Can it be done... scent proof blind?

[Telemark]

A friend in Ontario has commercial blinds on top of towers he built, and they are COLD. I would happily go that route if I could, but if I'm going to all the trouble to build a tower, I want to put an airtight insulated bling on it. I can't hunt effectively if I'm uncomfortable.

 

[Farmsteader]

That tower is amazing. Something like that is in my 5-year habitat plan. Ideally I would mill all the lumber myself from cedar and treat it with pine tar, so it would last 100 years for the younger generations.

It's still a work in progress.

I have widows all around. I bought the center window from deerview windows. This is the west view and I can shoot out to 350 yards.



This is my east view. It is 210 yards to the far end of the field.



This direct vent heater was a game changer with all that glass fogging up.

 

[Farmsteader]

A friend in Ontario has commercial blinds on top of towers he built, and they are COLD. I would happily go that route if I could, but if I'm going to all the trouble to build a tower, I want to put an airtight insulated bling on it. I can't hunt effectively if I'm uncomfortable.

I hunted my tower the first year with out windows and it was brutal. A west wind coming across the valley is unbelievable.

 

[gurgalunas]

I thought through this scent problem once.

I'm a big believer in ozone. It effectively kills scent it comes in contact with. Unfortunately its hard on the lungs, so I don't like it in enclosed spaces. I own a ozonics unit, use it in a tree stand because, well, that money was spent. Is it fool proof?- no. Does it help?- I'd say it doesn't hurt, and has some possible positive effects. Who's to say what a deer smells or doesnt in a given instance... it's great for clothes and gear in a tub before the hunt. Hard on rubber and elastic, though.

My solution to the 'scent in the blind' problem was to conceptually design a ozone box in the blind, vented to the outside. You can buy ozone generator parts online to wire up yourself, and combined with computer fans, pump ozone treated air out a vent, creating negative pressure in the blind. I pictured it in a ammo can with holes cut for the fan(s) and exhaust pipe. I have 100 W solar panels on each blind to charge deep cycle batteries anyway- electric heat doesn't produce water vapor like combustion does, so window fog/frost is minimal. The ozone box shouldn't use that much power, so should be doable...

After dreaming up this contraption (mostly during slow days in the blind), I came to the realization that I don't really have much problem with scent from the blinds. Platforms are only 5-10' tall, but deer are routinely within 10 feet of the blind, so I mothballed it without ever building one. Bet it would work if scent is an issue though...

 

[Farmsteader]

I thought through this scent problem once.

I'm a big believer in ozone. It effectively kills scent it comes in contact with. Unfortunately its hard on the lungs, so I don't like it in enclosed spaces. I own a ozonics unit, use it in a tree stand because, well, that money was spent. Is it fool proof?- no. Does it help?- I'd say it doesn't hurt, and has some possible positive effects. Who's to say what a deer smells or doesnt in a given instance... it's great for clothes and gear in a tub before the hunt. Hard on rubber and elastic, though.

My solution to the 'scent in the blind' problem was to conceptually design a ozone box in the blind, vented to the outside. You can buy ozone generator parts online to wire up yourself, and combined with computer fans, pump ozone treated air out a vent, creating negative pressure in the blind. I pictured it in a ammo can with holes cut for the fan(s) and exhaust pipe. I have 100 W solar panels on each blind to charge deep cycle batteries anyway- electric heat doesn't produce water vapor like combustion does, so window fog/frost is minimal. The ozone box shouldn't use that much power, so should be doable...

After dreaming up this contraption (mostly during slow days in the blind), I came to the realization that I don't really have much problem with scent from the blinds. Platforms are only 5-10' tall, but deer are routinely within 10 feet of the blind, so I mothballed it without ever building one. Bet it would work if scent is an issue though...

I also enjoy spending a lot of time dreaming up new improvements I can make for the hunt while in the stand. I like your idea of filtering the air through a ozone generator. That would help with proving whether they really work or not. I've never used one yet. When it comes to scent control, it very hard to prove what works and what is just marketed to work.

 

[gurgalunas]

I also enjoy spending a lot of time dreaming up new improvements I can make for the hunt while in the stand. I like your idea of filtering the air through a ozone generator. That would help with proving whether they really work or not. I've never used one yet. When it comes to scent control, it very hard to prove what works and what is just marketed to work.

I don't doubt ozone kills scents. Its just questioning the application of such technology. Car dealerships (and my friends before returning rentals) run ozone to get rid of bad smells, smoke, etc. Works like a charm.

I use a ozone generator made for 2500 sf space to treat my clothes in a giant Rubbermaid. It works great, and I don't get busted in tree stands hardly ever. Taking a mini generator and letting waft a small amount of ozone into the breeze- I'm skeptical. I do run the one I have, but don't think of it as a solid solution... I use it because I have it...

I think if you take odor filled air, force contact with ozone, then release it, the ozone would effectively kill the scent.

 

[swat1018]

How can you "hate" hunting out of a blind ?. I only have a cheap 4x4 Sportsmans Condo SC-1 and it's Awesome. It keeps you out of the wind and rain and conceals your movement. You still need to hunt the wind , but nothing like hunting in comfort sitting on a office chair , best money I ever spent. There are a lot better blinds out there some home made, and high dollar brands like Redneck...

Our blinds are as good as they get. I wouldn't trade ours for any mass produced blinds. That being said, nothing is as good as sitting in a tree to me. I enjoy 360 degrees of clear view, being able to hear the crunching of leaves when a deer is under you the wind in your face, all of it! That is what deer hunting has always been to me. I do understand the appeal of a cozy blind when the weather isn't great, but I enjoy testing myself in the elements! My number 1 reason for a blind is in a couple plots where the winds swirl. Our blinds allow us to hunt a couple spots we always got busted before. Still get busted occasionally, but not near like without a blind.

 

[Foggy47]

Heat rises. Put a small propane box stove with a stove pipe out the roof of a box blind and your scent will be drawn through the firebox eliminating lots of odor....and then up and out the chimney. My chimeny's have an exit about 18 feet above the ground level. And that hot air continues to rise....before carried away with the breeze. Thus I feel the human odors are scant when using the heat source correctly. <----that has been my experience....and I tell my kids to use their heaters. Works for us. My 2 cents. (besides...it's cold in gun season).

I'd like to try a wood stove and use "pellets" for fuel. Alas, I have not tried this....yet.

 

[Turkey Creek]

I could see running a small solar/battery back up fan to draw air out of a blind and into a box on the outside with the ozone machine in it. Pre-treat the air on the way out of the blind. Small fresh air intake letting air into the blind. Seems like way more work than I would ever put into a blind and its set up, but just throwing out my thoughts for those who are going to give it a try.

 

[Turkey Creek]

Heat rises. Put a small propane box stove with a stove pipe out the roof of a box blind and your scent will be drawn through the firebox eliminating lots of odor....and then up and out the chimney. My chimeny's have an exit about 18 feet above the ground level. And that hot air continues to rise....before carried away with the breeze. Thus I feel the human odors are scant when using the heat source correctly. <----that has been my experience....and I tell my kids to use their heaters. Works for us. My 2 cents. (besides...it's cold in gun season).

I'd like to try a wood stove and use "pellets" for fuel. Alas, I have not tried this....yet.

They used to say pretreating your clothes with campfire smoke and burning a small fire under your stand while in it would camouflage your scent.