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Air Temps, Frost and Scent

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,879
274
Appalachia
I got to thinking about this last night when I thought about the impact our search efforts yesterday would have on the deer.

Does air temp help distribute or mute sent we leave behind? Does a heavy frost and subsequent melt help dilute scent?

Seems to me cold, dry air would be preferred when talking about suppressing scent and frost melting would dilute your scent.

Just a random thought for discussion...
 

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,879
274
Appalachia
No more time than you buddy. There's only 24 hours in the day and I'm as busy as a one legged man in an ass kicking contest. But I do think a lot and my mind tends to wander. The atmospheric conditions undoubtedly have an effect on scent distribution. I wonder if anyone has even studyed the relationships. I'd imagine a dog trainer that trains tracking dogs might need to know that information if it was available and relevant.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
From what I e heard, there's a small window that the frost actually helps. I've only ever heard one person talk about this and is a dog trainer. So take it for what it's worth I guess.

That pic of your big 6 came to mind as soon as I read this title. That's a sweet pic and I'd imagine in that case, it would've help.
 

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,879
274
Appalachia
From what I e heard, there's a small window that the frost actually helps. I've only ever heard one person talk about this and is a dog trainer. So take it for what it's worth I guess.

That pic of your big 6 came to mind as soon as I read this title. That's a sweet pic and I'd imagine in that case, it would've help.
That morning I shot that 6 point was as beautiful as it gets. Unforgettable.
 

Quantum673

Black Hat Cajun
Supporting Member
My understanding is that the cooler the temps the less scent is spread. Reason is that scent needs humidity to spread the most. Cooler temps means less humidity. As for frost the freeze thaw cycle would help the scent disappear as the moisture dilutes it.

 

woodyw333

Junior Member
596
51
Cincinnati Oh
I will put this theory to the test today. Background: Rifle season in Ky opened on Sat, I shot what I would guess to be a 150's class deer at about 4:15. I gave him a little bit because he actually ran off. (I've never had a deer run off after being shot with the 30-06) Needless to say we were tracking a very small blood trail for a few hours Sat night before we called it. Got up Sun morning and went back at it again for a few hours with no luck. Mind you there were 4 of us out there looking all over the place after the blood trail stopped. Well I'm going back out today to that same stand. There was plenty of frost Sunday morning (24*) and Monday morning (31*) so I will test the theory and report back.

For what its worth, my scope somehow moved fwd about 1/2 inch between Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon. I can assure it is now back in and the rings are plenty tight! Scope shouldn't move again.
 

woodyw333

Junior Member
596
51
Cincinnati Oh
Well all I saw was a young little 4pt and he didn't go near the end of the field where we were stomping around.. at this time I can neither confirm or deny that theory..
 

5Cent

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
12,291
212
North Central Ohio
Well all I saw was a young little 4pt and he didn't go near the end of the field where we were stomping around.. at this time I can neither confirm or deny that theory..

Hypothesis. A theory is a proven hypothesis:smiley_coolpeace:

Yall got too much time on your hands....
 

jlane

Junior Member
523
0
dunn nc
Don;t know about cold weather and scent, But what i:ve started doing when it;s really cold out is get a hothands body warmer and activate it to get it warming, then when i get out of the truck i,ll rub evercalm on one side and hang it in a bush around my stand, seems to work well for me and the wife
 

Dustinb80

#FACKCANCER
Supporting Member
18,172
187
S.W. Ohio
Don;t know about cold weather and scent, But what i:ve started doing when it;s really cold out is get a hothands body warmer and activate it to get it warming, then when i get out of the truck i,ll rub evercalm on one side and hang it in a bush around my stand, seems to work well for me and the wife

Interesting
 

Hoytmania

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
11,518
167
Gods Country
Don;t know about cold weather and scent, But what i:ve started doing when it;s really cold out is get a hothands body warmer and activate it to get it warming, then when i get out of the truck i,ll rub evercalm on one side and hang it in a bush around my stand, seems to work well for me and the wife
Man that could get expensive though couldn't it?

 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
He said body warmer, those are larger and I would assume more expensive. I don't know cause I never bought one of those.
I think I saw those at Walmart also, can't remember how many you get for $5. Also, if you still have life left in your warmers all you gotta do is put them in a Ziploc bag. Once you take them back out they will warm up again.
 

cotty16

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
Based on knowledge from running beagles... a frost is hard for them keep scent, but any warmer moisture is ideal for them. So, let's say a frosty morning and the frost starting to melt, that's when the dogs will have a field day.

Based on that, I would say walking around in a frost would be better than a melting frost.

I used to love running the beagles on days when the frost was melting, snow was melting, or during or after a light rain. The moisture would hold the scents there and the dogs would track much better.

(Please, no Fat Molly jokes... LOL)