Hello, I have a really good spot for Whitetail hunting on a ridge overlooking a hollow. The problem is getting to my stand.

I have about a two mile hike, then climb a low high wall, then up the hollow. I have gone in, at times in 10 degree weather, in just a T-Shirt, underwear and rubber boots with no socks, carrying my heavier stuff and socks, etc., and still always end up in a lather of sweat...I have seen deer spook on my back trail hours after I have passed. I have observed different reactions. Sometimes it's comical, especially the reactions of young bucks. But one thing for certain is they all take some kind of evasive action. The deer seem to recognize my trail easier when the ground is bare. When there is a few inches of snow they don't seem to notice as much. You'd think it would be the opposite.

There is no other way for me to get to this excellent spot except for the way I described.

I would really appreciate any advice on scent control in this situation. I have never been much for scent control sprays, etc and supposedly "scent proof" rubber boots don't seem to matter, but am willing to try anything that the forum members might suggest. Deer down in the hollow never scent me when I'm up in my stand over looking the hollow but it's getting there without leaving a scent trail that's the problem. How can I minimize my scent trail.

Thanks for ant help....TD

May I ask- How many years have ya been hunting whitetails ?--- Why can't you change your approach to your stand ? How Productive has this deer stand been ? The deer you see that are spooked on you back trail--- you must be in your stand when you see them--- how far away are they?
Just trying to build a foundation for a good answer- Web

I've used a zip line to get to a stand. If you intend to hunt this spot long term, you might think about setting one up.

Drone big enough to carry you?

Are these deer following specific trails or are their travels a bit of a crapshoot?

30 years the stand is most productive and I should be satisfied but here in Pa, and probably anywhere one hunts whitetails, your back trail is a defense mechanism for deer among a lot of other things. ...any other approach would be worse or through an area that's posted no trespassing and even through there, would be no easier ....

it's woodland, basically, bush hunting.The longest shot I have made at that particular spot was 80 yards. I can see clear enough out only to about 120 yards and in only one direction. The lines of sight in other directions are even shorter (good whitetail country) I am in my stand, which is on the ground, back to a tree, when I see deer....of course, as most everyone else, I hunt other stands but it's getting more and more difficult as a lot of once "public" land becomes private land and is posted..... an idea of how to alleviate a back trail scent would be useful no matter what spot I hunt but I thought describing that particular stand would be a good example.

I am a big buck hunter, passing on the young ones, About 15 years ago (It seems, not exactly sure) Pa passed an antler restriction law and many thought "now it's going to be easy to get a big buck" IMO, the reverse is true because when a young buck, that normally would have been shot in short order, makes it through a couple of hunting seasons. he becomes very difficult to hunt. Since I pass on smaller, often quite legal buck and save the doe tag for Flintlock season I observe a lot of deer that I don't shoot at. I try not to leave any signs of my presence in an area as much as possible and at the same time realizing that it's almost impossible, in the areas I hunt, to make your presence unknown to a wise old trophy.

I never worried about my back trail until recently. Just wondering if anyone has an idea of what to do about.

I don't know much about killing deer so I'll be reading this thread

SKane, when gun season begins in Pa, it is always a "crap shoot"...at this time of year, luck has a lot to do with killing a big trophy. You never know who, where or how many other hunters are in the woods....So, the best laid plans can be unsuccessful no matter what ....it's thick, rugged country and most big bucks taken are driven out of their hiding places by hunters who have hunted there a while and know the country....if you are a lone hunter, you often try to take that into account. But generally, at this time of year, all bets are off.

This all sounds strange to me. I've never had deer spook from my scent & had them walk within feet of me.

I read of a guy who hunted one big buck, and finally succeeded in an odd method. He had two main approaches to get to where he wanted to be, and no matter which one he took, the buck left by the other route. He could never get close enough, without being winded.
So he had an odd thought and turned it around. He knew he could never remove enough scent to truly be scent free, so he used his stink to get his deer.
He wore his socks for a week solid. Then sealed them in zip lock bags. When he arrived for the hunt he walked the second choice approach dragging those dirty socks behind and made no attempt to hide his scent. He left, and returned clean, and crept in the first approach. The buck would not go near the second approach, and he died for it.

Don't go all the way to where you want to hunt. leave that as a sanctuary and hunt closer to the truck

I'll follow tedthorn on this one since I'm only hold a small pair of 4's with a 3 ,J ,and 8---- fold to the next bidder

I bid one pit blind on an open field. (Don't knock it, it worked. )

Why not go in at dark till the going gets a little tough and sit down, wait till sunrise and hunt your way to the stand?
Getting there's not going to be tough when compared to getting out, at night, deer in tow.

Don't follow me........ I get lost now and then

I tried that ringworm and it's a good idea... back when I did some bow hunting I once used some skunk scent as a masking scent, REAL skunk pee, But how are you supposed to know if the deer can't smell both you and the skunk?...maybe if you find a skunk following you around all day? That stuff should be outlawed! ....Anyway, I'm looking for another method cause I wanna stay married....

Having a wife is overated.

When I used skunk scent -- I put it on a drag rag then took the string off a few yards away from me.

Jerry

Those PA bucks are sure smart. They can tell a lot about a hunter by his scent. My advice is to go down to your local PETA office and steal a coat outta the cloakroom. Wear it to your stand. Those wiley ol' bucks won't be a-scared-ed at all because they will recognize the smell of an animal lover. They can be fooled......

Nose Jammer

Tag

I used to hunt with a lesbian, that really fooled 'em.

That would be an interesting Deer hunting story back at camp. " Boys, this guy came past me this morning and....."

Anyway, your Pa Deer must have better sniffers than mine. Almost all my hunting clothes-in fact all-smell of Dogs, sometimes Redman, coffee, peanut butter and who knows what else. Probably a little gasoline and the inside of Sheetz on most mornings. I stumble across some nice Pa Bucks given two weeks time. Perhaps they stumble across me. You know, "Better lucky than good." Only tip I can give you is it seems the more time I spend out during the two weeks, the luckier I get. But if you are going to be going in practically naked, I'd suggest you pay extra attention to cleaning up after your AM dump. That and a clean crotch. Good luck.

I was messing around with a Deer a couple nights ago. It knew I was there and was giving me the head bob. Then I started on a loud bleat call like I was a Fawn being taken down. Twice that Deer came within 15-20 feet of me stamping her feet. She finally moved off to around 40yards and just looked. I had a Dog with me. Go figure.

Luck has almost everything to do with killing a big trophy.

You mentioned it's "thick, rugged country". I've found that when hunting thick cover, deer are more apt to turn DEFCON 5 when it's brush/foliage I've come in contact with than they are my tracks. As well, there's a good chance that where you're hunting is a bedding area or close to it. I've also noticed deer being "fussier" in these areas than any other.

Given your description, I'd tell you not to sweat it much. It seems you're able to witness this activity which tells me if the deer you're looking for shows himself, it's already too late for him. If you get the one doe in that area that insists on creating a scene and refusing to vacate the premises, well, that's what that doe tag in your pocket is for.

I've fiddled a lot with scents over the years but anymore I prefer to hunt clean. I know some guys have luck with lures and cover up scents (and I've had some myself) but I've also witnessed it doing more harm than good. My success on mature deer has gone up considerably when keeping it simple - hunt clean and always, ALWAYS hunt the wind.

I'd fill up my backpack with corn and Hansel and Gretel it on the way in.

Things I don't understand about the situation. You go in early for two miles, on public land. Can only see around 120 yards max. After you arrive on stand, let's say perfectly scentless, you never are and it sounds like you are there for the day-first big mistake if you have a choice IMO-how do you know how many unclean heathens like me have fouled your perfect backtrail for two miles back? How many have left the Deer going this way and that from being spooked by human scent? How long do Deer remember the direction and projected destination of the various humans whose paths they cross? Are they still worrying about it an hour later? If so, again your Pa Deer are different than mine. I've busted Deer out of their bed. They usually run off a little, most times very little, especially in really thick country, look back, and then go about their current business. Sometimes they even come back in a short time to where they were bumped. (I really like to bump Deer in the course of a day. The more I bump the more I like it and there is a good reason for it.)

After you get on stand, sweated up as you admit, what do you think happens to that stink sweat cone you have brought with you? You think it is covered up when you finally get dressed for the day?

Questions????


When we used to drive Deer a highwall was often a good stand to not only shoot but to observe Deer behavior. Here come the Deer and a little later the smelly drivers. Then all of sudden the Deer are behind the drivers and they go on doing what they not so long ago were previously doing. Sometimes the drivers never knew they pushed them out. I'd love to have had the opportunity on the Bucks that have let me pass by within good shooting distance. They were watching me, but I never saw them. Sometimes I even smelled them.


Addition: A rifle that can reach out-120yards is usually more than adequate-is the best scent cover I know of. Scent control is much more of a problem for the bow hunters.

That'd be a pretty grimm way to hunt alright.

John

Brother, that's a good one.

I've got a 1/2 mile walk into my farthest stand. It's mostly level ground. However, over the years, I've been in just the situation you describe. For the past 15 seasons, I've not had a problem with backtrail busts. I attribute my success to my shamanic baking soda method.

Shamanic Baking Soda Method

It is not original. I found this method about 30+ years ago in a magazine. This was before all the hoopla about scent control products. Scent Control in those days was still not accepted, and those who practiced it were doing it on a DIY basis.

You're on the right track with keeping your outer layers off until you get in the stand. I use a nylon duffel bag with straps. It is important to eschew sweating at all costs. It buggers up your scent control and it can lead to hypothermia.

About a decade ago, I started studying the various catechisms associated with deer hunting. One of them was rubber boots. It dawned on me that rubber boots, even ones a decade old, can still be reeking of Naptha. Why don't the deer smell the Naptha? It's like the gas in your ATV and the oil in your gun-- deer aren't supposed to smell those either. Right?

What I found was that a modicum of personal hygiene and the use of baking soda did far more than rubber boots. A little dusting of baking soda before use and a little pinch in your socks were all that was necessary. I also stopped using heavily insulated boots, because they made my feet sweat when I was getting to the stand. Instead, I use boot blankets that I put on after I'm in the stand. They do a much better job. I wore insulated leather uppers for a decade. I'm now wearing Nylon.

Bottom line: use baking soda. Shower. Keep your outer layers bagged up until you need them. Don't sweat.

Success stories? I've had big bucks coming down my backtrail less than an hour from my passing and were oblivious. I've also seen deer find my footsteps in the grass, stop, smell the spot and then wag their tail. Until very recently, I had taken all of my big bucks at close range with a bow or rifle. Some were from the ground.

In regards to cover scents, I used to be a major consumer of things like fox urine, skunk urine, and the like. I don't think it did me any good. When I went to the baking soda, I tried to be as scent free as possible. The results were remarkable. With cover scents, the deer begin to associate the stink with hunter. You may think you're being sly, but you're not. You will be surprised when you try baking soda and find out what it is like to reduce your scent profile dramatically.

In regards to Fart-lok suits: I spent the better part of a decade debunking that crap. For hunters who still believe an over-priced rainsuit will help them kill deer, I'm selling an anti-telepathy hat and cover-scent gum.

One other thing: You did not mention what type of stand you have. Self-climbers are a huge problem when it comes to scent control, and especially if you carry it in and set it up each hunt. My success improved dramatically when I switched to pre-positioned metal ladder stands. I always find, no matter how hard I try, that I break a sweat getting into a stand, but climbing a ladder seems to be the least taxing. With self-climbers, I was usually soaked in sweat when I got to my proper height. I mention this, because I started carrying my outer layers in a bag about a decade before I switched to ladder stands.

Yes, but that's another story.....

John

You're aware that wasn't a happy Dog glad to see you tail wag?

I've told this story before but the biggest buck I ever killed on public land in VA was the year my buddy put his kerosene heater in the back of the truck. All of our gear was back there under a tarp including hunting clothes in duffel bags. The kerosene heater leaked and everything in the back of the truck reeked including our clothes. That year I was especially conscious of the wind.

Not to be a knuckle head, but I'd find another spot. If you can't get there without stinking it up and blowing deer out of there, there has to be somewhere else.

T-

It really isn't all that difficult if the piece of property is big enough. You go in and make as little noise and disturbance as possible. In this case get up in your tree and keep your eyes open. You are going to spook some going in and out. No one seems concerned about leaving. Someone walking around you is going to spook some. The vast majority of Pa Deer cross paths with people and hunters on an almost regular basis. They don't shut down because some people happen to be around. Stick with where the Does hang out, spend your time and sooner or later the Boys will show. Big one? Who knows? Know a guy who kills a big one during archery most every year on the same piece of property. He kills Bucks others rarely see there. A place where they run Motorcross and 4-wheeler events once a month. Maybe a couple hundred people on a weekend. There are racers, campers and those who just come to watch. The noise is wearing your plugs level. The bikes are running thru the woods. It's nuts. Come evening, when it is over for the day, the Deer are in the fields. You would think they would leave. They don't....



Addition: Just let the Dog out and there were some yard Deer there. He put them over the hill and into the woods. They were down there snorting over and over. They didn't leave, they are maybe a hundred yards away and will be back. Probably tonight. Tomorrow for sure.

Many years ago there was a magazine article about animal reaction to scent according to what the hunter had been eating. They found that a week or so of no meat eating kept the hunter from smelling like a predator, and didn't spook the deer nearly as much as a meat-eating hunter's scent.

Bruce

Well, with some of my doe, it's hard to tell what is going through their head sometimes. In this case, what I suspect was that she was curious at first. Here was a big old boot print in her path. She was in a little lane that opens into a narrow pasture to the north of my luxury box at Midway. I'd gone through that way on my way to the stand. My guess is she stuck her nose down in there to see what had made the print. For a moment she froze, and then resumed her course, twitching her tail as she went.

My interpretation is that she was seriously considering the print, but there was so little human scent she disregarded its import. The tail flicking was of a sort that would indicate she was back at ease. You can't help the smell crushed grass makes when you step on it, but you can reduce your own personal stink enough so the deer don't bust you.

My point in bringing it up was that here was an instance where a deer actually did find my backtrail, but there was enough scent to cause her alarm. I'd made the print less than an hour before. That same instance, if I'd been out hiking about a month earlier without minding my scent would have caused her to go on alert.

MInd you, in a remote place with a mature buck, the animal might have taken off for the next county. However, the Trans-Bluegrass is a heavily hunted region. Deer and humans live side-by-side.

My interpretation would have been she did go on alert. The tail wag was a signal to every Deer that could see it. She didn't panic, but she knew you had been there recently. Did a Buck in the back take another trail because of it? Nobody knows. Tail flicking and tail flairing may be two different signals. One I'm always sure of, the other I'm not. Tail flicking while browsing, I'm going this way. Tail flick after she smelled your track? Maybe a subtle difference in the flick.

I don't get worked up as much as others about scent. All the examples they give of fooling a Deers nose, I can reply the same. I have had more Deer than I can remember, walk into my scent cone with the wind at my back and either ignore me or stop and stare. Others, I'm sure have busted. I hear them snorting out there and there is obviously a reason why. Best guess is they smelled me. Point is they are still in the immediate vicinity. They didn't leave the county. I think, you just made a mistake, for now I know you are close by.

Still hunting as much as I do, I can't keep the wind in my face all the time. If I can I take advantage, if I can't I don't worry about it. In addition Deer are often curious creatures. I've called them in, waved them in with a handkerchief, stomped them in closer by imitating their foot pound. Bobbed my head back at them to keep them wondering. Fun stuff.

In this case, I'm pretty certain she relaxed her guard. This was the same sort of contented flicking you see while feeding. Either way, she didn't panic and run off or start stomping and snorting.

I agree with you about not getting all that worked up about scent, but in this case the fellow has deer busting him on his backtrail. He's obviously leaving something behind that is honking the deer off.

I've had the opportunity to test a bunch of ideas regarding this. For instance, how much baking soda is really needed? What I found was the morning shower was the most important step, followed by the twice-daily change of clothes. On a week-long trip to camp, I have found that airing-out for a day does almost as much good as wearing fresh clothes, but not quite. Not taking a shower is an almost guaranteed bust unless I'm in an enclosed blind. I have a fresh change of polypro underwear for a week. The next layer out I rotate on 3-day basis. The outer layer, the insulated bibs and coat and such, are aired-out and then stored overnight in a bin, salted with sodium bicarb.

When all is fresh and clean, I can be upwind from a deer at 10 yards and they will not respond. On a bad day, with no thought to scent reduction, I can be busted at 70 yards with the wind in my favor.

Looks like I'm going to have to take up golf. Not only does this deer hunting stuff seem overly complex but now I have to give up meat during deer season.

Nope, just hunt the wind. Take a look at vintage deer camp photos, you will see no camo, no scent-lock, pipes, cigars, woodsmoke, beer, gas lanterns, and all sorts of smelly things (including the men. Most bathed seldom). You will also see a dozen bucks and does hanging in the background. Hunt the wind.

Check the backgrounds on Pa vintage Deer pics and most times you can't find a tall tree. They didn't have woods, they had never ending mountains of regenerating forest and perfect Deer habitat and more Deer than they knew what to do with. Fires were pretty much allowed to run their course. I knew some of those boys and their Deer hunting was the Golden Age of Deer hunting in Pa. it was much different than our hunting today. You can't compare the two. Hunting the wind wasn't the reason for their success. An excess of Deer played a bigger part.

You're right, you can't. Deer were nearly hunted to extinction in some parts. Market hunting was a big reason and no seasons. There are more deer here now, than when Columbus landed!

I'm not referencing the entire U.S. However, if you think there are more Deer in the Pa mountains of today than there were in the 1920's-1950's, you probably also believe in global warming. Because you believe everything you read.

Ever wonder why the Pa game pole pics of today rarely equal the ones of the 20-50's. You need to wonder a little more.

Hunted Pike,Wayne ,Potter and Tioga counties in the 70's and 80's sounded like a battlezone, there were a ton of deer everywhere. My friend who lives near State College experienced the same thing.

Deer are really tame at the zoo. I think it's those quarter machines full of corn or pellets that helps them to become tame.

I kid. If you've never had one spook from your scent, you're either extremely lucky or know how to play the wind like a mo fo!

Dang it anyway!

I had a boss that used to hunt Idaho with some resident guys. He told me about the crazy azz diets these guys would go on a couple of months prior to hunting season all in the name of scent control. I can't remember what they ate but it was some weird s hit!


To the OP:

Knee high rubber boots sprayed down with Scent Killer has worked for me.

And there were more in the 50-60's. Today there isn't 1/100 of those years past. In the 60's we would see 100 plus per day in Warren and Forest. 100 and you may see a 3inch spike or a few small forks. Spotting at night you quit counting. There were too many for the habitat. Of course they were few and far between below I80.

Grouse were like ticks today. The old Boys talked about 40-50 flushes per day just walking down the trails. No need to bust into the thick stuff. Then again if you believe yesterday was the same as your today, you never will get it. The world never cooled and warmed in the past, it's all about today.

If you like those old deer camp photos, here is a collection.

http://thegreatmodel8.remingtonsoci...e-gallery-page/vintage-pics?page_id=2661

Bruce

Very cool, thank you. Been a while since I saw a vintage quad-runner like that.....

If i thought I needed a zip line to hunt a spot, I think I'd find another spot😊

It was a unique situation. I set it up in summer for a winter hunt.

I have seen mixed reactions to deer crossing my trail from none to bolting and snorting. Some of the best hunters I have seen are the Kalahari Bushman many have never had a bath in their life. When Bow hunting I was more conscious of scent than for rifle hunting. I have used Fox pee, skunk, cedar, deep woods off, sage and doe scents with differing results. Campfire smoke seems to work well and is universal.I have also intentionally stepped on every cow pie I run across and done the same thing soaking my boots in an Elk wallow to mask scent. This makes you real popular in the truck later.

One hunter I read about was trying for a big buck that only would be seen off season. Apparently a vehicle would spook it so the hunter road a mountain bike in one day and got the deer. Might be worth trying and with a cart would be a great way to get a big deer out especially if down hill.

Farm tractor works too.

We have 600 acres in Woodville MS, hunting pressure is our biggest problem. It took us years to learn this. NOISE is bad for our property. We stopped using 4 wheelers during deer season, except to remove a dead deer that is deep in the woods. We bought a old quiet 4 wheel drive truck and everyone gets put out via the truck. It has made a huge difference. You keep making constant noise on our place AND you will see/kill small young bucks only BTDT.

As for scent, I agree with Skane, I have used all kinds of scents and the last 12 years I just hunt as clean as I can. That includes scent control at the camp, my hunting gear and clothes don't stay in the camp with all the food smells etc...

Also I use knee high Rubber boots only, and for cold weather I put on boot blankets.

And last, ALWAYS hunt the wind, never get in a stand with a bad wind and funk up the area.

You're always going to alert some deer while moving through the woods. I would think that on public ground, the movement of other hunters would be more of a factor than the stink you make going in. Unless the deer are taking the same path to your spot you do, I don't see a problem. It also occurs to me that a sweaty guy hiking half-nekked is going to lay down more stink than if he was covered up a bit.

Like somebody said, only hunt your spot on a good wind, and try very hard not to alert any deer with sound or sight while you're there. Hunting in the rain, when possible, would be a good strategy too.

During hunting season, deer encounter hunter scent all the time. It might put them on alert, but they don't go running off in a panic every time they run across a spot where somebody peed, or leaned on a tree. If they did, they'd die from nervous exhaustion. Unless your area is a very small one, with "safe zones" nearby the deer can flee to for the duration, the deer will deal with hunter pressure by lying low and going nocturnal. When that happens, it's the movement of other hunters that's going to run something past your stand, and they'll likely be moving quickly, so you've got to stay alert and be ready to shoot.

Good post Pappy

You know when I was young and inexperienced I used to worry about all this crap. Either move the stand or walk to it and live with the situation. However if there is a cattle farm near where you hunt? I have been told if you rub your body with cow pie the deer won't know your there

Basic deer hunting is don't walk in from the direction you expect to see deer. How do you plan on killing big deer when you are spooking the little ones? If you can't access the stand without blowing it out, it isn't a good stand.

You boys need to quit wearing those white boots. The deer see 'em. Get them green ones.

LOL I do my yard work in our White Rubber Boots. We call those Shrimp boots

Ayee!

What do average height people wear?

Snow doesn't hold scent as well as bare ground.

I've hunted moose in conditions such as you describe - and they are basically just a 10X whitetail. I've had a cow (visible from my tree stand) follow my trail for a half-mile, nose down, only to stop immediately under my stand, looking puzzled as to where the trail went. The last bull I killed on the Kenai Peninsula was standing with his nose down in the trail I had left from my tree stand, after he thought I'd left. I had, but I came back, as he had stubbornly refused to come in for several hours before, so I noisily left, trying to imitate the sounds a bull would make. And came back the same way, a bit quieter (not grunting as i had when i left), not sneaking back but still in "moose-mode" walk pattern. He was definately trying to puzzle out my trail. Fooled him! Both cases I was as scentless as I could get...


I've had a number of moose cut my trail and go the other way, also, when I wasn't as scentless as I could have been.

And I have had moose come in from downwind (they nearly always circle to get the wind on you), to 15 feet or so on ground stands, and stand there looking for me (I was calling), but only under very scentless condition. Which cannot be 100% of course. I know way more about moose bellies than is really necessary! I once wandered along WITHIN a group of 5-9 cows and at least 4 bulls of a pre-rut group, never more than 20 yards from a moose, and never out of sight of at least 1 moose, for over an hour and a mile covered Now that was a blast! Besides being as scentless as possible (we had hiked in over a mile, slowly, pre-dawn), every time one gave me the eye, I'd fake being being a funny looking young bull by holding walking staff and a shoulder blade (previous kill) up to either side of my head with a bull grunt. No doubt being one of many relaxed their wariness. I joke that they just forgot who all they had invited to the orgy.

What I have found to be effective is not cover scents, but scent control in the way of the hunting specialty scent killers - both body and clothing. Not regular soaps and detergents. And treat the hell out of your hunting clothes, both sides, let them dry, outside, put them in a plastic bag with natural vegetation of the area (I use spruce twigs and needles). Do NOT dry or bring them inside the house before use.

You might try that if you are not already. Bathe just before you leave home, use scent killer heavily on the clothes you are wearing in, as well as the stuff you are putting on, go slowly so as not to work up a sweat, and, if scent from your ground stand is part of the problem, undress, wipe down with scent killer towelettes, change ALL your clothes and put them in a plastic bag. I laugh when I see on these outdoor shows Dilberts giving themselves a couple squirts and pretending they are reducing .....Soak those clothes with scent killer, and let them dry outside, and keep them outside. Good for one hunt, maybe two if you don't sweat much. Treat those rubber (or whatever) boots the same way. You might try spraying them with doe urine as well. You won't be able to eliminate all "foreign" scent, but reducing/confusing it may be enough.

You might also not eat spicy foods/smoke for several days before hand. Your breath is a major source of scent from the stand, as wel. I've also read chlorophyll tablets will cut one's scent signature, but don't know about that. And as said before, try to avoid brushing against vegetation - if necessary do a little pre-season (and unobtrusive as possible) trail clearing. Start earlier, go slower. I see no reason why walking a mere 2 miles, with a light pack, should work up a sweat. Allow at least an hour, up to two would be better

I 've only observed one deer that I was certain had picked up my scent trail. I had just set up a ladder stand, and climbed into it to watch for a bit (this was some weeks before the season). A decent (for Adams County, PA) buck came in on the same path I'd followed, and he clearly was nosing the ground where I walked. Far from being alarmed, he proceeded to do a little bush chewing right in front of me. I'm pretty sure he was the same deer I killed there on opening day. There's a big difference, I think, in the way deer react to scent and noise under ordinary circumstances and when hunters are tromping the woods. A deer that's been bumped around a bit is going to react more than one that's undisturbed.

That same afternoon there was a squirrel futzing around in front of me on the ground. A barred owl landed on a straight dead branch overlooking the squirrel, and he picked me up immediately. He'd look at me, then the squirrel, then back at me, all the while walking back and forth on that branch just like a parrot on a perch. He finally decided on discretion and left. Pretty sure the squirrel never saw a thing. Stuff like this is usually missed by nature lovers that stay on the move and never sit down (and still) long enough for the woods around them to settle down.

Why don't you go in the day before and camp out at your stand

Where'd you get that pic of Tanner and Starsky??

Or the week before

LOL

Drag a dead animal behind you to the stand to cover your scent

Bay Ropers

I don't know if I commented earlier, but some stands just will not work. There is a reason there are deer there too....just move away from it and catch em somewhere else.

If you can't get in without them realizing it, then they'll know you are there once there... IE the zip line kind of thing.

Plus you can't win em all....

Wind is your best bet. And terrain and thermals and wind just simply mean you can't hunt some areas.

I have one here... there is NO way to hunt it in the morning. Yet in the evening you can kill a good deer. Just that the deer are thick in there after midnight for some reason. I don't waste mornings anymore spooking them..

I hunt MD and WV. Private property in both states. Two farms owned by friends, one is 160 acres with a golf course on one side, the other is 150 acres with farms all around, in MD. Both have people about all day. I have 30 acres and my cousin has 120 joining mine, in WV. People always about all day. I noticed locals walking the fence lines and deer would bolt, run in a big circle like a rabbit, and eventually come back to their bed. People would pee on trees or rocks or whatever. I've seen a deer walk up and sniff a tree someone peed on, didn't disappear, kept on with it's business. There are so many people around that I don't see the deer paying that much attention. I used to sneak into my stand before day light, then freeze my butt off waiting for the sun to come up. Now I just walk to my stand, not trying to make noise, but not trying to sneak either. Just walk in, get up in my stand, then be still and quiet. I usually get a buck in each state, that's all I want. One of the guys that used to hunt at my cousins would go out to a local bar till it closed, get up late, tromp to his stand, and start chain smoking, and he usually had the first deer. In 45 years of hunting I've shot three 8 pointers and one ten, probably 100 spikes and forks. I'm not opposed to shooting big horns, but I do want meat in the freezer so I generally shoot the first legal one I see. All that being said, they do tend to keep their nose to the wind as rost495 said. I've been hunting the same stand in WV since I was 18, I'm 61 now. Have moved a few yards this way and that over the years but still with in 50 yards of where I started. I also like open woods with at least 100 yard lanes. I've shot a few out to 120 yards in the woods, but most are more like 40-50 yards. The longer shots they don't know you are there, just browsing along. Maybe it's just a good spot, there always seem to be deer there, Joe.

Its a totally different story if they are USED to humans and human scent.... thats a given obviously.

They don't bother much at home, where they see/smell us all the time and we even walk Tiger by them at times and they just stare from 20-30 yards away or just run off a bit ot the brush...

OTOH if you are hunting an area where they are not used to humans and scent, its a bad thing to be a human and smell like one.

I kinda figure anyone can kill a deer in areas they are used to humans. There usually are not many days in our 110 days or so of season, that we don't see a legal deer around the house.... even if Tiger is barking at it.

30 productive years at the same deer stand --- I can't understand why you are worried about your back trail. Hike in before season with bear proof canisters . Stockpile food and water. Day or two before opening day hike in with one man tent. Spend a week. No back trail--------- Web

Sounds like you've got it figgered out.

I've had a couple stands I used year after year. Opening day, it's kind of like going home.

By the way Treemutt, congrats on you getting "back in" and working for your game.

Suggestions on going in a day or week early? Because every time I have tried it every damned moose around knew I was there, within 24 hours. Well, mostly. They aren't any dumber than white tails under similar pressure from my experience an reading. Sometimes it works even, but the longer in the area, the less.

I'm with the guys that don't worry about it much, as the biggest deer I ever killed walked under my stand less than 16-20 minutes after I climbed up in it. I was sitting there frozen 12 ft over his head afraid he would see me if I raised my gun or moved. I fully expected him to bolt when he cut my trail but he walked within 2-3 ft of the ladder to the stand and never blinked an eye. I had a deer walk by my feet hanging off a rock ledge I was sitting on. I could have kicked her if I wanted. To the OP I'm thinking if you are getting the reaction you are describing you are either stepping in something really strong like gas or maybe you just have án enzyme in your system that creates the reaction. I'd watch my soap, after shave, wife's perfume, laundry soap, diet , pets , gun oils , hoppes , cigarettes etc.

I'll share a story a friend tells on himself. He fell asleep sitting against a tree while deer hunting. He said you know how something just wakes you up just because you sense a presence . He said I opened my eye s and a doe was staring right in my face sniffing me not 6" away from my nose. Quote "I screamed like a school girl" .