Pennsylvania Game News - August 2010 - 16

you are ready to go back out. I would also often opt to re-shower before returning for an evening hunt, especially if I had exerted myself at all in the morning. Scouting Whenever you’re scouting, wear clothes that have been washed in a hunter’s detergent, bathe with scent killing soaps and use odor eliminator sprays. A future hunt might be ruined long before it has even begun because of improper personal scent control during scouting. Rubber Boots & Water Routes Wear rubber boots as much as possible to minimize the amount of human scent you leave behind. It is also important to have your boot tops tightly secured around your legs to ensure that they don’t act as a bellows and spill your scent over the tops and onto the ground with every step. Also use streams to enter and exit your hunting areas when possible, to reduce any scent trail you leave behind. Food Reduce or preferably eliminate the consumption of spicy foods for several days before a hunt. Odors from the spices and their reaction with your body could be a detriment to the hunt. Pay attention to how your body reacts to the foods you eat. Certain foods may not agree with your body. The last thing you want is to have to vacate your stand and “make a mad dash” to some secure spot in the woods. Caffeine Avoid drinks such as coffee, tea and sodas that contain caffeine. Caffeine acts as a diuretic and will increase your need to urinate. Start drinking water or other non-caffeinated drinks several days before you hunt. This will de16

crease your need to urinate while out hunting, thus reducing scent and movement while in your hunting area. Answering Nature’s Call Urinating while hunting is not quite as much of a problem as it used to be. I never “take a leak” on the ground while hunting or scouting. I always use a plastic jug to urinate into while on stand. There is also a fine product on the market called “Spare Bladder” that has a releasable plastic pouch and a liquid absorbent material inside. Even if the pouch becomes punctured, the liquid will not pour out. I carry these in the field with me for all day hunts, and they help me stay in the field all day. Smoking Being that I don’t smoke and no one in my family smokes, this is easy for me, but to get close to game on a regular basis, especially to within bow range, it is very important to refrain from smoking and avoid those who do. Even avoid the use of chewing tobacco while hunting. I remember one occasion when I was on stand during rifle season and noticed a faint smell of cigarette smoke. Within 10 minutes a tall lanky figure appeared out of a mountain laurel thicket more than a hundred yards away. As he walked across the opening, I could see through my binoculars a cigarette sticking out of the man’s mouth. If I could smell it at that distance, how far away could a deer smell it? Gun Cleaning Clean your rifle with a minimum of oils and solvents and well in advance of the hunt to ensure oil smells have dissipated. Fuels Whenever possible, avoid putting gas into your vehicles or ATV while in your hunting clothes or after you have showered. The gasoline fumes can permeate your hair and hunting clothes. One splashed droplet from this volatile fluid can spoil a
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Pennsylvania Game News - August 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - August 2010