’t know how the deer are moving, you can’t kill’em. But even scouting, we need to make sure we’re trying to beat his nose.

I’ve read many times that a whitetails nose is a hundred times stronger than that of our own. That means that deer are able to pick smells up at even several hundred yards away if the wind is right.. Knowing that, it’s easy to understand how the smallest amount of human odor could totally decide whether that buck is going home in the bed of your truck or not… We as hunters have to definitely have to develop a overall game plan as to how we’re going to control our scent. Then, we have to stick with it hardcore. I thought the thread on scent-lok, hype or not, covered some of these points very well. Totally getting rid of your scent will probably never be possible, but reducing it is certainly the first step in the right direction. Scent reduction programs begin with making sure you don’t stink, including showering before every hunt with an unscented soap, and there’s plenty of different products to use. Sudden Impact Outdoors likes to use Kishel scents The same goes for clothing. You’ll want to keep your clothing scentless, and wash them in unscented detergents as well. The greatest source of ground scent usually comes from wearing boots that will suck up scent. Boots made out of cloth will have this effect. Now, I’ve been guilty of it, and I’ve also had plenty of deer walk across where I had just stepped with cloth type boots, but wearing rubber boots will definitely aid in keeping your scent down. Make sure, though, that if you buy rubber boots, they have some insulation in them. Mine don’t and there’s a lot of times wish they had. If you get insulated ones it will definitely weight your boots down though.

Now that you’re dressed to kill, you might consider spraying down all equipment and outerwear with your Kishel scents scent away. If you really want to do it right, make sure you spray your bow as well. It can hold it’s fair share of scent.

Taking some of these tips to heart and putting them into practice will definitely aid you in taking a big buck this season. Sudden Impact Outdoors looks forward to joining you this fall in the deer woods.

- Dave Lusk