READING THE WIND
The scent reduction precautions I've outlined don't eliminate the need for woodsmanship and the ability to play the wind. These precautions are intended to buy time when the wind gets fickle at the critical moment and enable you to see bigger numbers of deer than you might otherwise. No matter how many precautions are taken you can't consistently hunt with the wind in the deer's favor, if you want consistent success.

While a lot of guys don't like hunting in strong winds, I prefer windy conditions. Strong winds are stable in terms of direction. I know that if I can move directly into the wind or into a crosswind, the odds of sneaking within range of a buck shift in my direction. It's when winds are light or seemingly non-existent that the going gets tough.

Light winds are typically variable and combine with terrain features to create an unpredictable swirling effect. When winds are calm the warming and cooling of the terrain creates updrafts and downdrafts known as thermals. Early and late in the day, when the terrain is uniformly cool, air currents roll downhill. During midday, when the terrain is uniformly warm, air currents flow uphill. It's during the morning and afternoon transition periods, when part of the terrain is in shadow and the balance is in sunlight, that thermals become unpredictable, presenting a difficult and frustrating challenge. Unfortunately, we do most of our hunting during these transition periods.

At these times it's common for thermals to shift several times over a short distance. This effect is magnified in steep rugged areas.

Anticipating how the terrain and temperature will affect the wind is difficult. If your correct guesses outnumber the wrong ones, you're definitely ahead of the average hunter. The ability to read the wind can be expanded through awareness and experience. When in the field think of the air moving past you as a river and ask, "Where are the eddies, swirls, pools and fast areas?" A simple squeeze bottle filled with chalk dust is an invaluable tool for monitoring breezes. Simply puff some into the air and watch where it goes.

CARBON SCENT SUITS
For stand hunters, the ultimate level of scent control comes in the form of a carbon scent absorption suit. These suits are warm to wear and fairly expensive, however they can't be beat when it comes to containing human odor. "I have killed bucks that were directly downwind of my tree stand, while wearing a carbon suit. The deer should have winded me, but they didn't, allowing me to make the shot," relates expert blacktail hunter Larry D. Jones.

Scent suits utilize a layer of activated carbon that actually adsorbs and traps the gas molecules that make up odors. Since a carbon suit will make you perspire when hiking in all but the coldest conditions, you'll want to carry it nearly to the stand site before putting it on and slipping into position. Leave the clothes you wore on the hike at the changing spot in a sealed scent-free bag.

If a carbon scent suit is too pricey for your hunting budget, consider buying a military surplus chemical warfare suit. These suits come at a fraction of the cost and yet work on much the same premise as carbon hunting suits. The one I've used for the past two seasons was manufactured for the British armed forces. I bought it through a military surplus catalog at about 25 percent of the cost of a traditional carbon hunting suit.