'Curiosity'; scent stick success

[MikePal]

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

[Hunter John]

Good job Mike Pal. Never tried them before.

[SK33T3R]

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

Maybe it's time I guess.

[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.

[JUDGE]

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

[30cal4me]

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.

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".

[TurkeyRookie]

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

[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.

[GoldenLakePete]

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

[MikePal]

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