Scent Control Hunting: Above all

Avoid an Elk’s Nose!

Scent control hunting is an absolute must. Elk can smell so well that they can reportedly pick up a molecule or two of odor carried hundreds of yards away. The distance depends on the conditions. Just assume they can smell a mouse fart in a whirlwind and you’ll get the picture.

The problem is the mouse gas wouldn’t bother them. But a few molecules of body odor, smells from your truck seat, the bacon aroma from camp, the smell of your wife’s strawberry/banana lip balm left on you from a morning kiss… Well, scent control can get pretty crazy, if taken to extremes.

Recent Articles

• 
• 
• 

1. Bugling Bull Game Calls made by Rockie and Corie Jacobson

   
   Bugling Bull Game Calls and Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls, by Rockie and Corie Jacobson, are available with free U.S. shipping over $50. The Jacobsons are the first family of elk calling! Steve Chapell…

   Read More

Wind Management

The first priority of scent control hunting is not what you smell like or absence of smell, it’s wind management. If the wind is blowing from the elk to you, they will not smell you. End of problem. In fact, you’ll probably smell them.

I often check wind direction when I smell elk to find out what direction the smell is coming from, then stalk in that direction. However, it’s not always possible to keep the direction of scent movement in your favor, so we’ll get back to that below.

First, respect the wind. Remember this, even if there is no perceivable breeze, there is one. Your scent is being taken somewhere. Also, no matter what you do to correct for your own smell, there is one (or many). Complete “scent elimination” from your body and equipment is not possible, but the phrase is thrown around often.

If you don’t use a scent free wind indicator powder, you can’t know exactly which way a light breeze is blowing. The powder is cheap and very helpful for scent control hunting. Apply a light, continuous pressure on the bottle, away from your body (so you don’t block the prevailing breeze) and you can watch which way the stuff is blown for several seconds.

If it is blowing in the general direction of the elk, relocate to fix the problem. Experience tells me that elk 200 yards away are usually not going to smell you, except under ideal conditions (for them). The odors get diluted as they move downwind with more and more distance. However, if I’m not ready to take an immediate shot, and there seems to be a direct breeze toward them, I’ll still correct the situation.

Scent control hunting with a bow becomes much more critical, since close up action is required. However, in thicker timber when you have to move closer to get a clear window to shoot through, the same problem arises.

If the wind isn’t right, look for a way to relocate yourself to make it right. Better they hear you moving than smell you. If an elk (or deer) sees you, they may not bolt. If they hear you moving, they may not pay it any mind, or they might stare at you. If they smell you, game’s over!

Relocate to Correct the Wind Direction

As you look for a way to correct the wind, you still need to pick a route that will not allow them to see you moving. The quieter, the better. There are ways to make acceptable walking noises that sound non-human. (See “stalking elk” coming soon.)

Moving might mean you have to guess which way they are going to move while you are relocating. If you’ve patterned the local elk well, you might be able to make an educated guess as to which way they will move, if they are moving at all. As you circle around, give them wide birth and then move in carefully from your new location. Look for "elk parts" instead of whole elk as you move closer to relocate them.

I’ve heard a few guys say they don’t bother trying to minimize their own scent, because they just work the wind. The problem with that is no one can completely avoid unpredictable and changing breezes. Also, you sometimes get pinned down real close to elk so you can't move. I’ve had them walk around me many times.

Minimizing Your Scent

It’s a good idea to take some reasonable measures for personal scent control. What we’re really talking about is minimizing the scent you carry with you. Again, “scent elimination” is actually quite impossible, but the term is used freely among manufacturers of scent control hunting products.

There is a scent control hunting scientist that participates on some of the forums on the Internet who calls himself the Scent Professor. We will summarize some of his shared knowledge about scent control hunting on these two links that you can click on when you're ready to consider the topics:

To read about Scent Control Sprays, Soaps and Detergents click here. 

For our Scent Control Hunting Clothing Review page. Click here.

Please subscribe to or our Quick Elk Hunting Tips and Updatesnewsletter or to an RSS feed (see left column for both) to be alerted whenever new information is added to the site.

We'd appreciate it if you would "Like" us on Facebook, or share this site with others.

Comments:

Hector, TX: "Wow, that was fast!  It's very pleasant to see your sincere spirit of service and customer care... You are doing way more than selling products to customers like me...we are getting tremendous value from all you do with your site and your business." 

Tim, AZ: "This morning, she was 145# on the hook.  I definitely owe some of my success to your website and your products. Thanks again!"

Jesse, NM: "I just wanted to thank you for taking the time and energy in creating such an amazing and helpful website. As a new hunter, this provides an excellent guide to approaching elk hunting. I just wanted to thank you for sharing such a wealth of knowledge, and giving us new hunters a fighting chance of filling a tag. You guys are amazing!!!"

Skip, (Tucson, AZ) "Your Elk Hunting Tips Web Site is the best, most helpful one I have ever seen. I read and profit more than I can tell you. I just wanted to tell you THANKS!

P. Scott, (BC 2016) "I would like to thank my hunting partner for the great company & this website for the wealth of information that I have gleaned & also the gear bought as every bit of info etc. is required to harvest one of these regal animals." 

Thomas (OR), "Reading your tips has helped me to formulate a hopefully positive and safe game plan for the 2014 elk season!"

Travis (WI), "I just wanted to say thank you for your site, and helpful emails! I got several useful tips from you, and your site. ...got to put the smack down on my first elk, a beautiful New Mexico 300 class bull."

Tristan, Superior, CO: "I feel like I could go on forever here, I just get so excited talking about elk and I don't know many other hunters… Thanks again for the gear, and the website.  I have found it to be very useful and enlightening.

Jordan, MT: "Your website is a great help! I wanted to personally thank you for the great tips on hunting elk. I am extremely excited for this elk rifle season as its my first.  I wish you luck during your hunts and God bless!"

Shop Our Store

Newsletter Opt-in:
"I just get so excited talking about elk.." ~Tristan, CO

Hunting Gear Reviews

Free U.S. Shipping

Bugling Bull
Game Calls

ElkNut Productions

Free Shipping on
ElkNut Products Here

HECS Stealthscreen:
A New Type of Concealment!

$199.99,
Including U.S. Shipping

Montana Decoy Elk/Deer
Available Here!