Washing your hunting clothes

We all know, or at least have heard, that scent elimination is an important step in preparing for a big game or predator hunt.  Animals such as deer, elk, hogs, and coyotes have a sense of smell far more capable than our own.  We must, therefore, plan ahead and hunt in order to beat that sense of smell.  Dead Down Wind makes a line of products ideally suited for just such a challenge.  Their Evolve system focuses on eliminating scents and the things that hold scent from our clothing and our bodies.  There are three steps in their product line: e1. Laundry, e2. Personal hygiene, and e3. Field Application. 

Laundry and storage are very important for my hunting preparation.  Where hygiene and field application take place the day of a hunt, laundry and storage take time and planning well in advance of an outing.  I like to take my time with washing, drying and storing my cloths.  Each step is specific and important to the overall success of scent elimination.

First I like to clean the washing machine.  I wipe any detergent or dust from the top of the machine as well as clean remaining detergent out of the cup on the agitator.  I then run the machine through a quick rinse cycle.  Once this is done I load my laundry into the machine and reset the machine for washing.  For this load I set the machine on Powerwash because this is the first washing of the season and my cloths have been in storage.  I wash everything I will be wearing; base layers, pants and shirts, gloves, masks, hunters orange, and anything else that I may want to carry with me.

I then add the e1 ScentPrevent™ Laundry Detergent.  For a small to medium load add one cap full of detergent and for a large load add up to two caps full.  Shut the door and let the magic happen.

Dead Down Wind uses a unique enzyme technology that eliminates odors and unclogs carbon molecules.  The company boasts that their detergent will not cause camouflage patterns to fade with multiple washings.  For most of us this is very important as replacing clothing is a considerable expense.  Dead Down Wind detergent also includes a UV inhibiter.  You can find it in a 32oz container from $12 to $14.

Before the washing machine has completed the wash, rinse, and spin cycles and has stopped, I like to clean the dryer machine.  As with the washer, I wipe down the doorway and then clean any lent from the interior and from the lent trap.  I like to eliminate anything that can hold a scent.  Then, once the washing cycle is complete, I move the load from the washer to the dryer.   The type of material you are washing may determine the settings on your dryer.  For this load I used the Timed Dry and set it for 40 minutes.  Dead Down Wind also make dryer sheets.  These are a great addition to the process.

Lastly, remove the dry clothing from the dryer, fold and store.  I use extra large Zip-Lock bags.  They are fairly inexpensive and work well to keep odors out.  They make an extra large and giant size.  I like the extra large for individual outfits and the giant for miscellaneous items and clothing.  However you store your clothes, be sure to protect them from new and harmful odors that can ruin your next hunt.