Depending on what part of the country you live in, the early bow season can present many challenges. Long days and hot weather not only stifle deer movement, but also make odor and insect control quite difficult. Sweating is unavoidable while in the booth in 70+ degree weather, especially if you pack and unpack and hang your booth every time. Insects and mosquitoes are also a big nuisance, especially if your stall is near water. With these challenges, the question is, how do hunters combat these issues while staying as odorless as possible?
A hunter could spend hundreds on a quality electronic odor eliminator, but not all hunters have the budget and backpack space for such a unit. Instead, we’ll look for more cost-effective means of covering up your scent. For starters, the key is to wash your hunting gear with an odor-killing detergent. If you are going to dry your clothes in a dryer, it would also be beneficial to invest in unscented dryer sheets. Once your clothes are dry, store them in an airtight container or bag until you’re ready to hit the field. It’s also important to shower with an odor-eliminating body wash and shampoo just before you head out. After you shower, be sure to use a towel that has been laundered with odor control detergent. Then liberally apply an odor-killing deodorant. It may also be a good idea to take your antiperspirant with you to reapply if it’s an extremely hot day.
Once you get to the field, spray your gear, body, and boots with a good odor control spray. In addition to scent control spray, scent control wafers also do a great job. There are reusable wafers with scents ranging from fresh earth to estrus. Using spray and wafers together is a deadly combination.
Now that your scent is covered, it’s all about how to keep the bugs in check. Purchasing an electronic mosquito repellent device will be one of the best purchases you can make if you hunt early in the season. There aren’t many options when it comes to odorless bug repellents, so the devices are your best bet. Also, one measure you can take to combat insects is to spray around your stalls with a concentration typically used on pastures and farm animals to repel ticks, mosquitoes, and flies. Hunters have also used this along deer trails to keep tick numbers down on deer all summer long. This type of spray is one that you would use before the season starts, as it has an odor and would not be something you would want to spray on the day of your hunt.
Nothing is more frustrating than getting caught because of your smell or getting caught because you were killing mosquitoes. There are several reputable brands to help combat these problems and several methods to try. It may take some extra time and work to make sure you’re prepared when it comes to odors and bugs, but the rewards are sure to be worth it.
