Q
I believe strongly in activated carbon clothing made by Scent-Lok and ScentBlocker. How long will this clothing typically be effective? Does the carbon wear out before the clothing does? Can you prolong the value of the clothing by storing it in airtight bags during the off-season?
– Brad Salo, Duluth, MN

A
Lacking the lab facilities needed to test carbon clothing over a period of time, we went straight to the source for information. Mike Andrews, VP of Marketing/Advertising for Scent-Lok, provided the following insights:

“A few variables can impact the long-term effectiveness of Scent-Lok garments — how often you hunt, the climate, physical activity, and the amount of odor you inherently generate. In general, we find that active hunters get three to five years of use out of our outerwear — jackets and pants.

“We test the clothing in our lab after 5, 10, and 20 washing/drying cycles. Our standard is to maintain an adsorption capacity after 20 washing/drying cycles substantially higher than the minimum standard that we have established for our clothing.

“Reactivation in the dryer has very little effect on longevity, so you can run clothes through the dryer to reactivate as often as needed. On the other hand, washing does break down the clothing, so wash only when the garments are visibly dirty — blood or mud! If you wash your garments three times a year, which might be high, you should get five or more years of use.

“Undergarments like our BaseSlayers probably need to be washed more often since they are worn next to the skin and may lose some effectiveness sooner, but activated carbon has tremendous capacity and can hold an amazing amount of human odor.

“Proper storage is essential. Store garments in airtight bags or storage tubs to prevent contamination from foreign odors and to lengthen the life of the garments.”
–Curt Wells, Equipment Editor

Q
I hunt in an area where a deer is lucky to reach three years of age. I’ve heard that mature bucks go into rut later than young bucks. Since three-year-old bucks are considered “mature” where I hunt, will they rut later than the younger bucks?
–Brandon Geiersbach, via e-mail

A
Some biologists believe that when mature bucks rub their antlers, they deposit a priming pheromone on trees and shrubs that may synchronize breeding cycles, bring does into estrus earlier, and suppress testosterone levels in younger bucks. Thus, yearling bucks in the presence of older bucks do not rub as much as the older bucks in the same area. If the oldest bucks in your area — remember, age is relative — are rubbing aggressively, younger bucks may be suppressed or lack the experience needed to make rubs.

Dr. Mickey Hellickson also determined that bucks move less as they get older. Hellickson divided bucks he was monitoring into four age classes — young (1½ years old), middle age (2½-4½ years old), mature (5½-7½ years old), and old (8½-plus years old). Over a period of time, he found that young and middle-aged bucks were significantly more active than mature and old bucks. For example, one 8½-year-old buck was active only 18.7 percent of the time. Ironically, this most likely applies to many hunters, too.
–C.J. Winand, Contributor

Q
In most of the hunting programs I watch, hunters wear safety harnesses once they’re already in the stand but not as they’re climbing. I thought getting into and out of the stand was the most dangerous time. What is the safest way to stay “attached” the entire time my feet are off the ground?
–Curtis Delias, via e-mail

A
You are absolutely correct — a high percentage of treestand accidents do occur as hunters are getting into or out of their stands. The surest way to remain attached at all times is to use a climbing system like Summit’s Seat-O-The-Pants Climbing System (www.summitstands.com) or the FallGuy 20-ft. Retractor from Integrated Safety (www.fallguysafety.com). Both systems keep you securely tethered to your stand tree from the time you leave the ground until your return to the ground.

Of course, you must initially climb the tree to install steps and the climbing-system rope. To do this safely, use a climbing belt, which not only ensures climbing security but also frees both of your hands for installing steps and climbing systems.
–Brian Fortenbaugh, Assistant Editor

Q
As a beginner, I’m trying to learn more about archery and was wondering if you could recommend a book or video that will take me through the basics like arrow selection and bow tuning.
–Daniel Mariscal, via e-mail

A
Funny that you should ask. Bowhunter has just released my first book, The Modern Bowhunter — Geared Up! This 220-page book will answer all your questions about bowhunting and gear. To order your copy, call 1-800-260-6397 or visit www.shop.bowhunter.com. For more information, see page 20 in Bowhunter’s Journal.
–Curt Wells, Equipment Editor

Q
My father wants to make his own bow but isn’t sure what type of wood to use. What are your suggestions?
–Melissa Connelly, via e-mail

A
It sounds like your dad wants to make a longbow. If that’s the case, preferred woods are yew, Osage, and bamboo. You can buy this wood in ready-to-work staves from a number of traditional bowhunting supply houses. If you Google “materials for making a bow” and “books about making bows and arrows,” you will find a wealth of resources from supplies to detailed manuals and DVDs.
–Larry D. Jones, TV Videographer