Fact checked by Steven Lines, lifelong Hunter, and Outdoorsman
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Deer (whitetail deer, elk, and other wild animals) have very sensitive noses. If they detect the scent of a hunter, they might leave the area. But how long does human scent linger in the woods?
In most cases, a scent will last for between three to 10 days. How long it will stay will depend on the weather conditions. Thankfully, there are a few ways to limit your scent. For example, you can wear rubber boots, drive an ATV, and limit the number of things you touch.
The last thing you want is for a hunt to be compromised because the deer smelled you. Here’s everything you need to know about how deer detect human scents in the woods.
In this post, we'll cover:
How Long Does Human Scent Linger?
Humans produce a discernable scent, which deer are skilled at detecting. If they sense danger, they will leave the area. In some cases, they will pattern the location. This means that it might be months before they return.
How long a human scent will linger will depend. Some hunters believe that it will last for two to three days. Others think it will last for a week to 10 days. However, this can often depend on the weather conditions.
On a day that has heavy rains, the odor will be washed away. However, if it’s only light rain, the scent might linger close to the ground. This will make it easy for the deer to pick it up.
The temperature will also affect how well the deer can smell. On a warm day, the hot air will lift the scent. This will make it harder for the deer to detect it. On the other hand, cold air will sink. This ensures that your scent will linger closer to the ground.
Another vital factor to consider is how heavy the scent is. For example, if you touch multiple trees and shrubs, the scent will be stronger. This makes it easy for the deer to detect. Also, if you use the same path consistently, the scent will be stronger. We’ll discuss some tips for getting through the woods without leaving a scent trail later.
What Affects How Deer React to Human Scent?
How a deer will react to human scent will depend on the environment. For example, some deer will live close to heavily populated areas. In this case, they are used to human odors. Because of this, they will be less likely to run away when they smell you. However, that doesn’t mean that you can neglect scent control. They don’t want hunters in their territory.
On the other hand, some deer live in the woods. It’s unusual for humans to be in these areas. Because of this, they will be more alert when they discover your scent. Often, they will avoid the area.
You will also need to consider how concentrated the scent is. The more things you touch as you walk, the more powerful the odor becomes. If a deer detects your odor but believes you are far away, they will often continue to walk around freely.
Whether they will come back to the area after smelling a human depends on how scared they are. If they don’t see any movement or detect a threat, they will come back. Their behavior can tell you whether they will return. For example, some deer will sprint away, snorting. This is their way of warning other deer. It might be months before they return. If they saunter away quietly, there is a good chance that they will come back.
How Can You Move Through the Woods Without Leaving a Scent Trail?
When you are hunting, you want to minimize your scent. This will make deer feel more comfortable going into the area. There are a few ways that you can do this.
First, you’ll want to wear rubber boots. The thick material won’t breathe. This traps your odor. It would be best if you regularly treated your boots to stop them from smelling.
It’s important to wash them off. You don’t want mud or other debris sticking to them. Most of this will come off easily in water. If not, you might want to mix a teaspoon of dishwashing detergent in hot water. This will create a powerful cleaning solution.
It’s a good idea to care for the inside of the boots. This is where human odor will accumulate. To stop this, you’ll need to put one teaspoon of heavy-duty cleaner into two cups of warm water. This will be tough enough to break up soil and remove any other contaminants. Leave your shoes to air dry.
Another good option is to use scent-neutralizing spray (aka scent killer or cover scent). Apply this liberally over your clothes. This will mask your scent. It would help if you also tried to wash your clothes with odor-neutralizing chemicals. Air dry them. Some driers will leave a scent.
However, the best way to get around is by using an ATV. This will use rubber wheels, which don’t leave a smell. By traveling at speed, there will be less scent left on trees. This is an excellent way to move through the woods while remaining virtually undetected. Because of this, try to pick a stand location and trail camera spots that allow you to drive up to them.
While ATVs can be a good option, you’ll need to remember their engines. The noise has the potential to spook deer.
Even if you take these precautions, it’s best to avoid areas that the deer will frequent. They will be well-attuned to spot new scents on their trail.
How Can You Set-up a Tree Stand Without Deer Smelling You?
If you spend a few hours in the area setting up a tree stand, you will leave a scent. That’s unavoidable. Because of this, it’s best to make sure that you are setting it up for the early season. You want to put it up a few weeks or months before you intend to use it. It may also help to set attach trail cameras on trees and in a nearby wallow or feeding area as you prepare for elk or deer season.
This gives you plenty of time for the scent to wear off and monitor deer movement and other animal behavior. But, more importantly, it lets the deer familiarize themselves with the stand. They need to know that the new feature in their environment doesn’t pose a threat. Because of this, by the time you are ready to start hunting, they will be comfortable coming into the clearing.
How Can You Get to the Tree Stand Without Alerting Deer?
Once you have made your tree stand, you’ll want to ensure that you can get there without alerting the deer to your presence. As we mentioned, it can be a good idea to use an ATV. Make sure to avoid stopping or touching anything along the way.
It’s also important to consider when you are leaving. Remember your scent will last for a long time. Because of this, you’ll want to arrive well before you expect to see any wild game animals. This will give the scent molecules some time to dissipate so that they won’t be spooked off.
The type of weather conditions will determine when you should set off. For example, if it’s heavily raining, you don’t need to worry about your scent; if it’s a dry, cool day, you should give yourself more time to get to the stand.
Final Thoughts
Deer, elk, and other wildlife have very sensitive olfactory receptors. They will be able to smell you for days after you leave the trail in the right conditions. This has the potential to spook them out of the area. This is why it’s so crucial for bow and rifle hunters to take steps to minimize their scents before their trip.
Steven Lines is a hunter and outdoorsman from Safford, Arizona, USA. Since he was a child, he has been hunting and fishing and has over 20 years of outdoor experience. Steven works as a hunting guide in Arizona during his spare time and runs a Youtube channel dedicated to sharing his outdoor adventures with others.
Sources
- How to Clean Wellies or Rubber Boots Inside and Out
- Don’t Spoil Deer Woods with Human Scent
- Can Deer Tell How Far Away a Source of an Odor Is?