The final S of deer hunting is Scent, and depending on who you listen to this either the most or least important factor between you and your trophy buck.

 If you listen to the multiple companies that manufacture scent killing or masking agents then you believe you won’t even see a deer if you don’t use their product.  If you listen to actual biologists then you understand that it’s impossible to eliminate all your human odor. 

 I’m not saying don’t try, I’m just saying don’t believe everything you see in commercials.  I’ve known hunters who smoked on stand and still killed deer.  It’s also been proven that deer can be attracted to items as odd as new car smell so the real key to scent is not completely eliminating all scent, just don’t smell as much like you as possible.

 Like I said earlier, it’s impossible to eliminate all your scent so if you are going to invest in scent products go with something that smells stronger than you do.  Skunk odor is a good all purpose scent mask because it will easily overpower your scent and deer won’t think there is anything strange about a skunk in the woods.

 If you don’t have access to any store bought scent masking agents then use the natural kind all around you.  Is there a cedar tree on your place?  Cut a few limbs and hang them near your stand.  Any cows on your lease?  Step in every fresh pile of cow poop you can find.  It might smell bad but it won’t smell like you and that’s the point.

 The biggest key in scent control is not eliminating but rather knowing which direction your scent will travel.  Keeping deer upwind of your location will solve most of your scent problems so if at all possible have multiple stands, hunting them as the wind dictates.