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I had my Ak. sheep guide this year on the first day sort of sheepishly tell me, "I have to warn you, sometimes on the trail I have a bit of a gas problem"

I don't think I stopped laughing for 1/2 hour.

Then when I told my longtime elk hunting buddy the story, he laughed so hard I thought he would cough up a lung. His comment was, "Well, after a few days I have no doubt you showed him who was boss"

As for the other "breaking wind" subject,that's why God made one man tents...

:-)

On a side note.....I will never be too old for bathroom humor. :)

I did find it interesting that he no longer worries much about scent. Years ago, probably in the 80's he was the first writer I remember to write about the need of body scent control.. No after shave, no scented deodorant, don't wear hunting boots in gas stations,,let the freckle faced kid pump the gas etc. Pretty much that artical and otehrs that followed started the scent control business..

Now we will be looking forward to tough bubbles.. Hey maybe we can have scented tough bubbles.

John Sloan

I would add some things- like he suggests a smoke bomb to show you where the scent goes; and I do that when I can ( I believe it is illegal in National Forests to use fireworks ) - but there is another way to find out where the air goes.

I take skunk scent in a container; or a lit cigar ( I don't smoke them - so they are not often handy) or some other strong scent ( I tried a blueberry extract this year that worked really well) - and after I think I have figured out the wind for a certain place - I will put up treesteps and leave the stinky whatever on the top. Where I am thinking of putting a stand.

Then I walk the trails I think the animal I am hunting will use to come by the stand.

I will walk back and forth an totally ruin the area with my scent for the day- but with the most consistent wind I will face on a stand; or the least- I can tell where I can be smelled.

I suppose if Gene fed Barry some cabbage and beans: and put him in a treestand - it might work too. :)

This using scent works with wind moving; and when its not. I will put up a stand for bears over a bait; go downwind and see where the bears have to go to detect me.

By using open areas that the bears will often avoid- I might get away with my scent going where the bears don't want to.

We here in Idaho cannot bait close to water; but putting a bait where the scent goes over a lake from your stand would be totally deceptive.

But using other obstacles can work too. You just have to get creative.

Another thing I have noticed is that with a big enough slope; being near or at the bottom where a ravine is; but over the spot in a stand: my scent will ride over the thermals forced down and under me in the evening. At a minimum it can dissipate my scent enough to trick the noses.

Gene didn't mention timing- and that might be for a good reason- but if I know a thermal is going to occur say at 7 pm I will get there as close to that change as I can. What I am trying to do is get there when the wind comes down the slope forcefully- because then in the case of bears- the bears have to move to smell you; and I think that works with whitetails in the same way.

I know some people will sit in a stand all day with success; but I like sneaking in right after the wind changes; and the wind is to my advantage.

I bought trail cameras this spring; which the bears ate- but after some soldering and duck tape- I got them ready for deer season. I didn't think to put up a visible wind indicator of some sort- so I could tell which way the wind was blowing when the deer and elk came through. I had evidence of time and date; and temperature and moon phase- but wind direction? Nope- I failed getting that knowledge except where I could see grasses moving.

Seems like a deer can think it sees you- and it might not be convinced and move by you for a shot; and the same for noises; but scent ?

Well scent is the one thing they will not forgive.

Great writing Gene- I hope people realize just how right you are. :)

Sounds like a great reason to do a Bowsite exclusive interview with them. Why didn't they capitalize on their great hunting reputations? They bring the fun into hunting, wish more folks were like them.

Bob

+1. Couldn't agree more. Perhaps will smell you more "obviously" if one has poor hygiene-but smell you none the less. The big guys don't care how much they notice you-just that they do and then its game over.

"the book is a "must buy" for anyone who hunts deer."

Ordered it after reading that article as have yet to read any of their teachings-but have heard nothing but great things. Look forward to receiving it and learning more.

Take a look around and try to buy a copy of "Hunting Rutting Whitetails". They go for around $300 IF you can find one. And in the intro to "Buckskin and Bone"' Gene talks about how many of the things he thought he understood way back then, he was pretty off on.

Barry rocks too!

>>>>----------->

thanks (a lot)

My good fortunes didn't allow me to hunt my favorite area (didn't draw a tag); so in lieu of my hunt I left trail cameras out during the entire Colorado Archery Season.

Close to 1,200 feet down-stream of the cameras I found an abandoned camp site (fire ring and burnt logs made sometime after Aug 16). In this tight valley the wind (breeze, air movement) works two ways in a predictable environment (no storms, or a cold front passing through) in the evenings the wind drifts down from the tight valley above, and during the days the wind drifts up the valley. Simple - The abandoned camp site was set in a travel corridor that the camera's have captured images of; bears, coyote's, deer, elk, foxes, and mountain lions.

The season opened on August 28th, the last image of ANY Critter captured by the trail cameras was August 26th! Yikes! I bet who ever hunted the area left wondering why there was FRESH sign of deer, elk, and bear but they didn't see or hear a thing.

Not only should a hunter learn to utilize the wind, but never, ever set up camp in a tight valley (or any place close to where they plan to hunt.

This area was being visited often during the summer into mid August, all the big game moved out two days prior to the season opener.

Since I broke my back, I have learned to appreciate on a whole new level, a deers ability to ferret out things encroaching in on their territory. As a tree stand hunter, I enjoyed regular success, but as a ground hunter, I've been busted more times than I can count. Moral of the story.....wear your safety harness.

The bow is a TallTines recurve. Cutting edge speed and old school beauty.

I've always thought that long leaf had a very natural smell to it. Much more so than snuff.