The Outdoors' Best Smells

by
posted on August 17, 2010
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
dogs_ah2015_fs.jpg (8)
Research shows that scent evokes memories and past emotions with more potency than any other sense. A psychologist would say that is why the scent of leather makes me think of football; why fresh-cut grass evokes memories of summer; and why one whiff of my mother-in-law's perfume terrifies the hell out of me.
It also probably explains the decades-old love affair sportsmen have shared with Hoppe's No. 9. Not only does it have a naturally appealing smell, but it stirs memories of times spent afield, a favorite over/under and maybe even the first time Dad showed us how to clean a gun. I love the stuff and, when I'm not trying to dab it behind my significant other's ears, I'm applying it to my guns. Problem is I only get to enjoy its scent wafting through my gun room for an hour or two before it's gone. Finally, though, Hoppe's has created the product sportsmen have demanded for so long: A Hoppe's No. 9 air freshener!
Let's celebrate its release by naming our other all-time favorite outdoor smells. I've listed my top 10 below. I look forward to reading some of yours.
-Burnt shotshell powder
-Roasting (skin-on) mallards
-Gundog puppy breath
-Wet retriever
-That old, family hunting cabin smell
-Pan-fried quail
-Neoprene
-Pheasant feathers
-Wet, decaying leaves underfoot (think grouse/woodcock season)
-Duck blind Thermoscoffee

 

Latest

wood table with white plate bowl shears meat jerky bits
wood table with white plate bowl shears meat jerky bits

How to Make Woodstove Jerky

Homemade jerky is a staple with a lot of hunters. Deer, antelope, moose and elk all make excellent jerky. Surprisingly, geese do too. In fact, most any game animal will make palatable jerky. Here's how to make it with nothing but a woodstove, a knife and maybe some shears.

Three Whitetail Traps to Set for Close Shots

Your whitetail hunting location may be as expansive as a national forest or as small as an uncle’s 40-acre woodlot. In either scenario, whitetails have a knack for slipping by just out of shooting range. Whether using a firearm or archery equipment, you do have options to lure whitetails closer. Consider setting a trap this season for your best opportunity at an ethical, in-your-face shot.

Hardware Review: Ravin LR Crossbow

Looking for a new crossbow that packs some serious punch? Look no further than the Ravin LR. Check out Brian McCombie's review of it below.

Don't Fight the Feeling: Setting up a Booner Bowhunt

When your gut tells you to hunt, don’t fight the feeling. Josh Woods didn't, and dropped a legitimate Booner. Here's how he did it.

Range Review: Heritage Badlander Field .410 Bore

This flexible side-by-side from Heritage Manufacturing is ready for a variety of shooting roles including turkey hunting! Check out the full review of the Badlander here.

Win Leica Optics in Sitka’s Diverge 14 Photo Contest

No purchase is necessary to enter the Sitka’s Diverge 14 Photo Contest, and the grand prize winner will net gear worth more than $17,500 from Leica, Sitka, Pelican and Adobe.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.