Deer can smell you!

That’s alright; I can sometimes smell them, too. You gotta pay attention to air movements; if he’s downwind, he’ll smell you. Although I acknowledge that fact, any effort to reduce the scent I’m wearing seems beneficial. I have been skeptical of the scent- blocking clothes which have been available in recent years and I have not tried them; they are expensive and too high- tech for my tastes. However, I observe several precautions to control scent:

• Rubber- bottomed boots track less scent on the trails and around the stand.
• Keep clean, but avoid scented soaps
• No after- shave scents, use unscented deodorants.
• Avoid scented toothpastes; use baking soda
• Use unscented bug dope, and apply it before nearing the stand.
• Permethrin spray is available to treat clothing, not skin, and lasts through washing. It has some scent, but it seems much less than the DEET- based sprays.
• I don’t use cover scents on my person, except an occasional application to my boots, to cover my trail.
• I pump my gasoline after work, don’t wait until I’m headed for the woods and wearing my hunting garb. Those gasoline odors stick to skin, clothing, and boots.
• Around camp, I avoid the exhaust odors of cars, generators, chain saws, ATV’s, cigarettes, cooking, and campfires.

Hunting clothes

Here’s another of those pre- season tasks I consider essential. I always wash my hunting clothes just prior to opening day and wrap them in bags so they won’t pick up the odors of people, dogs, cooking, chemicals, after- shave, etc. I use those scent- free sport detergents. They are convenient, a bottle lasts all year, and it truly seems to make a difference. I have been impressed by these sport detergents, but maybe I’m just kidding myself with the scent- free aspect. I learned long ago that deer have powerful senses of smell; if he’s downwind, he’ll know I’m there. You just gotta watch for air movements, and any little thermal air current can drift your scent.

I suspect the absence of UV brighteners is significant with these sport detergents. These detergents are formulated without any of the bluing agents that light up in ultraviolet light. In low- light conditions, the plastic inserts in the new- fangled bow and gun sights gather enough UV radiation to make them visible for easier aiming. Maybe it actually is the same with laundry bluing. Advertisers say so: that washing in regular laundry detergents makes your clothes fluoresce enough to be more visible to game. I have tried to test this idea in long- wave UV, and there might have been some visible glow. It was not a very substantial one, but maybe the wavelength was wrong. I do, however, believe that the sport- washes make a difference in practice. I have gotten much closer to wildlife since I started washing my hunting clothes with these products. And it’s not only the deer; it helped with other critters, too. Chipmunks and squirrels didn’t spot me as readily and raise their chirping, scolding rackets. Avoiding those alarms seemed to further improve my chances of seeing a deer. There’s a down side, though. It has been disconcerting to have chipmunks run across my boot and squirrels peek around the tree trunk I’m leaning against.

Hunting boots

Anticipating next weekend’s opening of bowhunting, it’s time to get my gear ready. Part of my yearly ritual is to seal the stitching and oil the leather of my hunting boots. I’ve been wearing these rubber- bottomed boots for a number of years; this is probably my third pair. They are from L. L. Bean and they cost too much, but those folks offer a size that actually fits me. These boots are not well ventilated for hot, dry summer conditions but they are great the rest of the time. The rubber bottoms are prone to cuts and punctures and abrasion by cement surfaces… I wear them to play outdoors, and not for work. They are light in weight. The chain- link tread gives traction on slippery ground but resists caking with mud and is easily cleaned with a squirt of water. My 10- inch boots are just right for puddles and small streams, but they are available up to your knees. The soles are flexible and you can feel ground contours and sticks that might snap. The foam insoles are removable for drying and provide insulation from the cold ground.

I wasn’t wearing these boots in 2004 when I crashed that ladder, something I am reminded of every time I ache from weather changes. My old boots were punctured, torn, and worn out. Actually, you can send old boots back to L. L. Bean for repairs; they’ll even stitch on new rubber bottoms. I didn’t want to buy new boots just then, and couldn’t decide whether repair would be cost- effective. I decided I must just make do with what I had… talk about not cost- effective! The lugged soles I was wearing caused me to get hung on the ladder rung and I was trapped for the ride down.

Chocolate Pancakes

¼ C Pancake mix (just- add- water)

1 Envelope instant hot cocoa mix

¼ C Water

I usually dole out the pancake mix in a measuring cup, and it serves as the mixing vessel, too. Pre- measure in a disposable plastic bag and you won’t have the cup to wash. Mix dry ingredients and blend in the water (may need an additional spoon of water for desired batter consistency). Pancake batter usually has some lumps; just bang it together and griddle it in a greased skillet, portioning the mix into 3 or 4 pancakes. Cook over low heat and flip when the surface appears set; the second side doesn’t take long to cook. Chocolate pancakes are great plain, or top with peanut butter, margarine, syrup, honey, fruit, or what- have- you.

A nutty idea for hot cocoa

High- activity outdoor fun can consume lots of energy, so calorie- dense foods are a boon to backpackers and day- hikers. Here is a delicious energy pick- me- up that is quick, easy, and packs well. Simply stir up a mug of instant cocoa mix. The single- serving envelopes are widely available, and all you need is hot water. Blend a dollop of peanut butter into your steaming drink and enjoy. I always have peanut butter in my pack. I like the stuff, it has many uses, and it keeps a long time if protected from moisture and light. Per teaspoon, peanut butter adds more than 30 Calories, with about 2 ½ grams of fat, plus a little protein and carbohydrate. You adventurous spirits might prefer the chunky- style.