Quick Answer
Your cover scents might attract animals instead of repelling them if they're too weak or diffuse, or if you've contaminated the area with human scent by touching or handling your cover scents or equipment.
Overpowering Cover Scents
When you apply cover scents to your clothing, gear, and skin, it’s essential to balance their strength with the human scent you may have left behind. A good rule of thumb is to use a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio of cover scent to human scent. This means that if you have a small amount of human scent, you should use three or four times as much cover scent to overpower it.
Human Scent Contamination
Human scent is a significant attractant for animals, and it can easily contaminate the area around your cover scents. To minimize this risk, wash your hands and face before applying cover scents, and avoid touching your skin or clothing after handling your scents or gear. You should also store your scents in airtight containers and handle them with gloved hands if possible.
Application Techniques
Proper application techniques are also crucial to ensure that your cover scents are effective. To apply cover scents, start by spraying or applying them to your clothing and gear, working from the bottom up. This helps prevent human scent from transferring to your cover scents as you work. Once you’ve applied the cover scents to your gear, use a small amount of scent on your skin, focusing on high-risk areas like your face, neck, and hands.
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