Cigarettes question

[fourfive8]

I too have hunted with a guy who smoked for many years. He quit ten years ago but even when he smoked WHILE elk/deer hunting, he managed to get his animal on a regular basis. Maybe he was lucky with the wind direction all those years or my guess is the animals don't know what cigarette smoke is so it doesn't spook them. Same with campfire smoke on your clothes and distance gun shots. They often smell fires burning in the mountains and hear thunder often in their habitat. From my experience, movements by the hunter will spook them way more often than any of the above factors.

Yes, agreed^

I quit a long time ago. Never affected hunting one way or another for me as the idea has always been to keep known or target animals upwind. Probably bothers people more than game... and for certain affects some people psychologically, whether they're upwind or not or can smell cigarette smoke or not. I've watched herds of elk moving in and out of slow moving prescribed burn fires seeming to prefer it as it may mask them and would tend to keep bugs at bay. As good as the sense of smell many animals have is, I believe tobacco smoke to them is just another interesting odor among many they analyze. If they associate any odor with danger it would more likely be lion, bear or human BO or antiperspirant more than tobacco smoke or Skoal or camp fire smoke. Who knows?... I've never asked a bear or deer or elk or coyote what they thought about it

 

[wvfred]

Cigarettes are definetly much much cheaper at the duty free shop.

 

[HankBuck]

I have dipped on every flight. Just indiscreetly. For a 21 day trip I have several times, I have had as many as 20 cans of Grizzly. Split up between. Carry on. Checked bag and guncase. Never an issue.

@Mark Biggerstaff - 20 cans of Grizzly? For ONE hunt? You must leave an easy “spit trail” to follow…. I guess it’s good if you ever get lost - just follow it back to the truck

 

[Big guns]

Don't know why people travel carrying cigarettes, I mean you can buy that at your intended location.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

@Mark Biggerstaff - 20 cans of Grizzly? For ONE hunt? You must leave an easy “spit trail” to follow…. I guess it’s good if you ever get lost - just follow it back to the truck

Not really. When your PH and trackers bum off you the entire hunt.

 

[BryceM]

My PH was convinced elephants could smell the difference between natives and hunters. Makes some sense. Deodorant, detergent, etc is all different (or non-existent).

 

[Betterinthebush]

Not really. When your PH and trackers bum off you the entire hunt.

I never considered the mooching of dip. Figured with everyone smoking I’d get left alone. Going to drop a second tub of Stokers in the check in luggage. TFTHU!

 

[KuduKiller]

My first trip over I had a tracker that was curious about my Copenhagen when my PH told him it was tobacco. The tracker talked me into putting some on a piece of newspaper and he tried to smoke it. That didn't go well for him.

 

[KuduKiller]

Yes, agreed^

I quit a long time ago. Never affected hunting one way or another for me as the idea has always been to keep known or target animals upwind. Probably bothers people more than game... and for certain affects some people psychologically, whether they're upwind or not or can smell cigarette smoke or not. I've watched herds of elk moving in and out of slow moving prescribed burn fires seeming to prefer it as it may mask them and would tend to keep bugs at bay. As good as the sense of smell many animals have is, I believe tobacco smoke to them is just another interesting odor among many they analyze. If they associate any odor with danger it would more likely be lion, bear or human BO or antiperspirant more than tobacco smoke or Skoal or camp fire smoke. Who knows?... I've never asked a bear or deer or elk or coyote what they thought about it

For years I have chewed while in the stand and I have literally spit on deer that came under me. I believe if it’s not a “chemical” smell they don’t really care.

 

[wiyofa]

Yes, agreed^

I quit a long time ago. Never affected hunting one way or another for me as the idea has always been to keep known or target animals upwind. Probably bothers people more than game... and for certain affects some people psychologically, whether they're upwind or not or can smell cigarette smoke or not. I've watched herds of elk moving in and out of slow moving prescribed burn fires seeming to prefer it as it may mask them and would tend to keep bugs at bay. As good as the sense of smell many animals have is, I believe tobacco smoke to them is just another interesting odor among many they analyze. If they associate any odor with danger it would more likely be lion, bear or human BO or antiperspirant more than tobacco smoke or Skoal or camp fire smoke. Who knows?... I've never asked a bear or deer or elk or coyote what they thought about postless design

Staying upwind is what really matters, and animals probably see tobacco smoke as just another scent in the environment. They’re more likely to react to human odor or natural predator scents than cigarette smoke.

 

[HankBuck]

Staying upwind is what really matters, and animals probably see tobacco smoke as just another scent in the environment. They’re more likely to react to human odor or natural predator scents than cigarette smoke.

@wiyofa - like everyone else “I have NO idea” about the affect Cigarette Smoke has on Animals. My experience has been that “Smokers” always minimize the affects smoking has - on everything, their health, annoyance to those around them…including in Hunting Camps I’ve been in. Caribou hunting in Quebec years ago my Guide chain smoked constantly, in fact his ability to smoke and light a cigarette in rain and high winds was “impressive”. I do know that I can “smell” cigarette smoke at least 100 yrds away…maybe more, based on deer hunting in PA and “smelling” another Hunters cigarette well before seeing him a top a ridge. Maybe conditions were just right? I never noticed my sense of smell to be exceptional, also easy to tell if a car in front of me - even moving down a highway - is smoking, window cracked, same when you step into the car, home, or near clothes worn by a smoker. Does it spook game? No idea but if it doesn’t it’s certainly a waste of $$ buying any scent control products because cigarette smoke smell is Unnatural —- nothing like wood smoke.
Lots of guys have shot deer while smoking and will continue to do so, agree wind direction always most important…. But a cigarette is in the Woods is like a Fart-in-an-Elevator —— you can’t miss it !

 

[Philip Glass]

Hello I made a rookie mistake and have a question for those that know better than me. Leave tomorrow for JNB and am a smoker, yeah I know. Planning on taking 4 cartons but have no idea the custom policy and if I can import that many. Will be met by Mr. X to ease the customs hassle and traveling with NO firearms. Thanks in advance!!!

I’ve not taken 4 cartons but I don’t think you will have a problem.
Ugggg! Why are you not taking your own rifle?
Have an awesome safari!

 

[Philip Glass]

@Just Gina
I gave up the smokes for vaping. Depending on the flight (night time is easier) put the flight blanket over your head, have a couple of puffs of the vape and no one is any the wiser.
Bob

 

[pilar]

@wiyofa - like everyone else “I have NO idea” about the affect Cigarette Smoke has on Animals. My experience has been that “Smokers” always minimize the affects smoking has - on everything, their health, annoyance to those around them…including in Hunting Camps I’ve been in. Caribou hunting in Quebec years ago my Guide chain smoked constantly, in fact his ability to smoke and light a cigarette in rain and high winds was “impressive”. I do know that I can “smell” cigarette smoke at least 100 yrds away…maybe more, based on deer hunting in PA and “smelling” another Hunters cigarette well before seeing him a top a ridge. Maybe conditions were just right? I never noticed my sense of smell to be exceptional, also easy to tell if a car in front of me - even moving down a highway - is smoking, window cracked, same when you step into the car, home, or near clothes worn by a smoker. Does it spook game? No idea but if it doesn’t it’s certainly a waste of $$ buying any scent control products because cigarette smoke smell is Unnatural —- nothing like wood smoke.
Lots of guys have shot deer while smoking and will continue to do so, agree wind direction always most important…. But a cigarette is in the Woods is like a Fart-in-an-Elevator —— you can’t miss it !

I smoke when deer hunting, but the deer where I hunt don’t seem to care ( movement different deal )
We ( some friends and I) just went on a tuna fishing trip to Mexico, and everyone who took snuff got popped @ customs for $50 duty, they didn’t check me for any tobacco
But the cigarettes in Mexico tasted like crap .
So I would buy the minimum in USA and pay the duty and then stock up when you get to a tobacco shop, imo smoking when hunting in Africa scares game . Smoking will clear your path from cow elephant and hippos at night when you’re walking back to the bakie / truck

 

[pilar]

@Just Gina
I gave up the smokes for vaping. Depending on the flight (night time is easier) put the flight blanket over your head, have a couple of puffs of the vape and no one is any the wiser.
Bob

That will definitely earn you a hefty fee on fines, our last couple of international flights
The air host were on high patrol checking all passengers and WC’S .
And all those Karen’s waiting and watching to turn you in is a PIA

 

[BeeMaa]

Other than the obvious smell of it, tobacco use deadens the sense of taste and smell. And yes, this includes dip and chew.

There were several times on my last safari that I smelled dead animals but the PH couldn't. The stench from the animals was overwhelming. I'm convinced it was because he smoked.

Going into the field with a reduced sense of smell is a handicap.