How far can they smell you

[Elkmtb]

Based on you past experience how far away can an elk smell you from given normal circumstances. Let say you have NOT stood over a campfire/smoked cigs/cooked in your hunting gear, but you have taken some scent precautions like using Scent-away spray, but nothing drastic like Scent lok suits ect.

How far do you think they can smell you..
1. Upwind
2. Downwind

I have walked up on elk from 20 to 75 yards away and had them not know I was there until I steeped on a stick or something, but these were upwind incidents.

 

[whitedeer]

Elkmtb.....you have answered your own question on upwind conditions. If your odor molecules are not being carried to the elk on wind currents...he cannot smell you. However if he is directly downwind, a 1/4 mile distance would be a good average for normal conditions. If an elk is very wary and is realy on the defensive, with favorable wind conditions, 1/2 mile is not out of the question.

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1">[ 08-13-2003 11:33: Message edited by: whitedeer ]</font>