Seven Steps To Proper Scent Elimination

I’m a scent-elimination nerd. While I’m not big on attractant scents, etc., I’m all about using everything in my power to reduce my human stink. I’ve followed the same scent-elimination program for over 15 years. Naturally, some of the products have changed over time, but my system remains unchanged.

The good news is my system works. The bad news is, no system is bulletproof. I don’t believe it’s possible to beat the nose of a cagey whitetail completely. I think you can fool that nose—have the buck take four more steps instead of blowing and running—see a buck catch enough of you in the distance to wander off and not run off. Taking care of your human stink matters, and this system, if followed closely, will help you fly under the radar when you’re purposefully hunting marginal winds, when you experience a wind change, or when you get an evening with light swirling winds.

Step 1: Wash It

This isn’t a frilly, feel-good article. This is my system, the nuts and bolts. It’s proven effective for me, and it will be for you as well. The first thing you MUST do is wash your hunting garments. If you’re like me, the inside of your washing machine smells like a perfume shop. My wife loves good-smelling detergent. For this reason, I run a blank washer load with half a lid full of WRC Scent Killer Gold Autumn Formula Laundry Detergent.

After running my blank load, I add my hunting garments, add a full capful of WRC’s scent-killing formula, and let the washer do its job. WRC offers Scent Killer Gold Laundry Detergent without the forest-floor smell. While I do use this standard detergent, I prefer the Autumn Formula.

Step 2: Dry It

How I dry my hunt garments depends on the weather. In early season, I remove all clothing while wearing a pair of medical gloves and store it in a plastic Walmart tote. I put the lid on, run the clothes outside, and hang them to dry. I prefer to air-dry the clothes rather than put them in the dryer when possible.

Air drying isn’t always possible. When I need to use my dryer, I clean the lint trap and add Scent Killer Autumn Formula Dryer Sheets. The dryer sheets prevent static buildup and soften clothing.

Step 3: Spray It

Wildlife Research Center has many amazing products but is most well-known for its Scent Killer Gold Spray. Whether my clothes are air-drying or I use my dryer, I spray every article down with Scent Killer Gold Autumn Formula Spray. Place clothes on a fence, clothing line, etc., and saturate them with WRC’s Scent Killer Gold. The spray bottle releases a powerful mist that attacks odors on contact and prevents odors for up to 20 days after drying. Hunt Dry Technology Plus+ helps the liquid dry quickly and stay effective up to 20 days after drying.

Step 4: Store It

You can place your clothing in a scent-elimination storage box, or use a Walmart tote, MTM-Case Gard case, etc. The key is to spray down the inside of the container and the lid with Scent Killer Gold, then let it dry. Repeat this process a couple of times, and that rubbery smell will go away.

Once your clothing is washed, dried, sprayed, and dried again, put on rubber medical gloves and place it in a sealed storage container.

Step 4: Clean Up

Sadly, I put more time and effort into cleaning up before every deer hunt than I do for a night out on the town with my beautiful bride of 20-plus years. WRC makes the process easy. I use Scent Killer Gold Body Wash & Shampoo to create a deep-cleaning lather. Be sure to scrub those odor-trapping zones and rinse thoroughly. WRC’s Scent Killer Gold Body Wash & Shampoo is powerful. A little bit goes a very long way. The soap contains Aloe, and it doesn’t dry out your skin. I also appreciate that I can use the 24 FL. OZ. bottle for my skin and my hair.

Most hunters make a critical mistake after showering. You’re clean. You’ve added Scent Killer Gold Antiperspirant & Deodorant to your underarms. I also run a streak of this deodorant down my chest and the front of my legs. Again, you’re clean. Think about your towel. The worst thing you can do is grab a towel that smells like a rose and dry off with it. I always keep towels and washcloths washed and dried with WRC products on hand.

After washing and drying off, I put on WRC-treated street clothes. These clothes are usually shorts and a T-shirt during the early season and sweats and a sweatshirt during the late season.

Step 5: In The Truck

I spray the inside of my truck with WRC’s Scent Killer Gold Autumn Formula twice a week. That’s overkill, but again, I’m a scent nerd. I also use a small ozone machine that’s safe for in-vehicle use. I never stop at a gas station or anywhere along the way when I’m headed out to hunt deer.

Step 6: Dress In The Field

It can be miserable, but I highly recommend dressing in the field. The process doesn’t take long, but it does go a very long way in the field when it comes to fooling a deer’s nose. After removing your street clothes and putting on your hunting garments, do one final spray-down with WRC Scent Killer Gold Spray on your outer garments and your boots. Be sure to spray the bottoms of your boots as well.

Step 7: Go Hunt

Arrive at your hunting area early. You never want to be in a rush. Take your time going to your stand or blind. You’ve worked hard to keep your human footprint under control. Don’t blow it now. If you start to sweat, stop for a minute. If you’re wearing too many layers, strip one, attach it to your backpack, and put it back on when you reach your final destination. You’re ready to hunt!

Final Thoughts

I’m a scent-elimination geek, and I make no apologies for it. I’ve followed this same basic system for more than 15 years, and while the products have changed, the process hasn’t. Wash it. Dry it. Spray it. Store it. Clean up. Keep your truck under control. Dress in the field. Then go hunt.

Does this system make me invisible to a whitetail? Absolutely not. No scent-elimination program is bulletproof, and I don’t believe anyone can completely beat the nose of a mature deer. But that isn’t the goal. The goal is to reduce my human stink enough to buy time—to make a buck take four more steps instead of blowing and running, or to turn a dangerous encounter into a deer that wanders away.

That extra margin matters, especially when hunting marginal winds, dealing with a shifting breeze, or sitting through an evening of light, swirling air. Scent control won’t fix a bad wind, careless entry, or poor stand placement. However, it can help keep a small mistake from becoming a blown hunt.

If you follow this system closely, stay patient, and avoid sweating through your clothes on the way in, you’ll give yourself the best possible chance to fly under the radar. That’s all I’m trying to do—and sometimes, it’s enough.