Plenty of veteran hunters will tell you the biggest mistake newbies make is soaping themselves generously in the shower, then slapping on some aftershave and hair products before setting out for the day. There’s little that gives you away in the field more than smelling like a drugstore.

There are a number of ways to disguise your scent – some are better than others. Plenty of hunt supply shops offer masking scents, designed to mimic everything from skunk musk or fox urine to the fresh scent of cedar. The important factor here is choosing a masking scent that will be familiar to the animal you’re after – don’t use the scent of oak to cover your tracks through a pine forest, for example.

Most advise that the best way to disguise your sent is not to develop one in the first place. Do this by washing yourself in unscented soap and using an unscented shampoo. Don’t use perfume or aftershave and avoid scented deodorants. Wash your hunting attire in unscented detergent and dry it in the fresh air outdoors if possible. Similarly, clean your equipment so it does not harbor unnatural odors. Also, while on the hunt, seal anything that is foreign to the environment in a zip-top bag.