Scent control

[btheis13]

Talk to me about scent control in South Africa. Here in the U.S. it's a must for archery deer, bear, elk, etc. I am typically a scent control freak, but what about a rifle hunt in RSA?

Definitely spraying clothes with permethrin at home before trip and taking aerosol spray to touch-up during hunt. I've heard others talk about DEET, which stinks, and my PH recommends Avon Skin-so-soft which stinks. I was thinking maybe picaridin (doesn't smell) instead.

Do I even bother with scent-free shampoo, soap, and field spray?

Note: Late May rifle hunt in Limpopo

 

[BourbonTrail]

In Africa, reading the wind and using it to your advantage is scent control.

Maybe use if hunting from blinds, but on the stalk it’s pointless. There will be at least 2-4 people at all times for tracking/stalking. No one else is using man made controls, just wind.

The animals are also much less skittish than North American game. In RSA, I walked up within 20 yards of Buffalo solely because the wind was in my face while they were looking down grazing.

 

[Red Leg]

I promise you that your tracker, PH, and game scout, should you have one, will not be practicing commercial sent control. What they will do is hunt the wind and avoid unnecessary sudden movement.

 

[btheis13]

I should have mentioned my hunt is for plains game.

I will leave my Dead Down Wind products at home. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Bert the Turtle]

I promise you that your tracker, PH, and game scout, should you have one, will not be practicing commercial sent control. What they will do is hunt the wind and avoid unnecessary sudden movement.

Exactly. And also the reason why wearing camo is unnecessary.

 

[Sketchy1973]

My wife claims that I fit right in at the hippo ponds.

I grew up bow hunting, playing the wind is key. We did have any sent control washes or weird deodorant. As a matter of fact, we usually hung up our clothes out side for a few days. On a dairy farm, the local deer would be use to farm smells. I'd work in the barn, get done feeding, check the wind, and that would tell me which blind to head to. But that's white tail deer.