Tinks 69 Doe in Rut vs Code Blue Scent Review

My Take After Using Both Scents

If you want my blunt answer, I trust Code Blue more than Tink’s 69 for getting a buck to finish.

I still carry Tink’s 69 in November, but I treat it like a “pull him those last 20 yards” tool, not a magic wand.

I have hunted whitetails for 23 years, and I started with my dad in southern Missouri when I was 12.

I grew up poor, so I learned public land tricks before I could afford a lease, and I still split time between a 65-acre spot in Pike County, Illinois and the Missouri Ozarks.

Here is what I do now. I use natural scent only when I can control access, control the wind, and keep it fresh.

Pick Your Goal First, Or You Will Use The Wrong Bottle

The biggest mistake I see is guys using doe-in-heat like it is a cover scent.

If you are trying to “hide” your human stink, forget about doe urine and focus on wind and access instead.

When I am trying to time deer movement, I check feeding times first because scent works best when deer are already on their feet.

This connects to what I wrote about how deer behave in wind because a perfect scent drag is worthless in a swirling creek bottom.

I use Tink’s 69 or Code Blue for one reason. I want a cruising buck to cut my line and commit instead of staying 70 yards out in the brush.

Tink’s 69 Doe-In-Rut, What I Like And What I Don’t

Tink’s 69 is easy to find, usually $9 to $14 a bottle at the local shop.

It smells like what it is, and it has a long track record, which is why it is still in so many packs.

Here is what I do with Tink’s 69. I only use it during the rut window in my area, usually November 3 to November 18.

I put it on a drag line with a boot lace for 80 yards, then I hang a wick 15 yards upwind of my shooting lane.

What I don’t like is consistency.

I have had bottles that seemed “hot,” and I have had bottles that acted dead, and you cannot tell until you sit a full morning.

Back in November 2016 in the Missouri Ozarks on public land, I watched a 6-point hit my drag line and freeze like he hit a wall.

He didn’t spook hard, but he never came closer than 45 yards, and that told me something was off or too strong right there.

Code Blue Doe Estrous, Why I Trust It More

Code Blue costs more, usually $15 to $25, and I still buy it because it has worked more steady for me.

The smell is sharper and more “real” to my nose, and it stays strong on a wick longer than most cheap bottles I have tried.

Here is what I do with Code Blue. I use less than I think I need, and I refresh it at midday only if I can do it without blowing the spot up.

I keep it in a zip bag inside my pack because one spill will make your whole season smell like a gas station bathroom.

Back in November 2019 in Pike County, Illinois, the morning after a cold front, I watched the 156-inch typical I killed hook downwind of my set.

He hit the scent stream, lip curled, and he walked straight to the licking branch under my wick, and that gave me the 18-yard shot.

I am not telling you Code Blue caused that buck, but it helped him finish instead of fading off.

My Quick Rule of Thumb

If you are hunting November 5 to November 15 and you have a steady wind, use Code Blue on a wick 15 yards upwind of your best lane.

If you see a buck cruising with his nose down, expect him to swing downwind of your trail before he commits.

If conditions change to swirling wind in a hollow, switch to no scent and hunt tighter cover where your shot is under 25 yards.

The Biggest Tradeoff, Freshness Versus Convenience

Tink’s 69 wins on convenience because you can find it anywhere and it is cheap enough to not baby it.

Code Blue wins on confidence for me, but it costs more and I treat it like food, meaning I keep it sealed, shaded, and not cooking in the truck.

I learned the hard way that leaving scent in a hot cab ruins it.

Back in 2013 in southern Iowa, I left a bottle in the dash tray during an all-day sit break, and the next morning it smelled sour and weird.

I still hunted it, and the only deer that reacted were does that snorted and skirted the field edge.

How I Actually Deploy It, Drag Line Versus Wick

The drag line is for pulling a moving buck across a feature, like a logging road or creek crossing.

The wick is for stopping him in your lane for 5 seconds, which is all I need with a bow.

Here is what I do on a drag line. I start the line where I expect deer to travel, not where I walk in.

I drag it across my downwind side, then I end it at a scrape or licking branch 20 yards from my tree.

Here is what I do with wicks. I hang them chest high to a buck, about 3 to 4 feet, and I keep them off my shooting-side brush.

This connects to what I wrote about where to shoot a deer because scent setups only matter if you can actually get a clean angle when he stops.

Do Not Use Doe-In-Rut To Cover Your Mistakes

I wasted money on $400 worth of ozone scent control that made zero difference, and I still learned the same lesson.

Nothing beats playing the wind and getting in clean.

If you are hunting public land in the Missouri Ozarks, forget about fancy scent clouds and focus on quiet access and a crosswind you can trust.

When I need a reminder that deer are not dumb, I think about what I wrote on how smart deer are because they pattern people faster than people admit.

Here is what I do instead of relying on scent. I plan my route so I never cross the main trail, even if it costs me 9 extra minutes in the dark.

I also keep my stand height boring, usually 17 to 20 feet, because wind is steadier up there.

Where Each One Fits By Location And Pressure

In Pike County, Illinois, I deal with older bucks and tight property lines.

There I want a buck to commit fast and not circle for 3 minutes, so Code Blue gets the nod for me.

On pressured public land, like parts of Buffalo County, Wisconsin hill country, I am careful with any scent because deer get weird from human traffic.

My buddy swears by Tink’s 69 up there, and he kills deer, but I have found mature bucks in pressured areas are more likely to hang up downwind and just watch.

If you are hunting big woods edges or clearcuts in the Ozarks, I like a short drag line to pull a buck across a logging road, but only if the wind is stable.

This also ties into deer habitat because scent works better where deer naturally check funnels and edges.

My Worst Mistake With Scent, And Why I Still Think About It

My worst mistake in hunting was not a scent mistake, but it taught me the same lesson about patience and discipline.

I gut shot a doe in 2007, pushed her too early, never found her, and I still think about it.

That day taught me to stop “doing stuff” just to feel busy.

Scent is the same way. Too much tinkering, too many refreshes, too much walking around, and you blow the spot up.

When I need to reset my head, I go back to basics like I wrote in how to field dress a deer because clean habits matter from start to finish.

What I Carry Now, And What I Quit Carrying

I carry one bottle of estrus, one pack of wicks, and one small zip bag.

I quit carrying scent bombs, cover scents, and anything that makes me walk extra after daylight.

Here is what I do for cheap gear that lasts. I still run $35 climbing sticks I have used for 11 seasons, and I spend the money on tags and gas instead.

If you want more “deer basics” stuff without the fluff, I point new hunters to deer species because knowing what you hunt and where it lives matters more than any bottle.

FAQ

Does Tink’s 69 actually bring bucks in?

Yes, it can, but it does not fix bad wind or bad access.

I use it as a closer during peak rut, not as an all-season solution.

Is Code Blue worth the extra money over Tink’s 69?

For me it is worth it during the 10-day window when I expect mature bucks to cruise.

If I am just trying to tag a doe for the freezer, I would rather spend that money on extra sits and fuel.

How much doe-in-heat scent should I use?

Less than you think, because an overpowered scent cone makes deer stop and scan.

I use a few drops on a wick, not a soaked rag dripping all over the leaves.

Where should I place a scent wick when bowhunting?

I place it 10 to 20 yards upwind of my best shooting lane so the buck stops in a spot I can shoot.

If he can get downwind of the wick without entering my lane, I move the wick or I do not use it.

Will doe-in-rut scent spook does and young deer?

Yes, sometimes, especially in areas with heavy pressure where deer already expect danger.

If family groups are blowing out, I stop using scent and I tighten my setup closer to bedding cover.

What I Would Buy If I Could Only Pick One

If I am spending my own money for one bottle, I buy Code Blue Doe Estrous.

If I am on a tight budget or I need something I can grab at any small-town shop the night before a hunt, I will still run Tink’s 69.

I am not a guide or an outfitter, and I am not paid to say that.

I am just a guy who hunts 30 plus days a year and has watched bucks react in real time, for better and for worse.

Decide How You Want The Buck To Finish, Or You Will Place It Wrong

If you want him to stop for a shot, you hang a wick where his nose will hit it in your lane.

If you want him to turn and walk your way, you use a short drag line that crosses his travel line, not yours.

Here is what I do on my Pike County, Illinois lease. I set the wick so his downwind swing puts him broadside at 12 to 22 yards.

Here is what I do on the Missouri Ozarks public land. I keep the whole setup tighter because thick cover and swirling wind will make you look stupid fast.

Mistake To Avoid, Using It On The Wrong Days

I learned the hard way that doe-in-heat on a dead calm, warm day can make deer act spooky instead of horny.

Back in November 2016 in the Missouri Ozarks, that 6-point didn’t blow out, but he locked up and would not commit, and that sit felt like a warning.

If you are hunting 62 degrees with gnats in your face, forget about scent tricks and focus on shade, bedding edges, and first and last 45 minutes of light.

When I want a reality check on deer movement, I go back to where deer go when it rains because weather shifts move deer more than most bottles do.

The Real Difference I See, How Deer React At 40 Yards

At 40 yards, I see more “nose down and commit” from Code Blue.

At 40 yards, I see more “pause, test, and drift” from Tink’s 69, especially on older bucks.

Here is what I do to test it in my head without overthinking it. I watch their feet, not their nose.

If a buck keeps walking with purpose after he hits the scent stream, I stay calm and get ready.

If he stops with one front hoof hanging and scans, I assume something feels off and I get ready for him to fade downwind.

Tradeoff To Consider, Drawing Power Versus Risk Of Hang-Ups

All estrous scents have a built-in problem. They can pull a buck, but they can also make him circle like a coyote.

That circle is where hunts go to die on small properties like Kentucky or tight fence lines in Pike County.

Here is what I do to cut down hang-ups. I set my best lane on the downwind edge, not the upwind edge.

This connects to what I wrote about how high a deer can jump because bucks will hop small fences and ditches to get downwind instead of walking where you want.

How Long I Leave It Out, And Why I Quit “Refreshing” So Much

I used to freshen scent like a nervous tic, and it cost me deer.

I learned the hard way that the act of refreshing is often louder than the benefit of fresh scent.

Here is what I do now. I hang the wick on the way in, and I do not touch it again until I leave.

If I am doing an all-day rut sit, I only refresh at midday if I can do it without stepping on the main trail or brushing limbs.

Decision To Make, Use It For A Buck Or Use It For Your Confidence

A lot of guys use scent because it makes them feel like they are doing something.

I get it, because I used to do the same thing after I wasted money on gear that didn’t work.

My buddy swears by dumping Tink’s 69 on a drag rag and walking to the stand like a breadcrumb trail.

I have found that on pressured public land, like parts of Buffalo County, Wisconsin, that can backfire because deer already associate fresh human ground scent with danger.

If you want confidence that actually helps, put that energy into a clean entry route and a wind you can explain in one sentence.

This ties back into do deer move in the wind because I would rather hunt a steady 12 mph wind than a perfect scent plan in a swirl.

How I Handle Storage, Because Heat Will Ruin Either One

I keep both bottles in a zip bag, then that bag goes inside another bag.

I do that because one leak turns your pack into a stink bomb for months.

Back in 2013 in southern Iowa, I cooked a bottle in the truck and it turned sour, and the next day does acted like I sprayed a skunk.

Here is what I do now. I keep estrous in a small cooler with a frozen water bottle on travel days.

Where I Think Each One Shines, Based On My Actual Hunts

In Pike County, Illinois, I want a mature buck to make a decision fast, so Code Blue is what I hang.

In the Missouri Ozarks, I am pickier on when I use any scent, because thick cover and public pressure punish mistakes.

If you are hunting big timber like the Upper Peninsula Michigan style big woods, I think scents are less reliable because deer can come from anywhere and wind is hard to read.

If you are hunting an ag edge like southern Iowa, a short drag across a terrace or ditch can pull a cruiser into bow range.

When I am trying to predict what a cruising buck is doing, I also think about deer mating habits because a buck searching for does acts different than a buck locked down.

One More Mistake To Avoid, Expecting A Bottle To Save A Bad Shot Plan

I have lost deer I should have found and found deer I thought were gone.

The biggest heartbreak I still carry is that 2007 gut shot doe that I pushed too early and never recovered.

That lesson shows up in scent hunting too. If you rush, you lose.

If your setup forces a hard quartering-to shot because you think scent will stop him perfect, do not take it.

For shot choices, I stick to what I laid out in where to shoot a deer to drop it in its tracks because no scent is worth a bad angle.

My Final Call, What I Tell A New Hunter Or My Kids

If my kid asked me what to buy for their first rut pack, I would say buy one small bottle of Code Blue and a cheap pack of wicks.

If money is tight, I would say buy Tink’s 69 and spend the saved $11 on gas so you can hunt two extra mornings.

Here is what I do every November no matter what bottle is in my bag. I hunt the best wind for the best bedding edge and I treat scent as a bonus.

If you want to keep learning the basics that actually matter, I point people to deer habitat because being in the right 40 yards beats the right scent every time.

If you are out there chasing a buck and you forget that the wind is king, you are going to get humbled.

I am still getting humbled, and that is why I keep it simple.