I also agree with keeping the wind in your face and using the sun to your advantage. I use the scent killers and scent blocker technology though. I think that it can only help, it certainly wont hurt. I dont know if fire smoke would scare the animals or not, but why risk it? Lets face it, most game animals do not smell smoke unless they are around humans. Most game animals are afraid of humans. Now a yaerling buck may not associate those smells but a mature buck might. A mature buck whose been chased around by campfire smelling humans definately will. Also, old smoke on clothing smells different than fresh smoke. When there is a natural fire, animals run like he** from it, they dont sit around and sniff it (I've seen Bambi, I know!). They are very curious animals, thats how they learn to associate certain smells with humans. They also know that humans= DANGER.
I used to smoke cigarettes and so did all of my hunting buddies, most of the deer that we ever seen were running like he** away from us. I did not harvest a deer for about the first 7 years I hunted. I quit smoking and so did some of my friends and have lost touch with the ones who still smoke. Since I have quit smoking... I have harvested a deer EVERY year but one! I am certainly not saying that's the only reason i have harvested deer, but I am sure that it helped. Tobacco smoke is a "natural smell" also. BTW, I never smoked while I was hunting but it was in my clothes. I also know that alot of smokers shoot deer, I just think that it can affect the way the deer react.
