Today's technology has made it possible to greatly reduce the human-related odors that are so alarming to the deer we hunt. By treating your body, your clothing and the gear you take with you, you can go a long way toward defeating a big buck's sense of smell.

As the great Illinois double-main-beam buck followed the doe down the point, I never once worried about getting winded. I was sitting in a bottom where three drains converged and the winds constantly swirled, but I'd been covered up in deer all morning and hadn't been winded once. After about five minutes of milling around and being totally unaware of my presence, the buck fell to my arrow.

Then there was the mid-140s 10-pointer in Wisconsin. Setting up directly upwind of his bedding area, I watched this buck travel into my scent for over 70 yards before he caught my arrow in the ribs.

The best story of all involves a huge 10-pointer in Missouri. Having just hit the breeze detector less than a minute before his appearance, I knew the point where he stopped was the precise location the wind would be carrying my odors to. As he stood there, purposefully testing the air to determine the location of the Special Golden Estrus I'd put out, he had no clue anything was amiss. Considering that the high humidity, light drizzle and rock-steady wind made conditions perfect for getting winded, I remained undetected, and a well-placed arrow led to a happy ending.

I could fill this entire article with stories about bucks I've taken from "upwind." Better yet, several times a week each season I find myself totally surrounded by does. Yet I can count on one hand the times I've been winded in the last few years, and each of those times I can tell you what I did wrong!

There's no doubt in my mind that hunters can defeat a buck's sense of smell on a very consistent basis. No, I don't believe that I can realistically destroy human odor 100 percent. However, it's my firm belief that I can minimize my odor to the point where it goes undetected, and that approach provides me with the single greatest advantage I've ever had over mature bucks.

I feel so strongly that my scent-control methods work that I haven't hunted the wind in years. Instead, regardless of the wind direction, I sit where I believe I have the best shot at killing a buck on any given day.

TREATING THE BODY
Defeating a buck's sense of smell begins by treating your body. Hair and body pores can and do become saturated with odors. To combat this, I begin cleansing my body a full month before the season opens. I no longer use aftershaves, traditional shampoos, deodorants, scented clothing wash or fabric softeners. I don't apply anything else to my body that gives off a "perfume-like" odor. By using Scent Killer products for personal hygiene and clothing wash, I allow my hair and pores to purify themselves.

Though I do know some hunters who eliminate red meat from their diet, I personally don't. However, I do stay away from spicy or overly aromatic foods and liquids during hunting season. Unfortunately, for me that includes coffee.

Odors in the mouth can be dealt with by brushing with Arm & Hammer baking soda toothpaste. When brushing, be sure to really scour the tongue and also hit the side and roof of your mouth, as well as your gums. Flossing with an unflavored brand is also important.

Nothing I'm aware of can eliminate odor emitted from the throat. That's where coffee is a killer. No matter how well you brush and floss, the coffee smell remains. That's why I make it off limits during the season.

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