Blog Articles

The battle of the Licking Stick - bucks establishing dominance and becoming territorial
  • Article comments count: 0
The battle of the Licking Stick - bucks establishing dominance and becoming territorial
About a week or so ago we were sent a series of trail cam pictures of a buck that appeared to be guarding "his" Licking Stick... Huh, we thought...that's pretty cool. Then a different customer sent a similar situation with a buck showing ownership over the Licking Stick... then another... and another... Here's a couple video captures of even more action! (Click below image to view) (Click below image to view...sound on!) Have you seen this "ownership" and dominance happening with any of your Licking Stick setups? Please share! It's one of the most interesting things we've seen so far and we would love to see what's happening on yours. Needless to say, the pics and videos have been answering the age old question... size doesn't matter after all! Zoinks! Oh, and since it's Friday... we've gotta share this other video with you. Sometimes when we try to explain what The Licking Stick is, we use the analogy of it being like a water cooler for deer. It's the place that everyone stops by each day to catch up on what's going on, get the low down on the new girl, just hang out and get the scoop. A place to relax and just chill for a bit. Well, we've seen The Licking Stick turning into more of a kegger party on one of our setups!Look at these deer just go at it all night long, right into day break!Check out this time-lapse on our YouTube page (click image to play in new window): Brings ya back to college a bit doesn't it?Well, speaking of kicking back...TGIF!Time to get out in the woods. If you're heading out too, good luck out there!Send us some pictures of your hunt setup over The Licking Stick! And if you haven't yet, get your own Licking Stick System here.We can't wait to see your Licking Stick trail cam pictures, too!!Post them on our Facebook page or submit to info@thelickingstick.com. -The Licking Stick Team#inventorypatternhunt
Learn More
Proper installation of the Licking Stick System - A detailed "how-to" video series
  • Article comments count: 0
Proper installation of the Licking Stick System - A detailed "how-to" video series
You've ordered your Licking Stick System, you're excited to get out there and get it set up so you can start Inventorying, Patterning and Hunting with the Licking Stick ...but now you're wondering where? How? What kind of tree do I use? Are there certain places that make more sense than others? As simple as the Licking Stick System and set up is, there are a few tips that can make the installation process even easier for you. Make sure to take a look at the Instructions for Use page where we have listed some of the most basic tips and common questions along with 3 short instructional videos. If you're looking to dig in a little bit more, take a look at the videos below where we get a bit more in-depth with The Licking Stick installation and setup. Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Still have questions? Don't hesitate to reach out! We are very active on our Facebook and Instagram page, and we can also be reached directly via e-mail info@thelickingstick.com. Share your Licking Stick setup with us when you are all set! Where did you put it? What kind of tree did you use? And of course...what deer are you getting on!? We can't wait to see those trail cam pics! Comment below or share on our social media channels. -The Licking Stick Team#inventorypatternhunt
Learn More
Why do I need the Licking Stick?
  • Article comments count: 0
Why do I need the Licking Stick?
Over the last couple of days we were flooded with new trail cam pictures from customers that were able to put their Licking Sticks out and finally had a chance to check those cameras over the weekend. They weren't sure if they would see results with this new "Licking Stick thing", but saw some of the pictures other people were getting and thought "hey, I'll give it a whirl." Within a couple of days, sometimes even within a couple of hours, satisfied customers are seeing results and interest on their newly placed Licking Sticks. Bucks, does and fawns alike, all showing their curiosity and leaving their mark on this new "thing" that showed up in their food plot, trail, field edge, or near their favorite watering hole. We understand the science behind The Licking Stick, but with the amount of questions we have received we are beginning to realize maybe not everyone else does. We've found the most common question to be "Why do I need The Licking Stick?" especially from those avid hunters who have been putting in their due diligence over the last few months, planning, plotting and beginning to pattern the deer on their land already. They've been getting some pictures on their trail cams, they "know" what deer they have on their land. Why do they need The Licking Stick? Well, there are a few reasons. I would say the first, and one of the most obvious reasons, is the quality and quantity of pictures you are getting on your cameras. Have you had a buck you've seen on camera once or twice, and you're trying to get a better look at him but the shots you are getting might be him jumping through and out of the frame, or looking into the camera with his rack out of the shot, or the booty picture of him walking away and you're trying to check out the antlers in the grainy, blurry background? I think we have all had our fair share of those. The utilization of The Licking Stick with a trail camera gives you additional time and guided placement of the deer on your property. Lets think about it, if you have a 5, 10, 20 acre food plot, you know the deer are in there on a regular basis. But how do you know where to put the camera? Sure it may be at the end of the trail leading into the the food plot, or a pinch point that led them there...but what would make them stop so you can get a good couple shots? The Licking Stick gives them a direct communal point to connect, scent and spend some time exploring. Communal licking branches are already common, now you have the opportunity to control where those communal licking points are. BINGO. Baiting has been becoming more and more popular (and also controversial) throughout the years to get deer to come to a certain area for trail camera and hunting purposes. But what about the states that have decided baiting is no longer legal? Or maybe you've just decided it's not part of the way you would like to hunt? Or maybe you have limited time on hand and you aren't able to get out there and dump some corn or mineral each day? Let's be real here, its a major time and financial investment to stay consistent and effective with this! Or even if you do have the time and resources to bait, do you really want to disturb the area every single day? As much as you think you are patterning the deer by doing this, believe me...they are patterning you just as much. By using The Licking Stick instead of baiting, you are able to attract and stop deer at a given point without having to use baiting as the method. Another reason we prefer and place The Licking Stick, is the fact that communal licking branches are utilized year round by bucks and does, young and old. The Licking Stick doesn't discriminate. It becomes a communication hub for all of the deer in the area, not just bucks as a scrape or mock scrape would be used. Once the deer stop to see, smell, lick and work The Licking Stick, they will begin to show up like clockwork and return to the same Licking Stick every time they are in the area. As more and more deer begin to work this given licking branch and leave their own scent, the curiosity of new deer passing through will peak and they will work The Licking Stick as well, allowing you to begin to inventory and pattern them more effectively. With the scent of multiple bucks, does, and fawns on a communal point...it's safe to say it won't be a milkshake bringing all the boys to the yard. In next weeks blog post we will talk about the specifics of HOW deer scent, digging more into the deer anatomy and how their multiple scent glands work and how this ties in with their use of The Licking Stick and why this is important. Get your very own Licking Stick System here.
Learn More
Efficiency
  • Article comments count: 0
Efficiency
The Licking Stick is the easiest, fastest, most effective way to put deer on the spot. Maximize your scouting and hunting efforts while minimizing your pressure.
Learn More
Let the deer do the work
  • Article comments count: 0
Let the deer do the work
Water hole? ✔️ Licking Stick ?✔️ Licking Stick scent ?✔️ Trailcam ? ✔️ ...let the deer do the rest. #inventorypatternhunt
Learn More
No discrimination here!
  • Article comments count: 0
No discrimination here!
Bucks, does, fawns...spring, summer, fall, winter. They all use communal licking sticks year round. Take advantage of it!!! #inventorypatternhunt
Learn More
The Licking Stick
  • Article comments count: 0
The Licking Stick
This is a natural licking stick we've seen deer work from our stand in the fall. Problem was it was in the wrong spot! I just cut it down and moved it. It's positioned in a licking stick base where I want it and I freshened it with our licking stick scent. It's now become.... A yardage marker in our soon to be planted food plot In line with a @banksoutdoors water tank and a tree that will allow me to set up a camera to cover both of them all at once. The great majority of deer that come into this plot will now put themselves in front of my camera and allow for a good picture. They will have to check in and leave their scent too.
Learn More