Terry's Tips...

Terry Rohm - Tink's Hunting Advisor

The Magic X

”When a deer is drawn to a scent or lure, I’m either going to shoot or not. If he puts his nose down to the scent or lure he should be taken at that moment. Once a deer gets to the scent, it immediately will know something is wrong. As a matter of fact, if you’re hunting your stand site properly, you should be taking the shot before the deer gets to the scent or lure you’ve put out. This brings us to the second most critical point of using scents and lures – doing your homework prior to the hunt.  

”Scents aren’t magic potions They’re simply enhancements that give you the extra few seconds you need to take a shot or pull a deer a few steps closer to give you a high-percentage shot. You still must do three things to be successful: scout for and hunt what I call the Magic X; place your scents or lures properly at your hunting locale; and hunt areas where deer are prevalent.” 

 Rohm’s Magic X  is a combination of two factors – the deer’s travel route and the wind direction. When the wind crosses a deer’s travel route at a right angle [perpendicular], it creates the Magic X. When scouting to find locales which will provide the Magic X, your weapon is the first consideration. Look for more open territory if gun hunting. If bowhunting, locales in more dense areas are huntable.  

”When scouting, first pattern the deer’s travel, find travel paths,” Rohm explains. ”Then determine what prevalent winds create the Magic X. Plan to hunt each location only under the proper wind conditions. While scouting, also take a map along. Mark the trails on the map or make notes on a pad. Keep a log of each trail you want to hunt. Then, according to the weather report, hunt the trail best suited to the prevalent wind that day.”  

Where your stand and scents/lures are placed also are critical to successfully using the Magic X hunting plan. Always place your stand on the downwind side of the travel trail so the deer can’t wind you as they move along the path. Then, place the scent or lure on the upwind side of the travel trail past your location, according to how the deer will be traveling. If you anticipate that deer will be traveling from your right to your left, the scent/lure should be placed upwind or your position, across the deer’s travel route and to your left.  

”You want the scent to blow across the travel path and below your position to pull the deer past you so you can take your shot as the deer is moving to the scent,” Rohm adds. ”Furthermore, should the deer get past you and move directly to the scent or lure, you’ll have a perfect quartering away shot when the deer stops to investigate.”  

With a detailed hunting plan, the only major question in regard to scents left is which scents are best suited to early-season [bowhunting], rut and late-season outings. Rohm has preferences on which scents are best suited for each time of year.

Tips For Scent Control

1. Wash body in Non Scent Soap, also hair.

2. Do not use perfumes.

3. Wash camo in Non Scent Soap and air dry.

4. Clean equipment grease-oil, etc. of un-natural odors.

5. Before going into the woods, spray camo with Tink’s Non Stink.

6. Always wear rubber boots.

7. At stand location spray again with Tink’s Non-Stink, mist camo spray on hands, rub face-neck-hair-ears. Also spray arm pits, crotch and back of your knees.

8. Carry fruit, gum, tobacco or anything un-natural in a zip lock bag.

9. Always watch the wind, make sure the wind is not blowing into the area that the deer will be coming from.

10. Always use a cover scent like fox, coon, pine, or earth.

11. Wear a solid hunting cap, don’t wear one with the mesh back, body odor will escape. Try to wear an insulated cap.

12. When hunting from a tree stand try to get 15 to 20 feet in the tree. This will help keep scent above the deer and you can get away with more movement. Always wear a safety belt.

Applying Products on a Hunt

Tink's Camo Soap

• Wash camo clothes

• Wash body and hair the night before or morning of hunt.

 Tink's Non-Stink

• Before walking to stand spray clothes

• At stand spray on hands then rub on face, ear, neck, and hair.

 Red Fox or Skunk

• Before walking to stand apply Red Fox or Skunk to Tink's  Hunter Scent Pad

• If you use Skunk do not use too much. You want the deer think a skunk is in the area and not alarmed.

Natural Cover Scents – Pine, Earth, Cedar, NEW Apple and Acorn

• Apply a natural cent before or after you are at your stand. Make sure the cent you use a natural to the area you are hunting.

Apply Deer Lure

• Never pour on the ground Use film canisters with cotton or scent pad.

• Lure should be placed in four direction: North, South, East and West of your stand. No matter which way the deer comes from they should smell the lure before they smell you.

• Scent Drag System can be used anytime you are walking to your stand. At the stand remove drag rag and hang on tree.

• # 69 Scent Dispenser and Tarsal Gland should be hung 2 to 3 feet off the ground or over a scrape.

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