Scent sticks?

Hey folks, a few years ago I recall a scent stick thread and I believe a few if you swore by them. So far I've been unsuccessful (mostly bowhunting) and I am starting to think of alternative approaches, including using commercial scents. Currently I am trying peanut butter, leaving my clothes outside then in my truck that has apples in it (clothes absorb the apple smell!) and I wash clothes with a scent free product that is used for athletic wear.

I've read up a bit on the deer quest sticks. HAs anyone used them recently with success? I think the "Curiosity" sticks are the most popular but there's also the "Rutrageous". What about the Tinks products?

I hunt public land for the most part but my particular spot doesn't getting hit that much..

Thoughts? Worth a try? thanks!!

i saw them at tsc for like 15 bucks. worth a try. who knows, maybe you might be a believer next year!

I'll never use em again. . Waste of money... never saw a deer.. in 2 years with those.. only times I saw deer was when not using

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I think Mikepal used them before (if I remember right) and he was successful.... but as far as scent on clothes..... Mine just hang in the garage and get washed only when there is too much blood on them..... never worry about how they smell only worry how the wind blows the smell......

-Try and find where they are feeding and then setup along the edge or just off the trail they are using to the feeding grounds....
-Look for scrapes or rubs (find a concentrated area holding lots of them) and setup on the downwind side of them off a trail/clearing.
-You just might be over thinking it......find the trails you will find the deer.....once the trails are found you need to find a way to get in there undetected and stay undetected until they show up..... It usually only takes less than a minute from the time you see a deer to the shot is taken but that one minute may take a long time to come.
Best of luck, I am rooting for you.

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Originally Posted by fratri

I think Mikepal used them before (if I remember right) and he was successful.... but as far as scent on clothes..... Mine just hang in the garage and get washed only when there is too much blood on them..... never worry about how they smell only worry how the wind blows the smell......

-Try and find where they are feeding and then setup along the edge or just off the trail they are using to the feeding grounds....
-Look for scrapes or rubs (find a concentrated area holding lots of them) and setup on the downwind side of them off a trail/clearing.
-You just might be over thinking it......find the trails you will find the deer.....once the trails are found you need to find a way to get in there undetected and stay undetected until they show up..... It usually only takes less than a minute from the time you see a deer to the shot is taken but that one minute may take a long time to come.
Best of luck, I am rooting for you.

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You're right... and on two occasions, they were definitely behind me - one was confirmed because i was generous to bring my cousin along and he had a shot at three does where he set up in a clearing -barely 75 yards east of me! I might just move my stand closer to that spot.. it's a clearing very close to a ridge where there even appears to be a spot where they descend. He was on the ground and took a shot at 50 yards and missed... I think they might be avoiding my stand if they are coming from a more easterly direction (it was morning) since prevailing breezes are westerly... I think they were blowing west to east that morning. On the second occasion, there was definitely a deer there.. it was dark and the thing made a lot of noise.. discovered a very fresh scrape very close to where he missed. SO it may be a case that they are east of me in the moring.. no idea about the evening as it was dead quiet the two times I sat in the PM. I know one thing; they are enjoying my free apples! They are gone after every time I return to the spot! Probably gone nocturnal

Frat do you use calls?

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Originally Posted by Splaker

Frat do you use calls?

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I carry a grunt call and a doe in a can call....
Have had deer come to both.... I use the grunt call the most.... but sparingly...... a serious of 3-4 grunts every once in a while and almost always during the last couple of minutes (right before I pack it up) of legal light just in case there is a buck just out of sight, nothing to loose at that point...
I have been trying some rattling this year without any success but got to believe its just a matter of time before it happens......
Tomorrow should be a good day (with everything wet, easy/quiet walking) for an afternoon still hunt....

I use scent sticks made in Cuba. I think they are the Cohiba brand. They work great.

I wouldn't use them myself. With all the things that can go wrong vs. right for you in a hunt I'd hate to add just one more thing to the wrong pile.

I have and will continue to swear by them...I shot a Doe last year as she came out and stuck her nose on the smoke bucket during rifle season.

A fella at the camp used the Tinks 'Rut' last week and had a nice Buck come out within 45 minutes and walk straight into the smoke trail right to the scent stick, like his nose was on a rope.

It's all about the timing, when to burn them and of course having deer in the area. I've shot many a deer while burning them. It's amazing to watch when, even 200 yds out, their nose hits the scent trail and they turn and come in hard.

I don't over use them, just add them to the inventory of 'lures' you have to use when it's the best time.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

I have and will continue to swear by them...I shot a Doe last year as she came out and stuck her nose on the smoke bucket during rifle season.

A fella at the camp used the Tinks 'Rut' last week and had a nice Buck come out within 45 minutes and walk straight into the smoke trail right to the scent stick, like his nose was on a rope.

It's all about the timing, when to burn them and of course having deer in the area. I've shot many a deer while burning them. It's amazing to watch when, even 200 yds out, their nose hits the scent trail and they turn and come in hard.

I don't over use them, just add them to the inventory of 'lures' you have to use when it's the best time.

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Mike, do you prefer one particular variety? Deer Quest as a few types on the market.. thanks

I use Deer Quest myself....early on I tried Tinks, but watched a couple of times when Does walked into the area, hit the scent they stomped, snorted and left in a hurry. So I switched to Deer Quest Part 'A and part B' scent sticks and used them pre-rut, they worked well on both Does and Bucks.

I later found that the 'Curiosity' scent worked really well anytime, in fact was my stick of choice even in the rut.

I am going to try the new Tinks 'Rut' one this weekend, based on the success of my camp mate. He left me the remainder of his pack so a Free trail :)

Did had a thinks one burning last week and a fork horn almost burned his nose had it under pine tree on edge of field approx 30 yd down wind

I use scent ticks along with calls for both deer and moose and I can tell you they work.

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Originally Posted by Articcat

I use scent ticks along with calls for both deer and moose and I can tell you they work.

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Which brand are you using?

Bought the Curiosity Sticks tonight at TSC for $10. 6 sticks per pack.

So a couple of questions;

-how many sticks should I burn at a time?
-if I've read the instructions correctly, a plastic 3.5 gallon bucket should be drilled with a ring of 1/2" holes along the bottom of the bucket and a ring of 1" holes 4" down from the bottom ring of holes. Is this what others have done?

Any other tips?

Thanks guys!

I use a drilled bucket (3/4" lower holes), it's more stable than that burn chamber Deer Quest provides in the Combo pack. I have had the wind blow that one down a few times.

I will burn two sticks when the wind is stronger so the smoke trail is thicker, especially if it's blowing in the 'right' direction.

I was testing out these new tinks 'Rut' the past two hunts but there has been virtually no wind in the bush the smoke was primarily just hanging around in front of the stand. Wasted effort :)

Well I have to say they work for me! Last year I got my first buck with the doe in heat. This year I had a nice buck come out opening morning to the same sent but another Hunter to the north spooked it before it cleared a branch for an open shot. The Friday morning I put one out again but unfortunately i had a buck out in front of me at 7 yards but was 30 mins before legal light and I was just getting settled into the stand. On Saturday morning I was able to take a buck from the same sent.

Plastic or metal bucket, Mike?

I don't know what to think about the scent sticks. The first year i used them, i got an 8pt and a 6pt buck.

The 8pt hung around eating apples and sniffing the ground downwind from the stick from 6:10am until i shot it at 6:40am.

The 6pt came out of scrub brush, along a field edge, downwind in a very swirly windy day. He was cutting right to left in front of me, heading back into the big woods when he caught the sent of the stick, dropped his head to the ground, stuck out his tongue and pretty much sprinted straight towards my stand/sent stick.

But, I've used them for 3 years since then... and have only seen a doe & fawn in 2013 and nothing else.

I'm not home right now and will let you know in the morning

As MikePal posted they always draw the deer in not always to the sticks but close enough for a bow or gun shot and sometimes they almost burn their noses they get so close to it

I use Deer Quest sexual attractant during the rut and Tinks smoking sticks at any time

Do you HAVE to use a bucket? Just putting in the ground would be the same effect?

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Originally Posted by topher

Do you HAVE to use a bucket? Just putting in the ground would be the same effect?

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They burn to quick that way..a direct breeze would give it a long header.

I just cut a few holes in an empty thirst buster. Tip it upside down over the stick, shove the mouth into the dirt for stability.

instructions call for a 3.5 to 5 gallon bucket! That's huge! Not sure why a 15 L+ bucket is needed... Anyhow, I'm going to use whatever I have and drill some holes as per instruction. Hopefully a 12 pt will come along to check out the smoke action! ;)

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Originally Posted by Splaker

Not sure why a 15 L+ bucket is needed...

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It's the height...the bucket has to clear the top of the stick while it's burning when it stuck in the ground.

I have tried sent sticks with no luck but never used a bucket.
One thing I don't he is : if the deer are down wind arm't they going to smell you also?

That's the beauty of them, the scent trail from the smoke seems to mask your odour enough that the deer don't care, I've had lots come in downwind.

Do you always put them in a bucket? Can you get away without the bucket?


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Originally Posted by hikerman

Do you always put them in a bucket? Can you get away without the bucket?

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see post #24 & #25

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Originally Posted by MikePal

It's the height...the bucket has to clear the top of the stick while it's burning when it stuck in the ground.

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Going to use a bucket that contained chlorine sticks (it's been outside outside and thoroughly washed). But the sticks barely clear the bucket so I will dig a bit of a depression in the ground before placing the bucket on top. Gonna be fun doing this in the dark! I usually just get into my stand.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

That's the beauty of them, the scent trail from the smoke seems to mask your odour enough that the deer don't care, I've had lots come in downwind.

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No kidding..i was just going to ask..I guess ill try some tonight hoping to get my first deer!

Any luck without a bucket
Trying to avoid having to carry extra stuff
I hunt on the ground. My chair and crossbow is enough


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I have never used a bucket just stick them in a crack in a log or rock near you and angle them so they don't burn to fast so they will last long usually 21/2 to 3 hours if done right.

I use a pringles container with a bunch of holes poked in top and botttom

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Originally Posted by rackman

I use a pringles container with a bunch of holes poked in top and botttom

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Great idea! Have you had a lot of success with the sticks?

I burned the sticks this year in the bush to use as a constant wind indicator. The times I didn't use them the wind seemed to swirl and I'd get winded. Since I was generally hunting the same area, it seemed like the stick's scent would linger at least long even long enough to confuse them or get them to check things out. The first one I shot came in with the wind swirling and had no idea I was there. The 2nd one came in and winded me but seemed so confused that she stuck around long enough to get offed as well.

Sitting in the ground blind right now, with two tinks smoking sticks lit. I used the empty jug of deer cane I brought and just cut off the handle. Cut a few holes and notches into the bottom rim and put it upside down over the sticks. We'll see how it goes, the wind has died down since yesterday afternoon and instead of going west to east its going away from us.

The empty Pringles container is a great idea..,and I also have the munchies...will have to eat one in time for tomorrow morning


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Has anyone ever lit one of these for there walk to there stand as a cover scent and/or as a scent trail?

Trying a scent stick for the first time today. I lit it while walking into my stand and then went back out and walked in more slowly. Almost all action here is nocturnal. Only one 6 point seen during the day. Doe bleats, rattling and grunting tubes seem to have little to no effect on the deer. They only seem to come for the corn. Hopefully later this afternoon...