Wash Camo Clothing??

NebrCatMan · Jul 29, 2018

Hey all... don't know if this is the right forum to ask on, but who here does not wash their camo clothes before a hunt. I am pretty sure you can't really beat an elk's sense of smell. I usually don't wash my camo clothes unless they are soiled or some blood on them. I just hang on a outside clothes line for a week or so.... may spray down some items with scent killer. I have washed my clothes in the past... cold water, scentless soap... line dried. But if they are not dirty seems like the camo lasts longer without being washed. Any comments??

Tikka · Jul 29, 2018

I'm not sure if this is the right forum or not as well... If you would have put SFW or BHA in the tittle you would?ve had 3 times the traffic and comments...

Anyhow back your question... I wash mine in scent free laundry soap and then cut either sage or pine needles and place my clothes and pine/sage in a plastic bag... And continue to do that every night while hunting...

Vanilla · Jul 29, 2018

I wash. Sweaty BO human scent is as bad as any laundry detergent. I sweat a lot when I hunt. I wash.

dirtclod Az. · Jul 29, 2018

I run clean water for a cycle in machine,then wash with sentless soap or baking soda.Depends what I have on hand.Then hang outside for a couple days.Same with sleeping bag.

brutus54 · Jul 29, 2018

LAST EDITED ON Jul-29-18 AT 09:58PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jul-29-18 AT 09:55?PM (MST)

I wash my stuff like normal but no dryer sheets. Then a week before the hunt I use Moccasin Joe Natural Scents. Sage, Pine or Cedar depends on what I am hunting in. I put everything in a plastic bag put a few drops of this stuff in the bag and seal. My clothes smell just like what ever I used Sage is my favorite. This stuff is a natural masking scent it smells just like what it says on the bottle. And it lasts a long time. Plus I carry it with me in the field and put a few drops on me from time to time.

http://moccasinjoedist.com/store/2-scents?p=3

feddoc · Jul 29, 2018

I wash my stuff in scent neutralizing stuff, but not baking soda as it can absorb odors.

I also hang my clothes outside once we get to camp and rub them in local dirt.

Solodawg · Jul 29, 2018

I hunt like a crusty old mountain man and keep the wind in my face with a small bottle of powder windicator. I still use the old HS scent wafers though it's mostly out of habit and superstition. Hard to beat a bulls nose or sometimes more importantly a lead cows nose.

OpeningDay · Jul 30, 2018

If I get within 700 yards or so and think they may smell me, I just back out to 1100 or so before making the shot. Just my work jeans and a T shirt seems to have worked in the past. maybe a Carhart jacket if the wind is up. haha. Sorry guys, I couldnt resist.

I wash, do my best to play the wind. Never wear my camo around the camp fire. Always mist up with some scent killer before heading out. I am a muzzy hunter so being mindful of wind direction usually can get me in close enough for the shot. I havent archery hunted in years, but I would be a lot more mindful of scent if I was flippin sticks.

swampokie · Jul 30, 2018

>If I get within 700 yards
>or so and think they
>may smell me, I just
>back out to 1100 or
>so before making the shot.
> Just my work jeans
>and a T shirt seems
>to have worked in the
>past. maybe a Carhart
>jacket if the wind is
>up. haha.
>Sorry guys, I couldnt
>resist.
>
>I wash, do my best to
>play the wind. Never
>wear my camo around the
>camp fire. Always mist
>up with some scent killer
>before heading out.
>I am a muzzy hunter
>so being mindful of wind
>direction usually can get me
>in close enough for the
>shot. I havent
>archery hunted in years, but
>I would be a lot
>more mindful of scent if
>I was flippin sticks.
Really? No blazing pines cover scent? Wouldn?t hit the
Woods without having a six pack and can of baked beans over a smoky pine knot. Wow the times r a changin!

Elkslayer2015 · Jul 30, 2018

I wash mine with scent away and hang them outside to dry then I go get my tote put my clothes in and then put pine tree limbs in with them seal it up and let them sit for 2 weeks before the hunt I've also put quaky branches in with it before and that works really well.

if you really want to smell like sagebrush then go cut some and put them in there if you can stand the smell

brutus54 · Jul 30, 2018

>I wash mine with scent away
>and hang them outside to
>dry then I go get
>my tote put my clothes
>in and then put pine
>tree limbs in with them
>seal it up and let
>them sit for 2 weeks
>before the hunt I've also
>put quaky branches in with
>it before and that works
>really well.
>
>if you really want to smell
>like sagebrush then go cut
>some and put them in
>there if you can stand
>the smell

I used to do the pine branches and sage in my bag thing too. Until one day I opened the bag and found TICKS!!! So I go with the oil now it smells just as real to me.

NebrCatMan · Jul 31, 2018

I am kinda curious as to why some worry about smoke smell when hunting elk. When I was in Wyoming a couple years during rifle season, smoke smell was every where.... for just about every campsite with a wall tent and stove inside to campsite with wheeled campers. Everybody had a fire going. And the forest fires were burning too. I could smell smoke just about everywhere... in the flat valley all the way up most peaks. Colo was about the same when it turned cold. Wouldn't the elk be used to smoke smell. I am sure strong human scent makes them turn tail, just smoke.... I kinda wonder.

1911 · Jul 31, 2018

Use whatever your boyfriend likes. It will work just as well and people won't think you're a fag.

Itwasmyboottracks · Aug 1, 2018

I used to go the full routine with scent control. Wash clothes in scent killer, place in bag with sage and pine needles, wash body and hair with scent killer soap and shampoo, use scent killer deodorant, spray with scent killer before during and after hike...and on and on. And EVERY SINGLE TIME I got up wind of a deer or elk it scented me and blew out. Lesson learned, almost all of those products are gimmicks that do little or nothing. Wind in my face animals can't smell me. wind on my neck, watch it run off, anyone who tells you other wise is selling something. I still do everything I can to not stink or have ANY strong odors on me, but that's just as effective as anything else.

dirtclod Az. · Aug 1, 2018

Unless your wearing an Elk skin rug over your shoulders covered in urine and mud,and your upwind they are going to smell you no matter what you wash your clothes in or spray on yourself.

elkboy32 · Aug 1, 2018

I use tide pods. They work well and taste great.....

In honesty though, I just wash everything like I would normally do it. An elk will smell tons of different fragrances coming off you. At least I can smell good as well.

Elkslayer2015 · Aug 1, 2018

NebrCatMan Valid point The area I hunt is loaded with human scent camp fires year round and it doesn't seem to bother them when your walking threw the woods I mean yeah as soon as they see you the haul the mail but I think It a lot different when you get away from all of that it truly matters if you smell like smoke

ICMDEER · Aug 2, 2018

I give mine to my wife and she washes them. She says scent free. And I know they smell a lot better after she gives them back to me than when I hand them to her.

I agree 100%. Doesn't matter what scent cover you use, they'll smell you if you are upwind. But it can't hurt to be cautious because you never know where every critter is located.

I also use local stuff. Rub juniper and sage on me. Lots of times I have blood all over my boots; maybe even gut shot stink. So my clothes are secondary to the rest of what's on me.

Staying downwind is the key.

3blade · Aug 2, 2018

I'll wash mine in scent and uv killer soap after the season and hang em in the closet till next year. In the field I'll wear my wool socks a couple days, wool base layer shirt about 5 days, pants about a week, before I switch out to fresh. I do shower at least every other day in the field if possible. Years ago I did the sage in a bag, daily scent sprays and all that bs and found out it doesn't matter what you do, you have to watch the wind or you WILL be busted.

slamdunk · Aug 2, 2018

Big game only see various shades of gray, from black to white.
Standard detergents have UV brighteners in them, so it is recommended to never wash your camo in them or you'll look purple to them, like we see things under a black light.
Simple baking soda works just fine, then hang dry outdoors.