DIY: Smoke My Camo to Cut Down On My Scent

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Regardless of all the products out on the market, I’m still of the opinion that the best way to beat a deer’s nose is to play the wind.

That being said, I have used scent control sprays in the past, and I can’t compute how the spray is working when I myself can clearly smell human order after spraying the product. I’ve all but abandoned the spray products.

What I have noticed all the way back to my days camping as a kid is that if you sit around a campfire, the smoke seems to cover even the worst body odor from living outdoors in the sun.

This is by all means not a new idea, but as recently as a few years ago, I’ve resorted to smoking my hunting clothing. Historically, I would hang the clothes on a line and smoke them the night before.

This season, I’ve created a “smoking box” that I’m hoping will allow me to not only more efficiently smoke my clothing, but also bathe it in smoke as I’m traveling to our property (or wherever else I might draw this year).

Even if it doesn’t work, I still enjoy smelling like a campfire.

Building the Smoke Box

Materials Needed

• Bee Smoker
• Airtight Storage Trunk (it needs a gasket)
• 3/4″ Floating “T” Plug
• 3/4″ Male Conduit Adapter (cheaper at home store)
• 3/4″ Female Conduit Adapter
• O-Ring (use a #28 or #18…any will work, just check plumbing for something close)
• Pit Boss Apple or Hickory Pellets
• Kitchen Torch/Butane Lighter
• Clear Silicone
• Pine Needles

Step 1: Drill a Hole in the Storage Trunk

Using a 1 1/16″ hole saw, drill a hole that fits the male conduit adapter.

Step 2: Silicone the Male Conduit Adapter

Place a bead of silicone around the male adapter and place it in the exterior of the trunk.

Step 3: Add the O-Ring

Place the o-ring on the male adapter thread visible inside the trunk.

Step 4: Attach the Female Conduit Adapter

Screw the female adapter onto the visible male threads in the interior of the trunk until the gasket compresses to make an airtight seal.

Step 5: Let It Dry

Wait until the silicone is dry to start using the smoke box.

Using the Smoke Box

Step 1: Prepare the Kindling

Place a loose bed of dry pine needles in the smoker and place a few pellets in the center of the bed.

Step 2: Light the Kindling

Using the butane lighter, light the kindling. Use the bellow to force air lightly through the smoker until well lit.

Step 3: Build a “Cool” Smoke

The goal is to create smoke with out shooting out sparks. To do this close the lid to let the fire smolder.

Work the bellows and let sit until the expelled smoke is cool on the skin.

Step 4: Pump Smoke Into Smoke Box

Using the bellow, gently pump the box full of smoke. Do not plug the hole, but float the smoker outside the conduit so smoke can pump in and expel air in the box out.

Step 5: Plug the Box

Adjust the “t” plug so when it is closed it will plug the hole. Place the plug in place and let the smoke wash away (or mask) your scent!