Is there a special shampoo or body wash so that the deer don’t smell you?
You bet! Scent-Lok makes a great product called Hair and Body wash. We use it at least once a day before we hit the woods.
When hunting on 3-15 day hunting trips what is the best way to store and scent control your clothes. I can’t put them in a dryer for reactivation. Would the webing help for both my Scentlok and Silver clothing?
Great question and people often forget this vital step. I would recommend storing everything in a ScenTote or some type of airtight container with a carbon web adsorber. It would be a good idea to store all of your carbon and non carbon hunting clothing, anything you are wearing while in the stand, in this container to keep it as scent free as possible.
I’ve been getting pictures of a buck for 4 years now that’s probably at least 7 years old. He’s going downhill in rack size was over 200 inches as an 18 point non typical, now probably in the 180s with unreal mass! Out of thousands of pictures not a single one is in the daylight. I have NEVER seen this buck in person. I’ve hunted his core area, bedding area, and travel corridors in early season, all phases of the rut, and late season (which is where I thought I’d most likely see him) but have had no luck! I would really just like to see him on the hoof! Harvesting him would just be a bonus! I’ve tried every tactic in my 20 plus year book and have tried everything my friends and mentors have thought, maybe you can give me a new tactic!
Ive had several bucks in the 7-9year old range although these deer are so cautious in every step they take, they do move in the daylight. The last buck I shot that was that old I finally had to back off the food source four hundred yards I thought he was coming from based on where I found his sheds the last several years. I truly think bucks like this may not walk over 50-100 yds before dark. Thats why they are so hard to kill you cant get close enough to hunt them. Im assuming this is the case with your buck as well as your deer are likely being pressured from other hunters.
I hunt a 36,000 acre patch of public ground here in Arkansas. Everytime I think I have a pattern figured out the deer disappear. Got any tips on how the close the deal before they catch on and skin out? Thanks and I love the show!!
With any public ground you are gonna have deer that are highly sensitive so you have to figure out how to enter and exit your stand without any deer having a chance of spotting you or smelling your scent trail. I do this by walking up any ditch or creek that is deep enough to hide you to get in and out of stand. I always try to keep my wind to were it is difficult for deer to circle downwind. You have your work cut out for you on public ground. I have hunted public ground in the past and you have to figure out the most inaccessible part of that public ground so other people arent messing with your hunt too.
What can I do to lure in does after the rut in MN? I only have Doe tags left. (One Buck and a Doe in the Freezer…BTW, while wearing Scent-Lok!) I am not going out for firearm. But I would like to go out again after.
Theres only one way to bring does in…food! They will be pounding some kind of standing grain or leftover crops that have already been harvested. You can bet they will be grouped up on some kind of foodsource!
I got deer blood on my scent lok pants and jacket. What are the steps I should take to wash my scent lok clothing?
First of all, congrats on getting a deer!! Pretty simple really, I would recommend just using fragrance free washing detergent, there are tons of different kinds on the market specifically for hunting clothing, I use Scent-Lok’s Activated Carbon Clothes Wash for all of my washing. You should be good to go from there.
Does putting sent lock clothing in the dry reactivate it?
Absolutely!! That is exactly how it should be used. Put your Scent-Lok in the dryer for 40-50 minutes on high heat and store it in an air tight container when it is not being worn in the field. I usually reactivate my Scent-Lok in the dryer around 6-8 times a season so I’m keeping the activated carbon pores fresh.
What do you think about chewing tobacco in a tree stand? spitting on ground or a plastic water bottle?
Well we recommend that no tobacco is used in the field in order to keep all foreign odors out as much as possible. But we also understand that habits are habits. I would recommend using a plastic bottle so that the scent from the tobacco is concealed as much as possible and isn’t being left on the ground after you leave your hunting area.
Does scent lock clothing require the use of any scent away products to be used or sprayed on the outer layers of the clothing? Or does the clothing eliminate scents on the outside from sitting around campfires etc.
Scent-Lok does not require any scent away products or sprays to be used on the clothing. Actually, Scent-Lok recommends that you do not use any of the sprays on it to keep the adsorbing of the activated carbon at it’s peek levels. We really encourage you not to sit around the campfire with Scent-Lok or wear your Scent-Lok anywhere but in the field when hunting. Otherwise it should be stored in an airtight container.
What is the difference between the head hunter suit and the full season?
The differences between the Head Hunter suit and the Full Season suit are the Head Hunter suit is a softshell fabric that repels water extremely well and has a contoured fit to the body. It is also a little heavier weight than the Full Season. The Full Season is a trico-fleece (basically think of a light quiet microfleece) fabric that is not as water resistant as the Head Hunter and is a little lighter in weight. The Full Season also fits a little more loosely than the Head Hunter.
Are Scent-Loc products UV light free?
Yes they are treated against UV light so there is no need to treat it for UV prevention.
I am wanting to buy a set of scent lok base layers. When looking at sizes, should I buy them as a compression fit or a little looser?
They are generally a little tighter fitting. So it really depends on what type of fit you want. If you want to go with a compression feel I would go with your original size. if you are looking for something a little looser you might want to think about sizing up one size.
I have long walks to my stand and tend to sweat a lot, especially before the temperature drops. Should I put my scent lok clothes in my bag when I get to my truck or do I need to air dry them first?
Great question. I would recommend letting them air dry first. But, if you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to let them air dry go ahead and put them in your bag, but it would be a good idea to reactivate it in the dryer right when you get home and restore it in your airtight container.
How do you reactive the carbon web panels for the travel bags?
You don’t. The carbon mats are used for the entire season and then at the end of your season simply throw it away and replace it before the start of next season.
Can I use Scent Lok in my new High Efficiency Washer which reguires HE soap?
Yes you certainly can!
I’ve located a mature buck on highly pressured property. I feel that I have also located his bedding area without spooking him, but I haven’t seen him after the season started. How often does a mature buck get up and move during the middle part of the day outside of the rut? Or how far from his bedding area might he venture? Thanks…been watching your shows for YEARS.
There is only very few times that a mature buck will be caught on his feet with any consistency. One of those is early season and by that I mean August-October 10th after that he goes into seclusion . Once velvet has been stripped they are a totally different animal. They obviously are on their feet moving about, but I promise it’s not very far from their bedding area. In the mornings he will already be slipped back into his bedding are before the first crack of light. In the evenings they may not move 100yds until you get closer to the very first doe to cycle. When mature bucks do move they are notorious for letting all of the young bucks and does walk into the fields , food plots first they have to make sure everything is safe. I’ve found the best bet for taking mature bucks is in the mornings . It seems like odds are better and after all night of peace and quiet they let their guard down. In the evenings they have heard people, vehicles and dogs. They are tense and on edge. It’s very hard to get close to their bedding area before it gets dark. Without bumping them. If you haven’t caught him before prerut then hunt the does he will then be on his feet for the first time after velvet stripping. Here in Iowa sometimes our best bet is late season. Pray for cold and snow then hunt the food!
Can I use Scent Lok in my new High Efficiency Washer which reguires HE soap?
Absolutely!! Scent-Lok’s Activated Carbon Detergent is HE so you will be good to go.
How do you reactive the carbon web panels for the travel bags?
You actually don’t. Just take it out of the plastic sealed bag once you get it and put it in your bag or tote. Then once the season is over throw it away and get a new one.
I have long walks to my stand and tend to sweat a lot, especially before the temperature drops. Should I put my scent lok clothes in my bag when I get to my truck or do I need to air dry them first?
Since your Scent-Lok clothing should never be outside of an airtight bag or some other type of scent free storage, you should put them back in the bag. But once you get home it would be a good idea to hang them outdoors and let them dry and throw them back in your dryer to reactivate if you have sweated a lot in them.
I am wanting to buy a set of Scent-Lok base layers. When looking at sizes, should I buy them as a compression fit or a little looser?
They fit more like compression fit. So it depends on the type of fit you like.
I have an original Scent-Lok suit given to me by my dad he says it’s about 10 yrs old. Is it still good or to old?
It really depends on how much it has been used in the field. Judging from an average hunters time in the woods, Scent-Lok suits are usually effective for around six years. Now if the suit has been used very little or not at all you should be good to go. Otherwise, you might want to look into updating your Scent-Lok gear.
Is it necessary or useful to wash newly purchased scent-lok products (full season pants, jacket, gloves, stove-it mask) prior to going into the woods? Does in-store scent and handling affect the products capacity?
I always wash my Scent-Lok gear when it is brand new. Although the activated carbon is not actually adsorbing anything until it is put in the dryer to be activated, I still like to get all of the surfaces clean from everyone’s hands and even just general storage smells from warehouses, stores, etc. off of the suit. So yes, I would recommend it. No, in store scent and handling does not effect the clothing’s integrity.
What kind of detergent do you recommend to wash my sccent lock dakota jacket. also how do i recharge the carbon in it. I remember reading something about it on the tag when i bought it a few years ago but i lost that tag when i moved thanks-cory
I always use Scent-Lok’s Carbon Reactivating Detergent. It is specially made to clean the fabric as well as the activated carbon in your Scent-Lok suit. It has special enzymes in that target a really broad range of odors. That’s about all I know. I leave that scientific stuff to the folks at Scent-Lok, all I know is that it works!
Do I need to wash my new Scent-Loc clothes before I go hunting?
You really only need to wash your suit after it has gotten really dirty, bloody or if you have sweat in it a lot. Otherwise it needs to be reactivated in your dryer about six to eight times a season. I usually reactivate the activated carbon in my Scent-Lok suit at the very beginning of the season four or five times through late October and November and then two more times during the late season. Of course that all depends on how much I am hunting, what the conditions are, etc.
Haven’t used my suit in a couple years. What do I need to do to reactivate my suit?
The first thing you should probably do is wash it if you didn’t wash it at the end of your last season. Make sure you use detergent that is meant for activated carbon clothing. Then you want to put it in your dryer for a normal cycle. The heat from your dryer is actually what reactivates the carbon in your Scent-Lok suit. Once the drying cycle is done make sure you store it in an air tight bag either by it self or only with other activated carbon clothing. Then you are good to go!
When you see that a buck is going to give you a shot opportunity, what is your final thought process leading up to the shot?
The first thing I do is make sure the deer is old enough. Then I start thinking where is the wind and which pin I am going to use 20, 30 or 40. I always guess exactly where my shot is going to be and position my feet before he gets to that spot. I try not to draw until his perifial vision is to where I think I can draw where I won’t get picked. Take a deep breath, relax and repeatedly tell myself do not mess this up, bury the pin and take the shot. Obviously we are always filming these hunts so its not only me I have to worry about. I have to make sure the camera man is getting good footage and is on the deer before I shoot and that can be very distracting.
Do you typically like to hunt mornings or afternoons better? Why?
Defiantly mornings! I feel its easier to catch a deer going back to his bed in the morning because he has been out all night without seeing people, cars, trucks, etc and their attitude makes it much easier to call and rattle when they are in that relaxed mode. In the evenings, they don’t put very much distance on after they get out of their bed so you really have to get close to their bedding areas and you take the chance of getting too close and jumping that deer.
What have you found to be the most effective food source for the early season?
Early season, The best food source is probably acorns. But they can be very difficult to hunt when you have 200 oak trees per acre. As far as crops, green plots are hard to beat.
In your opinion, are rub lines reliable enough to hunt?
Yes. Rub lines are just basically a bucks travel route. You just need to keep in mind where these rub lines are coming from and going to. An important question to ask is a rub line connecting food to cover? Because if your hunting a rub line in the morning you need to be closest to the cover side of that. The opposite in the evenings be closer to the food source.
When is usually the best time to call and rattle?
We have rattled in bucks from Oct 1-Jan 10th. But if I had to narrow it down the best time is two weeks prior to the first does coming into heat. Which is usually Oct 20-Nov 5 here in the Midwest.
What is it like having your wife as your hunting partner?
Convenient! It is definitely let us spend more time together and more then anything you learn every move the other person is going to make which helps as a cameraman/hunter.
There are a lot of mixed feelings on shooting does, how important is it really?
The most important thing that a manager can do! High deer numbers over browse the habitat, over stresses the bucks and will cause the mature bucks to intentionally stay on your outside edges away from the high deer numbers. In time high deer numbers cause smaller bodies and smaller racks. If you can keep the deer numbers at a 1 to 1 or 2 to 1 your top end potential will go through the roof.
Hello, I’m Don Kisky, you may ask me anything.
