What Type of Boots Help Minimize Human Scent?
With decreasing deer habitat and hunting them getting more popular day by day, stalking deer is becoming harder. As they have got an acute sense of smell, you need to step up your odor hiding game to successfully hunt them down. Before going for an adventure check if your hunting apparel like clothing, boots, etc. is as scent-free as possible or not.
In this article, I have shared some useful hacks on how to treat rubber boots for scent control. Also, I’ve reviewed some of the best scent control hunting boots worldwide hunters are swearing by.
So, what type of boots help minimize human scent?
There’s nothing more odor-controlling than knee-high rubber boots. Unlike leather-made or synthetic boots, they’re impermeable to air, meaning they play an important role in hiding your natural body-odor as a hunter.
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How Important Is Scent Control For Deer Hunting?
Hunters should pay great attention to scent control because deer have a highly developed sense of smell like a dog. It can be anywhere between 500 to 1000 times stronger than the human’s smelling sense. It’s pretty obvious that they need to use this sense as their defense mechanism.
You’ll be surprised to know the whitetails have thousands of sensitive receptors in their nostrils, which is why they can smell and process up to six scents at a time. So, if you don’t do anything to manage your odor, it can feel your presence even if it is about ¼ mile away. And you can only manage to see one of them if the wind’s direction is favoring you.
So, I will highly recommend you to try eliminating deer-alerting odor rather than solely depending on luck. Bath with scent-free bodywash before hunting, spray smell eliminators liberally on your clothing and choose the boots that offer the best possible scent control.
Here’s a little tip for you, instead of drying the clothes outside, place them inside the dryer. Put some dryer sheets too. Do this while putting the clothes away for the season and during the season when the clothes are dirty by your sweat. This works wonders for masking your odor and bringing a fresh earth-like smell.
Are Rubber Boots Scent Free?
You may ask, can deer smell rubber boots?
Rubber boots are the best choice for hunting adventures because unlike leather or synthetic they hold up smell pretty well. Being impermeable to air, it keeps your natural odor at bay. Besides, they are water-proof, lightweight, and longevity, making them all-season boots for hunting in any terrain condition. On top of all this, still, it’s an impossible thing to ask from a pair of boots to be 100% scent free.
Taking certain measures will help you to hide your body odor as much as possible. In my next section, I am going to give you some tricks and tips on how you can achieve scent-less boots for hunting.
How To Get Rid Of Rubber Smell On Boots?
A new pair of rubber boots has its own tire-like strong smell. If you can smell this scent, obviously the deer can too! So, what to do?
Don’t worry. I’m here to help with these easy tips and tricks which do the work for me.
Take them outside
To rid of that rubbery odor leave them outside under the sun. Fresh air and sunshine will kill that funky smell. Choose a sunny spot. Place them there by turning them upside down. After a couple of weeks, when you notice the scent has gone, then take them back inside.
Baking Soda Treatment
Baking soda works magic at getting rid of the rubbery smell because it neutralizes rather than covering up the odor. Take a plastic bag. Sprinkle some baking soda inside. Put the boots and shut the bug. Give it a good shake. Leave it for a couple of days.
Use the Scent Eliminators
Scent Eliminators do a great job to keep the natural body odor of the hunters at bay. They do the same to eliminate the tire-like smell from the boots too. Code Blue and Wildlife Research are the best shoe odor eliminator. Spray them on the boots generously and allow them to dry.
Cover Them with Grass and Dirt
Now, don’t be afraid to try this one out. They can take it. Grab a handful of grass and dust. Rub them all over the boots.
Now, take a zip-lock plastic bag and place your boots. Keep putting grass clippings inside the bag until the boots are fully covered by them. Shut the bag off. Leave it like this for one week or two. By doing this the funky smell of rubber will totally disappear. Those boots will then smell less like rubber more like green which is good for hunting deer.
All of these hacks worked great for me. Hope it does the same for you!
Best Scent Free Rubber Hunting Boots
Not all rubber boots are made the same. Some of them simply outperform others by providing greater quality and hunter-friendly features. These boots are something you don’t want to miss out on.
LaCrosse Men’s Alphaburly Pro 18″ Hunting Boot
Coming from a brand like LaCrosse, it’s hard to go wrong with them. This model of them is extremely popular among the hunters for obvious reasons. Unlike typical hunting boots, it has proper air circulation to wick moisture away and keeps the foot comfortable. The stretchable neoprene rubber molds around your foot’s shape perfectly and add further comfort. With neoprene gusset, it offers superior shock absorption.
Besides, it offers plenty of support on the lining, midsole, and ankle. However, it’s slightly expensive but it will surely pay off for the higher price by outlasting more than any hunting boots. Overall, the lightweight design makes it one of the best scent-free hunting boots you can get your hands on.
Bogs Men’s Classic High Waterproof Insulated Rain Boot
Unlike the aforementioned one, this one comes at an affordable price point. It’s well-insulated yet lightweight. Being 100% waterproof, it’s perfect for hunting at dewy jungles. Even in muddy terrains, it performs well because of its intuitive tread patterns. In freezing cold weather, its 7mm Neo-Tech insulation offers excellent heat retention and provides comfortable warmth.
I like how the camouflage print helps to remain invincible in the woods. With the antimicrobial odor-proof feature, it saves you from the embarrassment of the smelly foot. Keep this all-season, all-terrain boots in your hunting gear collection.
Muck Men’s Arctic Pro Snow Boot
From -50°C to -1°C, cold weather is where this pair of boots really shine. Soft fleece lining provides exceptional warmth while the EVA midsole offers the ultimate comfort. It features Vibram Arctic Grip technology for the best possible ice traction. Double reinforcement in the instep, heel, and Achilles area is provided where you need it the most. These boots adjust to your foot shape and protect it from blisters.
It offers excellent water-resistance, shock absorption, and heat retention. Topline snugs calf is there to seal the warmth in while blocking cold, and debris out. On top of that, it holds your natural odor inside, avoiding the whitetails to get alarmed by your presence.
Conclusion
Now that you know what type of boots help minimize human scent and how to get rid of the deer-alerting scent, get yourself a nice pair of rubber boots. Follow the tips and tricks to eliminate that funky smell from new boots and increase your chances for a successful deer hunt. Wish you happy hunting!
