Smoking up before you hunt?

[TJH24]

I'm sure that title got your attention, haha.

Have any of you guys ever had any experience with using smoke as a cover scent? It has really become an interesting topic. I have seen it discussed on many other forums.

The concept is that smoke works as one of the strongest natural scents. It also works at killing bacteria on the body, which is the number one cause of human scent. Thats why smoke is used to cure meat.

I have been using it on whitetail here in Pennsylvania for a few years now. I have had many mature deer come in completely downwind of me and not bust out. I know for sure that they smell me, but usually go right back to there business and pay little attention to me. Around here most people burn wood for heat and also leaves and brush in their yards, so smoke is a very natural smell. I have killed two mature bucks and many does while being comepletely smoked up.

I use a bee smoker and basically saturate myself in the smoke. I still hunt the wind as best as I can, but around here, it is usually swirling.

What do you guys think of using it in the mountains for elk hunting? Fire is a very common thing, and I am sure the elk are used to it. I know nothing will completely fool an animals nose, but I was wondering if anyone has heard of it or tried it?

[WapitiTalk1]

Anyone? I'm not a fan of smoke on the clothes but am probably the minority. IMO nothing disguises human scent. One must work the wind ....always to be successful. Curious to hear what others have to say.

[cnelk]

I dont mind having my hunting clothes smell of campfire smoke.
But not of cooking/cooked food.

Maybe its because I like campsmoke more

[stringunner]

I prefer to be as scent free as possible, so no. When I'm at camp, I change into something other than my hunting clothes.

[Swede]

Maybe it was too many forest fires for me, but I have no use for the smell of smoke. I am not sure it hurts anything as far as spooking elk is concerned, but it is stink with your odor attached. My 2 cents.

[JohnFitzgerald]

I heard that smoke does kill bacteria. But as soon as you start moving the collection starts again. Hunt the wind, always.

[elkmtngear]

Anyone? I'm not a fan of smoke on the clothes but am probably the minority. IMO nothing disguises human scent. One must work the wind ....always to be successful. Curious to hear what others have to say.

I'm with you RJ...can't stand to smell campfire smoke on my clothes. Seems the Merino Shirts don't absorb it...but every packable rain jacket I have seems to hold onto it.

[Indian Summer]

I'm with Cnelk.. No cooking smell.

But since I've pretty much lived in wall tents when elk hunting AND I hunt near big burns in my experience it makes a good cover scent. Better than plain old sweat. I don't think you can hunt elk, sweat like a mule, and be scent free so might as well mask it with something natural. I'm not AT ALL interested in man made cover scents or wasting money on the odor eliminating spray products. Gimmick city!

One time it was so cold out I had to build a fire. Smoke was heading straight uphill. Some mulies were sidehilling above me. When they hit the smoke they became so curious they bailed off of the game trail and came down to see what was going on. Interesting. I wouldn't call it an attractant but they obviously didn't smell me over the smoke.

[JGH]

Well, you gotta smell like something ...

so there doesn't have to be a decision between smelling like smoke and playing the wind ... do both!

I don't mind the smell of campfire smoke. If it gives me that extra second before a bull skeedattles ... well, sometimes that's all I needed.

When we say "Just play the wind", I think we're often envisioning a situation in which the location of the elk is known, and we are in a chess match with him to gain the upper hand. That's just good tactics.

But keep in mind that there is always a downwind side to you, and there are more "unknown" elk than "known" elk in the woods!

I stink "Like a boar hog at fly time", my dad used to say. Covering body odor is a nice thing ... for me, not just the elk. (Let alone anyone in camp). So, unscented baby wipes are used daily to remove as much stink as I can and campfire smoke covers the rest so the I don't notice the rest. If there's a benefit while hunting ... that's BONUS.

[TJH24]

Good stuff guys,

I'm on the fence with it. Like I said earlier, it has worked on mature whitetails, but its not 100% nothing is.

I totally agree with everyone thats posted about playing the wind and not being able to fool an animals nose.

The way I "smoke up" is I actually start with a bee smoker and stand in just my boxers and cover all my skin, then dress while still covering each layer in smoke. You will absolutely reek of smoke, thats for sure. I do know that when you sweat or get wet, the smoke smell actually gets stronger.

I read some archived threads on here about "thinking outside the box" and this popped into my head. Not trying to convince anyone, just curious about it. If it helped keep a bull around for just a little longer or allowed you that extra second for the shot, it would be worth it.

[JohnFitzgerald]

An elks nose is very sensitive so there's no real way to 100% mask the human scent. Like JGH stated, bring alchol wipes or scent free wipes to keep it below a rank level. Also take precaution with your hunting cloths. Another alternative to smoke is baking soda. Put half a box in a garbage bag, place your smelly cloths inside, and shake. Leave them for a day and then shake them out well. Baking soda between skin and cloths can lead to serious chafing. Trust me on the chafing advice!

Then like JGH stated, hunt the wind!

[Trumkin the Dwarf]

I will always argue it works in the right situation, due to first hand experience with it, but there are many who don't buy it. Try it if you like, but I think it loses effectiveness pretty quickly(two hours or so).

[Still Hunter]

Wouldn't animals associate smoke with fire, and be alarmed?

[cnelk]

I think most elk hunting areas are near summer camping areas. I havent noticed the smell of camp fire smoke too alarming to elk where I hunt.
But bivy hunting could be a different story

[kevin_t]

I was camping 250 yards from bugling bulls and mewing cows with a wood stove going. They came into my area after dark and stayed all night.

[cnelk]

At first I thought this thread was about smoking pot before you hunt since its legal in Colorado now...

[JohnFitzgerald]

At times our Oregon forests can be filled with ff smoke. So I think they are use to it.

A biologist once told me that elk lungs are just as sensitive as human lungs. Thick smoke will cause them to move out of the area.

The smell of smoke on a hunter might not scare the elk but I'm sure it would draw their attention.