AH survey on HECS technology hunting clothing

[steve white]

How many of you have used HECS clothing as an aid to stalking game? In your opinion, is it effective for the reasons HECS gear claims? Can you share with us hunt stories in which it is patently obvious that this clothing system gave you an edge in not being detected by game?
In other words, is it worth the investment.

 

[Rare Breed]

Steve please forgive my ignorance. Just not familiar with the acronym. During my deer hunting career I was a scent free nut. I used all carbon suits scents fans in tree stands you name it I bought it. My experience was if the wind was swirling the deer did not detect me…however if wind blowing directly to them nothing could save me.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I'm a suburban hunter. Deer here are acclimated to humans and their scent. On the ground I wear a ghillie suit and blend in to the environment. In a tree stand, it's any camo that's clean and only washed in detergents without brighteners. Also wear a face mask. I've had deer stare at me up in tree stand and then just amble on. Sometimes, I even talk to them. I usually say "How you doing"? Quick movements put them in gear. Not sure I need the latest and greatest HEC stuff. These guys didn't.

 

[LP67]

When the wind is wrong its game over. I dont use ANY scent stuff , I hunt the wind, its simple. However I do use Hecs. Been using it for about 6 years with success . Its does block the electrical field that any human / animal have. Hunting with my Trad bow I have to be "on top" of the animal( within 12-15 yrds) and in that situation I have found that when the animal " picks" me off , because of movement maybe , they hardly ever bolt , they hang in looking hard at me and if I dont move they will cary on doing whatever they do. I do have on full leafy type camo over the Hecs. Mind over matter? Maybe but , I have tried this here in US and Africa with success. ‍

 

[steve white]

HECS has nothing to do with scent. It is supposed to impede human electrical aura so to speak. You are perceived as an inanimate object. Films show predators coming close, turkeys and deer even closer. There is a weave in the fabric which supposedly fllters or disrupts the bodies electrical signature. Sort of a land based version of how reef sharks find fish by their heartbeat, only it is defeated. You can google it up for a better explanation. 30 min. ads are on hunting channels from time to time.

 

[Safari Dave]

IMHO - Simply Vodou, Voodoo, Voudo, or however you want to to spell it.


In my 50 years of hunting experience, you simply wear drab clothing, move quietly, and stay downwind.
It has worked all over the world for thousands of years and it still works just fine today.

 

[sureshot375]

Been seeing the stuff pop up on Facebook but didn’t really understand what it was about. I’m open to new technology, but skeptical of gimmicks.

I laughed at ozone generators until I started reading the positive reviews. It’s been a game changer for me bow hunting whitetails. I can honestly ignore the wind and hunt.

Would love to hear from someone with actual experience with hecs.

 

[Luvthunt]

IMHO - Simply Vodou, Voodoo, Voudo, or however you want to to spell it.


In my 50 years of hunting experience, you simply wear drab clothing, move quietly, and stay downwind.
It has worked all over the world for thousands of years and it still works just fine today.

+1

 

[PARA45]

I have a friend who has the suit and has used it. He was skeptical about this but decided to give it a try. The deer seem more relax vs. when he didn't have the suit on. Works best when you have to be close to the animals, like while using a bow.

 

[BeeMaa]

I’ve used it extensively and it’s made a difference. I’ve had turkey come right up to my position laying against a tree, within 5 feet without them being alarmed. Of course it was deer season and turkey wasn’t an option.

When not wearing it, I’ve never had turkey or deer get that close to me.

I will say that it’s “one more thing” and sometimes I take it and sometimes not. Just depends on what I plan on doing.

For the hunting I do in Africa, I’d leave it home. Pretty useless if everyone isn’t wearing it.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I’ve used it extensively and it’s made a difference. I’ve had turkey come right up to my position laying against a tree, within 5 feet without them being alarmed. Of course it was deer season and turkey wasn’t an option.

When not wearing it, I’ve never had turkey or deer get that close to me.

I will say that it’s “one more thing” and sometimes I take it and sometimes not. Just depends on what I plan on doing.

For the hunting I do in Africa, I’d leave it home. Pretty useless if everyone isn’t wearing it.

By any chance was this soon after Thanksgiving turkey dinner? If so, that might have been a female on the dinner table and a male close to you. Could have smelled turkey on your breath.

 

[Matthias5662]

Checking through peer-reviewed, scientific literature on the subject electroreception in animals, I came across the reference:

"The ecology of electricity and electroreception" by by S. England and D. Robert in Biological Reviews 2021. ​

The authors of this extensive scientific review do mention the ability of mammals, namely one species of dolphin, duck-billed platypuses, and moles that may indeed be able to detect weak electrical discharge from prey in water. There is abundant literature and numerous studies that have examined this ability in fish and more recently in insects in aerial environments. The study does not mention any reference to this ability in any terrestrial game animals or birds.

So... we are left to decide on our own regarding the efficacy of the HEC garments. Perhaps they do work but perhaps not for the reasons the manufacturers give regarding electrical fields and their detection by terrestrial vertebrates.

 

[Philip Glass]

I am sure they along with other scent control products help but body and clothing odor is not the problem. It is our breath that they smell. We are constantly emitting air/gas as we breathe that carries farther and faster than any body odor.