Need advice about deer feed/attractant

[Fremmer]

I'll be hunting deer on a small plot of land that isn't farmland, but it's near farmland and thick brush. I see a lot of deer in the area, and I suspect the area I'll hunt is primarily a crossing route for deer coming and going from brush to farm or food friendly areas.

The landowner suggested using a feeder. I don't own one and can't afford hardly anything. Is there powder, liquid, or salt/earth blocks I could apply every week or 2 to try and attract deer that may be in the area or passing through the plot? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Edited to add: looking at an ad for donkey corn, deer corn, 3 day harvest, donkey swamp crush attractant, deer cane, dirt block, bio rock - I don't know much about any of it....

 

[matrem]

Anything that appeals to their taste buds sure can't hurt.
You may want to give it at least a few days before expecting them to find it.
I've used several different attractants for trail camera pictures, and yes, they do draw them in.

edit to add: just checked the last bag I bought, as it seems to work really well, and it's called "lucky buck". Kinda smells like a cinnamon apple pie to me.

 

[Sunray]

First make absolutely sure it's legal where you are. Baiting isn't legal everywhere. Putting out a salt block is usually considered baiting, but they tend to be cheap. Found in farm supply shops. A bushel of apples works too.
Best to find the travel routes and a spot for a blind.
A swamp donkey is a moose.

 

[Fredericianer]

I've heard something about there being something in the salt licks for cattle that isn't good for deer. Make sure to get one of the ones made for deer.

I don't know how much they attract deer though, we put one up in an area where there is some but not much deer activity to try and attract them, but in six months it's hardly been touched....

 

[gspn]

Like others have said…first make sure it's legal.

I have seen areas with something as simple as a salt block get beat down so hard that it looked like three guy with shovels had worked the place over.

 

[dprice3844444]

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search...&hsimp=yhs-att_001&type=att_pc_homerun_portal
some info on cheap pvc deer feeders

 

[r_p_bayly]

I have seen areas with something as simple as a salt block get beat down so hard that it looked like three guy with shovels had worked the place over.

and

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?...homerun_portal
some info on cheap pvc deer feeders

and

Like others have said…first make sure it's legal

Ditto all above
Cheapest salt block and deer corn from farm supplt/feed store is as good as any

Powder/liquid/etc mostly attract your wallet more than deer

 

[ron b]

I would scout the area and see when they are moving through. It could be pre dawn or just around sunset. You have to know their pattern for that area. Also could be only does or a mix. Scout.

 

[Fremmer]

Thanks for the replies. I looked and looked for the kansas rule on baiting deer and just can't find anything. I'm sick and hopped up on NyQuil though so I might have missed it. Anybody know what the kansas rule on baiting deer is?

 

[MCgunner]

Corn works for me, just plain corn. I have a feeder that I've kept running for 6 seasons, now. It only set me back 100 bucks, sits on a tripod, and its wiring and control box are away from the racoons, a bonus. It's a Moultrie. Hanging feeder, I have one, sell for maybe 50 bucks. They're usually photocell controlled, but only hold 40 to 50 lbs of corn. The Moultrie holds around 300 lbs. Another thing about that Moultrie, battery lasts all friggin' year, really nice. I have rechargeables, now, but it's nice not to have to run down and tend the thing so often. I have it up here behind the house in the woods, now. I have another place I bought in 88 that is 100 miles from me. If I set up to hunt down there again, I'll probably buy another Moultrie.

I have no clue about Kansas. I hunt Texas and feeders are a way of life down here.

 

[buck460XVR]

Thanks for the replies. I looked and looked for the kansas rule on baiting deer and just can't find anything. I'm sick and hopped up on NyQuil though so I might have missed it. Anybody know what the kansas rule on baiting deer is?

I believe it is illegal to bait on public lands in Kansas, but legal on private. Most state wildlife agencies have a "contact us" link on their websites and will respond quickly to questions on hunting regs.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I don't use feeders and we have no problem getting the deer to come to the feed.

I also don't pile the corn up in large piles. They eat it too fast that way. My shooting lane is 200 yards long and about 30 yards wide. I'll take a 50 pound bag of persimmon or apple flavored corn and strew it all along the shooting lane. One bag for the entire thing.

I put it out on Friday night and hunt it saturday and sunday. There's usually still corn left on the ground when we pack it up for the weekend. And a deer rarely crosses the lane without stopping to eat some.

 

[Fremmer]

Hmmm, that may be the way to do it, dump a line of corn along the area I'll be shooting. Good idea.

 

[Fremmer]

And I will scout that area, see if there's activity, and get my shooting lanes and a still hunt spot soon. Thanks for the good advice!

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Get some corn out there a few weeks before season starts and see how fast they're eating it. Plus it gets them used to corn being there and they know to come by there.

If you're hunting the same spot year after year, it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep a mineral lick there for then year around. They're cheap enough ($10-$15) and one will last a few months so cost isn't an issue.

 

[gamestalker]

Well, during the rut I've had bucks follow me with a piece of rag sprayed with doe estrus tied to my boot, so it drags across the ground as I walk in. But where I hunt, or actually the type of hunting out here is much different, we don't have food plots or private lands to speak of, it's all public lands, spot and stalk.

GS

 

[Arkansas Paul]

we don't have food plots or private lands to speak of, it's all public lands, spot and stalk.

I'm too lazy to actually hunt. lol

I sit in an elevated blind with my Mr. Buddy heater going and watch shooting lanes sewed with corn. I'm spoiled and I realize many don't consider it hunting, but its legal and I eat a lot of venison.

 

[jrdolall]

Corn, or any feed, in an area with a lot of crop agriculture isn't as effective. If there are soybeans or peanuts or corn then the deer will be accustomed to eating those food sources and, while they certainly will eat corn from a feeder or poured on the ground, it just doesn't seem to be that effective.
If you can find the trails the deer are using to go from the bedding area to the feeding area then you can set up on those trails and catch deer moving. Maybe you can sit on the fields and glass before the season just to see where they are coming from.
We have several guys that use deer feeders (I have in the past) but I can count the number of shooter bucks that were shot eating corn on one hand. The corn does attract the doe and fawns so the bucks will be following but feeding for most mature bucks is a night time activity.
Salt blocks are generally not effective during the winter months as deer don't require many minerals. They tear them up during the hotter months around here and dig holes in the ground all around the salt but come November they rarely visit during the season.
You can buy a feeder for less than $100 that will work just fine. The 5 gallon hanging feeders will do the trick or the larger ones that hold 300 pounds or so. You can determine how much feed and when to feed it with a digital timer. A battery should last all season pretty easily. My only recommendation is that you get one with a metal spinner and funnel especially if you have squirrels and coons as they can chew on them and make the feeder dump more than you want.

 

[matrem]

Don't know wherebouts in Kansas you're at, but parts of Kansas are an awful lot like my neck of the woods, corn everywhere a deer can walk this time of year.
Yep, they love corn, but I've watched deer cross a 40 acre corn field many times to get to something different. After all you're looking for them to either come to your spot or at least stop there, right?
Post 16 is spot on in my experience as well. Have had many bucks track me right to where I cut the rag string. A couple have even walked over and started licking my bottom tree steps.(must have got too much on my boot)

The does though, don't seem to care one iota about sex scents, other than thinking there's an intruding female. Watched one grab my rag in her mouth, toss it to the side & get very agitated.

Hmm.. guess they are mammals just like us.

 

[huntinfool87]

BB &J is great feed/attractant plusnits good for the deer. You can put it on the ground but you can make your own feeder with just pvc pipe for around $20. Take a 5' long 8" around reduce it to a 2' long 6" around and cut the end at a 45° angle. Put the angled edge 1" or 2" in the groung against a tree strap it to the tree. It should hold almost 2 five gallon buckets of grain type feed. If you want you can put a cap on the 8" side to keep moisture out. Keep in mind that its gravity fed so as the deer eat it will drop more food this will determine how often you re feed it. Good luck if you need more details just message me.