Scent sticks?

[Splaker]

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.

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

[MikePal]

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

[rackman]

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

[Articcat]

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

[Splaker]

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

Which brand are you using?

[Splaker]

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!

[MikePal]

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

[amjeep]

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.

[Splaker]

Plastic or metal bucket, Mike?

[Oddmott]

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.