Deer Hunting Boots

[Canuck]

JohnnyC: I like your thinking. Maybe somebody should start a thread with different types of natural (home things) for scent covers, attractants etc. I get the biggest laugh when I brows at the gadget (hunting) shops. It is unbelievable what people will buy.

[Ruttin' Buck]

Okay, back at this. Being a tightwad is fine, but remember, if you're out for a big buck complete dedication and certainty of your gear is part of it.

I really like to stress clean boots to my fellow hunters. There's one article of clothing in contact with the deer world at all time when afield and that's your boots. That's why I don't walk on trails and I always wear clean boots.

My boot of choice (except when really warm) is the Lacrosse Ice Kings. Rubber bottoms, wool liners, and very warm. I just saw them on sale for $60 this weekend at the man's mall.

If you want to keep using one of your pairs I would say start by leaving them outside. Alot of the scent will eventually diffuse out. Wash the liners in baking soda if they have liners and maybe wash down the rest with baking soda. Like I mentioned before however, just because we can't smell anything doesn't mean a buck can't.

I will agree with bigbucks that a younger 5 pointer and a 8pts and up buck are two different things. I could go on and on about forks, 6's, spikes that milled around aimlessly almost looking to get shot. I've probably had almost just as many bruisers skirt the shadows on me.

As for cover scent, I don't use it. Here's my take and just take it with a grain of salt, but hear me out. Think of it this way...when you step in your house after a long day of work you know the smell of your house, it's unique and recognizable. Well now pretend you walk in and the little lady has a hotdish going in the oven. Now you really smell a stong odor of one of the things that is 'normal' in your house. Okay, in either case, if you step in the kitchen and 3 days ago the wife had decided to pitch some chicken trimmings in the garbage you will smell them above all the other 'good' and 'normal' smells in your house and I guarantee you won't like it.

Now picture a big buck strolling on his turf. Everything smells normal. Then he smells something normal...but potently normal. Fine, maybe he didn't spook. But, if he still smells you...you just became the chicken trimmings.

You see, cover scent does not eliminate your smell. It simply gives a stronger 'normal' odor out hoping to mask off your scent. I would rather spend my planning on making sure I'm as clean as I can be and play the wind to make sure I see big deer. So many guys don't realize how many deer they could see if they kept clean. Meaning, half the time you'll never know if a buck busted you because if you smell, he'll go around you before you even see him.