Scent control in hot weather

In my part of the country deer season open in early September, and it can still be over 90 degrees. Like many of you, I work hard to control my scent. Washing my clothes in scent free detergent, storing them in scent free containers, bathing in scent free soap and using some general cover scents. But when walking to a stand, regardless of how slow you still are sweating profusely it seems to be a waste of time.

While i know it is not a total waste of time, or i would not do it, I still feel that in the heat, more than at any other time, wind direction is critical, as is stand placement and height of the stand. On several hunts through out the year I will hunt in shorts and a camo T-shirt. Even then with 90+ degree heat and 90% humidity, it is near impossible to control your odor/scent when sweat is rolling down your cheek while just sitting on stand. It is during this time of year that I pay a closer watch on my wind direction than at other times. Because when it is difficult to control your scent, it is still possible to control where you sit and how the wind effects your setup.

On my hunting ground, I have stands established for every wind direction, when setting up a stand, I will get into the stand with a compass, and write down the proper winds for that stand. Noting what is perfect, and what is acceptable. I keep this in a log, and before I leave for a hunt I will take note of the prevailing wind, and let that dictate where I will hunt.

Too often hunters will decide on where they will hunt before they ever leave home, they have a favorite stand, or location they have been dying to get into and decide they will sit there, and give the wind no attention until they are up in their stand and only then realize that the wind is wrong. All the while alerting every deer in the woods of your location. Contrary to this I do not decide where I will hunt until i get out of the truck or out of camp and then check the wind and using the log book, allow that days wind to determine where I will hunt.

In addition to this method, I will still use all of the precautions, and some cover scent like Raccoon Pee or Fox Pee to mask my scent some. Hoping it will minimize the odor I know I am casting through my sweat.

Nothing is fool proof in the heat, but by paying attention to the wind and carefully deciding where you will hunt based on the wind will allow you much more success in the heat of the day and in the heat of the moment.