Buying guide for Best hunting scent eliminators
If you’re a hunter, you may go to the trouble of camouflaging yourself so nearby wildlife won’t spot you. Without a hunting scent eliminator, however, your scent can give you away no matter how well you visually conceal yourself.
A hunting scent eliminator is a product that covers human body odors so they’re not detectable to animals. This is no small feat since many animals have an extremely keen sense of smell and can pick up a human scent at quite a distance. When prey detect human odor in the woods, their instinct is to flee. A hunting scent eliminator can restore the element of surprise to your sport.
If you’ve decided to use a hunting scent eliminator, you may be wondering which type, ingredients, and formula are best. In this buying guide, we provide the tips you need to find the best hunting scent eliminator for you.
Key considerations
Type
There are several types of hunting scent eliminator to choose from. The three most common are earthy cover scents, deer urine, and fox urine.
Earthy cover scents use natural compounds to cover human body scents. Some have a dirt-like smell that blends with your surroundings whether you’re in the woods, field, swamp, or even farmland. Other products incorporate tree oil — pine, spruce, balsam fir, cedar, hemlock, or another type — to hide your scent.
Deer urine not only covers human body scents but actually attracts deer to your area. The psychology behind this is simple: the scent of deer urine leads animals to believe that deer have been in the vicinity and, therefore, the area is safe.
Fox urine is an effective hunting scent eliminator because it has an extremely potent musky odor. It works especially well if you’re hunting deer, moose, elk, bear, or other large game animals.
Ingredients
The ingredients in a hunting scent eliminator determine its quality. Some of the best formulas contain organic ingredients that are less likely to irritate your skin.
In addition to tree oil and animal urine, you may find the following ingredients in a hunting scent eliminator.
Activated carbon or charcoal: This works as a natural air filter. The carbon or charcoal is activated through a process that creates small pores on its surface. The porosity allows the carbon or charcoal to absorb odors and remove your natural scent.
Zeolite: This mineral is composed of volcanic ash and alkaline groundwater. It is incredibly porous and can capture and remove odors from the surrounding area.
Antimicrobials: Antimicrobial agents can kill bacteria and prevent the spread of germs. They help with scent elimination by infiltrating odor-causing bacterial cell walls and halting their reproduction.
Engineered polymer resin: This synthetic compound features both large and small pores, allowing it to effectively trap odors and eliminate your scent.
Ozone: This is an unstable gas that can help eliminate scents by grabbing up odor molecules.
Don’t snack on foods with particularly strong odors while hunting because the scents can linger in the air even after you’ve finished eating.
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Features
Formula
Hunting scent eliminators are available in several forms including spray, soap and shampoo, dry sheets, wipes, and machinery.
- Scent eliminator sprays are typically the easiest and most versatile. You apply them to your body and/or your hunting gear. These sprays are usually affordable and highly effective.
- Scent eliminator soap and shampoo are the most traditional options for hunting scent elimination. By bathing with them before a hunting trip, you can mask your scent. Some scent-eliminating soaps are meant for washing your clothing and other hunting gear as well.
- Scent eliminator dry sheets or wipes allow you to wipe down your body or hunting gear while on the go.
- Scent eliminator machines emit ozone to absorb and remove odors. You can set up a machine in your hunting area to help control odor. Notably, these machines do not emit a continuous stream of ozone, so they’re not always the most effective options. A scent eliminator machine is also a poor idea if you intend to cover a lot of ground while hunting because you’d need to move the machine as well. Generally speaking, these machines work best as secondary solutions in conjunction with another method.
Non-staining
Some hunting scent eliminators can stain clothing if they come into contact with it. Since your clothes can carry odors that give you away to nearby animals, it can be helpful to use a non-staining product on your clothes. Carefully read the label to determine whether the product you’re considering might stain your clothes.
Drying time
If you opt for spray or wipes, look for an option that dries fast. You don’t want your hunting gear or your skin to be wet when you head out, especially if you’re hunting in the cold. An eliminator that dries quickly allows you to get down to business as soon as possible.
Did You Know?
Rubber boots are a better option for hunting than leather boots because they don’t breathe and are less likely to produce odors.
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Accessories
Hunting camouflage mask: Primos Hunting Stretch-Fit Full-Hood Face Mask
A hunting camouflage mask can keep you concealed while you’re hunting in the woods. This one from Primos Hunting is a favorite because it has an opening for the mouth for easy breathing and is lightweight enough for warm weather.
Hunting camouflage suits: Compass 360 Camouflage Hunting Suit
If you want to conceal yourself from head to toe while hunting, a camo hunting suit is an essential piece to own. We like this one from Compass 360 because the large neck flap and waterproof material increase its weather protection.
Hunting blind: If you’re using a scent eliminator to prevent animals from smelling you, you definitely want a hunting blind to keep them from seeing you.
Treestand Umbrella: While the game might not have a better option, there's no reason you need to stand around in the rain. A treestand umbrella attaches to a tree and gives you a hands-free way to stay dry.
If you can’t shower during a hunting trip, scent eliminator wipes are an effective way to deal with body odor that might develop.
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Hunting scent eliminator prices
Inexpensive:
The most affordable hunting scent eliminators are wipes, soaps, and shampoos. They aren’t as effective as other eliminators, but they’re fairly easy to use. You can also find some small bottles of scent-eliminating spray in this price range. Expect to pay between $5 and $18.
Mid-range
For $18 to about $70, you can find larger containers of spray and some high-quality soaps. These products are effective and tend to last longer than wipes and other formulas.
Expensive
The most expensive hunting scent eliminators are ozone generator machines. Entry-level ozone generator machines sell for $40 to $100. High-end ozone generators with larger batteries and noise-dampening technology can cost up to $500.
Tips
- Scent elimination starts with your clothing. Use a scent removal soap to wash your hunting gear before you leave. Let your clothes and accessories air dry outside, and then pack them in sealable plastic bags for your trip.
- Wash with a scent-eliminating soap the morning of your hunting trip. It’s a good idea to apply spray when you arrive at your destination to eliminate lingering odors, too.
- Note that even the toothpaste you use may be detectable by animals. This holds especially true for strong minty toothpastes. Use baking soda, a proven odor absorber, instead.
FAQ
Q. How important is it to use a scent eliminator while hunting?
A. There is a strong chance that animals will pick up on your scent when you’re hunting and avoid you. That’s because animals have a much keener sense of smell than humans and can detect even faint odors across great distances. This is particularly true for deer; their sense of smell is nearly 100 times stronger than that of humans.
Q. How long does hunting scent eliminator last?
A. It varies from formula to formula. Sprays tend to last the longest, but most eliminators can mask scents for up to a day.
Q. Can I use more than one type of hunting scent eliminator?
A. Absolutely. Layering multiple hunting scent eliminators can provide more effective scent control, giving you an edge while hunting.
