'Curiosity'; scent stick success

Our camp hunts the 2nd week, so we didn't get started till this past Sat. Usually the action is better because it's a little cooler...but not this week, the deer are not moving and very few have even been seen.

After 3 nights of inactivity at my stand I decided to burn a 'Curiosity' scent stick. So I set up the bucket downwind of me about 50 yds out. I could feel the slight breeze at the back of my head and see the smoke curling away from the stand. Not ideal, but it's what I had to work with.

I should note; the stand is in the centre of the bush and I have deer approach lanes all around me, so it's a 360 degree hunt area, so wind/scent is only a small factor and usually only limits one direction.

It didn't take long, I look up from my book and there she is coming straight at me, nose to the ground following in on the scent trail. She went right to the bucket with no indication she was even on alert. She stood around long enough for me to get set for the shot. By the time she was in my reticle, she had moved and was standing behind some trees and all I had to aim at was about a 12" spread between two ash, but luckily, what was visible was the vital area....too easy.

She even did me a favour of running about 15yds and piling up right on the trail for easy pick up. !!

The boys are happy to get a nice deer up on the pole and I got to prove out once again how great these scent sticks work.

http://www.deerquest.com/store1/deersense1/dscur-detail

http://www.deerquest.com/images/stor...oduct/dq17.jpg

Good job Mike Pal. Never tried them before.

Congrats ... Of all the stuff I've used I've never tried those sticks!

Maybe it's time I guess.

Interesting. Where did you get them?

I finally got a doe tag after years of seeing does and not having one, and of course this year and can't seem to get one in bow range.

I tried the scent sticks all last year and saw nothing , I did use a different brand than you though.
Congratulations on your success.

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Originally Posted by kdp89

Interesting. Where did you get them?

I finally got a doe tag after years of seeing does and not having one, and of course this year and can't seem to get one in bow range.

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TSC has many of these products listed on their website. Many different scents available and some combo packs.

Look under "hunting and fishing", then under the deer portion of "attractants".

Congrats! dad and brother took their bucks (last year and year previous) on the Tink's "all season" sticks.

I started using a different brand in 2010, but only got out a couple days and couldn't really make any judgement about them.

In 2011 when i last got shooting, I had those sticks burning when i got BOTH my bucks to pretty much walk up to my stand that season.

I used them with dedication in 2012 and never saw anything.

I used them half-heatedly in 2013 and only saw a doe & her fawn too close to last light.

I didn't use them at all this season and i'm sucking hard on tag soup.

I don't know what to make of any of it.

Congratulations, Mike! Which rifle did you use? .303? 6.5? 8MM? Muzzle loader?

I've been using them for years with mixed results in the early years. Like the instructions say, if there are no deer they don't work :)

They also can be over used or using the wrong type. The 'Rutragous' sticks, for example, work great during the Rut only....which in most cases is after the rifle season here in Eastern Ont...so guys who use them too early won't have as much success.

I will burn the 'Curiosity' only during the rifle week and only every 2nd or 3rd night during the hunt from one stand. I break out the Rutrageous about mid Nov during bow and into the Muzzle Loader.

In recent years almost all my deer have been shot while I was burning the sticks. I believe the claims that they mask the human scent enough that deer will still come in even down wind of you..last night proved that out again.

Hey Pete...I was dogging all morning so I decide not to carry the ML thru the bush...settled for the .303 with 150 gr. and my $7.50 scope :) Bonus..this deer was on a camp tag, so I still have one for the ML season in a few weeks....when hopefully I will be wearing more than a T-Shirt out hunting :)

Nice sized heart...2.5 lbs will make for a nice supper on the weekend

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...ps21983259.jpg

sorry. noob question. how do these work? i've seen them at walmart and it had me wondering. what are they supposed to smell like?

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Originally Posted by punkrockerpj

sorry. noob question. how do these work? i've seen them at walmart and it had me wondering. what are they supposed to smell like?

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I don't know what "curiousity" is suppose to smell like, the all season ones are just suppose to smell like a deer, the rut ones, like a doe in estrus.

Just light them, let it flame for a minute till it gets an ash, then blow it out and let it smoke for a few hours.

hey that sounds pretty easier. maybe easier than baiting...

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Originally Posted by punkrockerpj

hey that sounds pretty easier. maybe easier than baiting...

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I still use bait in the area I'm hunting to ensure that deer are frequenting the area. The scent sticks are great when you have a stand set up that isn't ideal for wind ect. They act as a cover (mask) for your scent as well as provide a 'chemical' attractant for deer.

These 'Curiosity' ones have a good name, the deer, being curious creatures, tend to like to investigate the odd odour and they come in looking around to see what's making the smell. Great for mid day hunts when your back in the bush along transition trails and they are moving about.

Congratulations on the doe Mike.

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Originally Posted by Oddmott

I started using a different brand in 2010, but only got out a couple days and couldn't really make any judgement about them.

In 2011 when i last got shooting, I had those sticks burning when i got BOTH my bucks to pretty much walk up to my stand that season.

I used them with dedication in 2012 and never saw anything.

I used them half-heatedly in 2013 and only saw a doe & her fawn too close to last light.

I didn't use them at all this season and i'm sucking hard on tag soup.

I don't know what to make of any of it.

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I think your 4 years prove that the sticks don't really work (or any cover up scent), at least from my perspective. First year I ever hunted deer was the year I saw 3 bucks and one was a hell of a trophy that I missed at 30 yards (buck fever, long story!!). That year I didn't use any scents, didn't even wear all camo and washed my clothes in tide and downy!! Must have been a good year and good wind where I was set up - which are the biggest factors in success imo

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Originally Posted by Splaker

I think your 4 years prove that the sticks don't really work

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So when I watch a deer walk in downwind, from 100yds out and walk straight into the smoke trail and put their nose on the scent bucket.....I am seeing them 'NOT" working ? ...LOL...

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Originally Posted by MikePal

So when I watch a deer walk in downwind, from 100yds out and walk straight into the smoke trail and put their nose on the scent bucket.....I am seeing them 'NOT" working ? ...LOL...

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I've tried scent this year, last year and other years... I've finally given up on them. My best year was the year I did not use them.

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Originally Posted by GW11

Congratulations on the doe Mike.

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That's the first Doe I've shot in over 8 yrs. Usually the deer are plentiful and I can stick with bucks, but we were not seeing any deer and it was getting late in the week.

Anyway I butchered her up yesterday morning and recovered about 45 lbs of meat for pepperettes. Took the tenderloins and back straps over to the camp and had a BBQ supper with some of the most tender meat I've eaten in years.

One of the guys even proved you could chew it with no teeth :)

I spend alot and I mean alot of time in the bush and this year I harvested deer 31,32 and 33 in the controlled (I have been deer hunting for about seven years), I have to agree with Mike. I have had deer dead down wind of me come in and knock the bucket over despite smelling me as well. I have never seen it spook a deer (but then again maybe I never saw the deer that was spooked:)). Anyways I think my success stands for its self, I prob use them half the time.

awesome, however, shouldnt you be feeling the breeze on your face and not back of your head???? that may account for inactivity as you stated

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Originally Posted by exocet

awesome, however, shouldnt you be feeling the breeze on your face and not back of your head???? that may account for inactivity as you stated

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Not when you hunting in the centre of the bush....a breeze will always be in a 'wrong' direction...that's why I started to use the scent sticks to mask my scent. Turns out they work well.

ah yes the thermals and swirling air, right you are, i get that in gorges alot, cant beat it, so you just play along

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Originally Posted by MikePal

So when I watch a deer walk in downwind, from 100yds out and walk straight into the smoke trail and put their nose on the scent bucket.....I am seeing them 'NOT" working ? ...LOL...

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Until more is know about the olfactory senses of deer and how they respond to different stimulus /odours, most conversations about 'scent control' is anecdotal.

Congrats on the fine deer MikePal. :thumbup:

Using the stick was a smart thing under the conditions that you have describe and I am glad it worked for you.

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Originally Posted by brent

Until more is know about the olfactory senses of deer and how they respond to different stimulus /odours, most conversations about 'scent control' is anecdotal.

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Probably the smartess thing you've ever posted Brent....LOL

..without quotation marks however, it's just plagiarism..:)

Looks Like I'm going to have to add another deer lure to the arsenal! Good to hear others chime in on the effectiveness of such scent lures. Kind of like fishing with scents - some have confidence in it, and others look at it as a deterrent. To each his own.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Probably the smartess thing you've ever posted Brent....LOL

..without quotation marks however, it's just plagiarism..:)

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LMAO Mike . Good poke and a double lunger at that .:thumbup: .

TD

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Not when you hunting in the centre of the bush....a breeze will always be in a 'wrong' direction...that's why I started to use the scent sticks to mask my scent. Turns out they work well.

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I also hunt trails inside the bush, used the curiosity scent stick once this year, just as a cover scent 'in case' something went behind me. It worked to cover my scent, I had 2 bucks bed down behind me, dead down wind. It never bought them in, they did raise their heads a sniff, then went to bed down. On another day, I was later able to take one of these bucks, if he had scented me on that first day, he very well may have changed his routine, his bedding area, he didn't. What I believe helped bring him in was the scent drags I had used coming into the stand, both dipped in artificial scent by Code Blue, one in Doe Estrous one in Buck Scent, they were hung up in a tree in front of me. He had been on path to go behind me, then he turned left and was coming straight to the scent drags, I even bumped my stand, he stopped and looked at me; but sniffed the air and kept coming. ( BTW, the heart was ruined by the arrow head slice it open. I did save the liver though)

Since I took photos before tagging him, I cannot post after the shot photos without breaking the rules on the site, so here is a before the shot photo of the deer.

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps4a38f0ab.jpg

http://i388.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps3288b4fc.jpg

I just picked up some sent sticks today and would like to ask if any one made a chimney or how hey actually burn them ???

Just get a small bucket that is big enough to cover over the scent stick when it's stuck in the ground. The drill x4-x5 1/2" holes around the side at the bottom and some 3/4" holes around the top (no holes in top)....

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Originally Posted by red-oak

I just picked up some sent sticks today and would like to ask if any one made a chimney or how hey actually burn them ???

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I use a can with a lid, like a Pringle's can or the other chip Stackers, there is even a instant coffee can that will work, a tall skinny can with a lid, I carry my sticks and since I don't smoke a lighter in the can. Like Mike says drill holes in the top and bottom to allow for air flow.

thanks guys that will be my project for tomorrow morning, and I will have an afternoon hunt

Any downside to just lighting and letting them burn uncovered?

WHY NOT JUST A PIECE OF 4" ABS OR PCV PIPE.

cut it to the length of the sticks. add 2 caps . drill out your vent holes .. 4 to 6 in the upper portion and 2 down low ..
in the bottom cap (dead center) drill a small hole just big enough for a press fit for the scent stick wooden portion. this will hold the scent stick in the exact center of the pipe.

also a small string taped to the upper portion if the pipe and you can hang the whole unit at any height you wanted.

make this once and you'll have it forever .. make a few and leave them at your hunting spots ...

better then a 5 gal pail in the woods!

you're welcome! :-)

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Originally Posted by smalls

Any downside to just lighting and letting them burn uncovered?

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the wind will burn down the stick to fast....in the 'bucket' it will last 2+ hrs....

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Originally Posted by SK33T3R

better then a 5 gal pail in the woods! you're welcome! :-)

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I have a small cat litter bucket...perfect size. I use it to carry apples out to the stand...they flip it over and burn the stick under it....your welcome too !! :)

I also have x2 of the black plastic ones that come with the Combo Pack I used to burn...they have lasted me for years and like skeeter says, just leave them out by the stand.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

the wind will burn down the stick to fast....in the 'bucket' it will last 2+ hrs....



I have a small cat litter bucket...perfect size. I use it to carry apples out to the stand...they flip it over and burn the stick under it....your welcome too !! :)

I also have x2 of the black plastic ones that come with the Combo Pack I used to burn...they have lasted me for years and like skeeter says, just leave them out by the stand.

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I TRIED THAT CAT LITTER BUCKET TRICK TOO

BUT

THE FARM CATS KEPT CRA#*IN ON IT :scream: