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What’s that smell? 8 scent-control solutions to cover your tracks

Whether you’re stalking game or sitting in a tree stand, these options can be the difference between a successful hunt and going home empty-handed

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Scent control is a critical aspect of successful hunting. Many game animals, especially deer and elk, have an exceptional sense of smell that allows them to detect human presence from hundreds of yards away. They rely heavily on their olfactory senses to identify predators, making it crucial for hunters to minimize or eliminate their scent to avoid detection. Even the slightest whiff of human odor can send game fleeing long before you get within shooting range.

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While visual camouflage helps conceal your body, masking or neutralizing your scent is often the key factor in getting close to animals undetected. Wind direction, body odor, and the scent left behind by your gear or boots can all tip off wary animals. To overcome this challenge, hunters rely on a range of scent-control products designed to neutralize, cover, or eliminate human odors. These tools are essential whether you’re stalking game or sitting in a tree stand, and using them effectively can be the difference between a successful hunt and going home empty-handed. We’ve compiled a list of 10 top scent-control products that every serious hunter should consider.

Scent-blocking sprays and soaps

Before you head out into the wilderness, ensure you remove as much of your scent as you can by washing your clothes, body and hair with scent-blocking products.


Whether you’re looking for a compact pair of binoculars for traveling light or equipped with night vision for those early morning hunts, we’ve got you covered

Scent-blocking apparel

Invest in scent-locking gear and apparel to prevent unwanted body odor from escaping while out on the trail.

Scent-blocking accessories

Still getting a whiff of human as you walk? Take a look at these accessories that go a step further in removing smells.

Rachel Engel is an award-winning journalist and the senior editor of FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. In addition to her regular editing duties, Engel seeks to tell the heroic, human stories of first responders and the importance of their work. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, and began her career as a freelance writer, focusing on government and military issues. Engel joined Lexipol in 2015 and has since reported on issues related to public safety. Engel lives in Wichita, Kansas. She can be reached via email.