Anyone have experience of enjoying a pipe while out deer hunting? I’ve heard mixed things but haven’t tried it.
Deer hunting
- Thread starter OverMountain
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Haven’t deer hunted in over 15 years now. When I did I was a cigarette smoker and when sitting in a tree stand, which is how we hunted I did smoke. I didn’t find the smoke a problem bothering the deer but the movement getting the cigarettes and lighting up was more the issue.
I could see it if you are in a blind or an elevated tree stand. Wouldn’t want the movement to give you away.
I've smoked cigarettes, cigars, pipes, taken a piss out the back of the shooting house, and even got some head out there when I was a young man.
In my opinion, it's noise that scares deer.
I've never killed a monster, but I've killed the shit out of the deer with no regard for smells.
In my opinion, it's noise that scares deer.
I've never killed a monster, but I've killed the shit out of the deer with no regard for smells.
If you’re going to smoke a pipe while deer hunting I’d probably pull for Old Joe Krantz since the room note is reminiscent of Tinks 69.
Seems fine, so long as you're not smoking a deertongue blend. That'd just be weird.
I've often smoked a pipe while moose hunting. Especially after taking the shot. Moose don't run when hit, they wander a few yards and then laydown to die IF you don't chase them. If you make the shot then just pour yourself a coffee, enjoy a bowl and then go look for it. Easy Peasy.
You are a man of life experiences sir! I shall post a hunting report eventually.
When I lived in the AK interior, one moose would feed 4 families for the winter.
I cheat while deer hunting, we're blessed with wooded areas surrounding our 16-acre plot and I keep 4 feeders I made like this one around the property filled all year long so I can sit on the back porch and knock one down every year.
The rest of the year my wife and I enjoy watching them come and go, my pipe smoke doesn't seem to bother them. I've never shot the one I think are regular visitors they seem too much like pets, but when the freezer gets low and a new one shows up, well you get the picture All we have are East Texas Whitetail so they're pretty small
The rest of the year my wife and I enjoy watching them come and go, my pipe smoke doesn't seem to bother them. I've never shot the one I think are regular visitors they seem too much like pets, but when the freezer gets low and a new one shows up, well you get the picture All we have are East Texas Whitetail so they're pretty small
I took this 8 pointer last Saturday, on my property. I shoot traditional bows from the ground. I don't bait.
I've never smoked while hunting, but reading the bow-hunting heros of yesteryear (Fred Bear, Howard Hill, Saxton Pope, Maurice Thompson, etc.) you sometimes see references to old-timers smoking while hunting.
I've never smoked while hunting, but reading the bow-hunting heros of yesteryear (Fred Bear, Howard Hill, Saxton Pope, Maurice Thompson, etc.) you sometimes see references to old-timers smoking while hunting.
Bruin Custom Recurves (Mike Steliga out of Antigo, WI) "Woodsmaster" T/D
Do you shoot a traditional bow?
Yes. I have a Martin a Bear but mostly use a Hoyt Fred Eichler recurve. I dont Use it as much as I once did As I’m getting older. I remember when Black widow recurves were $400.
That is some real hunting right there. Congrats on a very nice deer.
Kudos on that buck with a trad bow. For many years the only hunting I did was with traditional archery equipment (some recurves, but mostly longbows). I've owned/shot many different makes, from factory to custom but am now down to only one old Robertson Mystical longbow and two Javaman Archery bows (one longbow and one static recurve). Like you, I also really enjoy the classic books by/about the trad archery pioneers, and in fact have a copy of Fred Bear's Field Notes on my nightstand now which I am re-reading for the third time...
no but I find that when I take a walk in the woods if I am smoking a pipe I actually seem to see more wild animals. Never had that effect with cigs. I think they don't associate the smell of a pipe with people. I don't know how it would be with hunting.
When I was a kid I asked my grandfather if smoking might scare the deer off because he always smoked cigarettes when he hunted, as did most of his generation. He replied that if the deer could smell the cigarette smoke then they could smell his human scent as well, and that would be a bigger concern for the deer. He emphasized that the key is to read the wind. They all shot deer so it made sense to me. I think the smoke would be an aid in reading the wind.
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I've never smoked while deer hunting, but I once read an account by a younger hunter heading out on his first hunt on a new place and being told by an experienced relative; "Don't forget your sour-apple gum!" On questioning this, the old-timer said he never failed to see a deer when he chewed sour apple gum in the blind. The young hunter tried it, found it worked, and added it to his deer hunting kit every year with similar results. Perhaps a fruity aro. would work the same way?
Always have smoked either Cigarettes when I did or Pipes on every hunt.
It never affected anything.
Noise and movement discipline and wearing white are the biggest factors in spooking them from my experience.
It never affected anything.
Noise and movement discipline and wearing white are the biggest factors in spooking them from my experience.