Want a cigar, can't have a cigar. What do you do instead?

[JDoughty]

I want a cigar. Actually I want about five of them all in a row. I can not have any cigars because I'm scheduled for some serious deer hunting and need to avoid strong smells. I have a few too many friends and neighbors who aren't leaving their houses to work or anything else, because people in my neighborhood are being tackled to the ground - including children - for having the wrong color skin. Not cool. I can't do a thing about that part, but my plan is to fill the rest of my deer tags and give them all the meat so at least their holidays don't completely suck. Did it before during Covid, fixing to do it again till season's over or I put my legal limit on the ground. Until that's done, no tobacco, no scented detergents or soaps of any kind. Sneaking up on deer with a bow isn't quite as easy as it sounds and going scentless is part of the regimen.

What do you all do when you want a cigar but can't have one for awhile? Any good substitutions or distractions that work for you?

[icehog3]

Nothing substitutes for a cigar when I'm jonesin' for one. I sip my whiskey and pout.

[Brian D.]

I know a few cigar smokers who will occasionally turn to those Snus packs as a substitute. I tried them once, it didn't do anything for me.

[JDoughty]

Originally Posted by icehog3

Nothing substitutes for a cigar when I'm jonesin' for one. I sip my whiskey and pout.

Holding off on the alcohol too, deer can smell that also. My life is one of basically No Fun other than the actual hunting, which I'm doing every time I can get off work long enough or early enough. No luck yet, so still going cigarless and grumpy about it.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by JDoughty

Holding off on the alcohol too, deer can smell that also. My life is one of basically No Fun other than the actual hunting, which I'm doing every time I can get off work long enough or early enough. No luck yet, so still going cigarless and grumpy about it.

One big fun that takes away all the little funs. I dunno, JD, I don't think I'm meant to be a hunter.

[T.G]

You could always try masturbation

[Brian D.]

Through the years I've had three different deer hunters tell me this same basic story, and as far as I remember none of them knew each other:

After several fruitless early morning hours of spotting no deer, they lit up cigars out of boredom. Not long after, one or more of the critters wandered nearby, sniffing the air with great curiosity. In two instances the deer were too small, but the other hunter harvested a full sized buck.

Hunters and fishermen/women often fib or exaggerate, so I can't verify the above as factual.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by T.G

You could always try masturbation

Oh. I've tried. Believe me, I've tried.

[BigDawg]

Originally Posted by JDoughty

Holding off on the alcohol too, deer can smell that also. My life is one of basically No Fun other than the actual hunting, which I'm doing every time I can get off work long enough or early enough. No luck yet, so still going cigarless and grumpy about it.

Sorry to hear about your troubles, JD. I will do my best to make up for your sacrifice later tonight.

Happy Hunting !

[T.G]

Originally Posted by icehog3

Oh. I've tried. Believe me, I've tried.

Me too. Just as Id never recommend a cigar that I never tried....

I

[Ashcan Bill]

I just completed a successful hunt myself. I arose early this morning and trekked down to the local food emporium, where I bagged myself a 17 lb. turkey. To celebrate I am now heading off to the patio to enjoy a fine tobacco product. May your hunt be as productive as mine.

[JDoughty]

Originally Posted by Ashcan Bill

I just completed a successful hunt myself. I arose early this morning and trekked down to the local food emporium, where I bagged myself a 17 lb. turkey. To celebrate I am now heading off to the patio to enjoy a fine tobacco product. May your hunt be as productive as mine.

Congratulations! I am terrible at turkey calling and my hunting buddy who was good at it moved away, so I didn't go after them during our season. I like venison for the work to meat ratio, but my last hunt didn't yield any luck, alas. Trying to get another stretch of time before the holiday to try again.

[JDoughty]

Originally Posted by Brian D.

Through the years I've had three different deer hunters tell me this same basic story, and as far as I remember none of them knew each other:

After several fruitless early morning hours of spotting no deer, they lit up cigars out of boredom. Not long after, one or more of the critters wandered nearby, sniffing the air with great curiosity. In two instances the deer were too small, but the other hunter harvested a full sized buck.

Hunters and fishermen/women often fib or exaggerate, so I can't verify the above as factual.

I've heard it often enough that it may well be true. Native Americans disguised their scent with wood smoke, which is not unfamiliar to deer. But I've also had them spook when the wind changed and they smelled something not quite right - my coffee, possibly, or just me. So I'm erring on the side of as little scent as possible other than the cover scents I use. Doe pee, raccoon pee, pine scent and acorn extract are my go-tos. I don't think I want to vape any of those, though.

[JDoughty]

Originally Posted by T.G

You could always try masturbation

Not while I'm stalking deer I ain't gonna. That ain't what you use to pull a bow, unless you're just built real different.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by JDoughty

Not while I'm stalking deer I ain't gonna. That ain't what you use to pull a bow, unless you're just built real different.

Ted laughs and says "Amateur...."