Deer attractants?

[NELS-BELLS]

Has anybody tried Deer cain or whatever its called? Supposedly deer tear up the ground and dig a big hole trying to lick this stuff up. Or does anyone have any info on any other products like it? (good or bad.)
The next question: Is it legal to hunt near it or is it considered bait?

Nels

[Mayfly]

You can use as much of that stuff as you want. Completely legal. Now the real question is, does it work? I don't truly know. We did use it one year and put down a couple bags of it. Nothing out of the ordinary. I can't see that product making or breaking your hunt. If you want an attractant there are many more better ones on the Market. Outdoor Research makes a great line of attractants for all times of the year. I have had some success. 50/50 I would say. The best time for scents is obviously during the rut but I have had some success at other times of the year also. Good Luck

[hunt4food]

I have tried more scents than I want to think about over the years. I quit using them last year except for some Orion scents doe urine during the rut. I think the scents work ok on the younger dumber bucks, but I feel like the bigger older bucks are too smart for that. The Orion scents that I use are collected from does in estrous the same day I purchase it so I know it's fresh. I drive the 20 miles or so to get it and I feel it's worth it. I think it's much more important to concentrate on being scent free myself than trying to cover up. That can start a whole new topic in itself!

[Finlander]

Try using a deer decoy! Then apply doe urine on the tail section of the decoy. Don't use doe in rut urine because the rut isn't going on yet.
You will get more deer to you than just using sents or attractants!
Good Luck!!!

[korn_fish]

Nells -

I am not sure about the cost of this product, but my cousin used it and got some mixed results.

I just use salt/mineral blocks that I purchase from agricultare stores. Much cheaper and wherever I put the mineral blocks, the block is gone in about a year. Then, the deer still come back and actually eat the soil to take in the minerals that were leached into the soil from rain. And actually dig holes to get the soil.

The Cain gimmick is that it is an attractant. It sort of is, but you should recognize it more of a growth aid and something that will help the deer.

A deer, and many other wild animals, will know that they are lacking some nutrients and go to the areas. Just like you see a dog or cat eat grass occasionaly. But you will not likely see the same animal at the area every day as you usually dont see your dog or cat eat grass everyday either. When there are food sources that are plentiful with good nutrition, you will not see much activity.

My opinion is get three things, one salt block, one mineral block, and something that you would find in your sporting goods store or catalouge such as the "cain" product you mentioned, place them in the same area. Say 15 yards apart, and let them sit for a few months and see which ones get used the most. These things take time for deer to find them, so I would place them fairly close to an already existing food source like an apple tree or a well used trail.

This is what I did and now stick to the mineral blocks, and occasionaly a salt block.

The salt and mineral blocks used for cattle are basically the same if not better then what you find "specially for deer" and are usually cheaper.

[This message has been edited by korn_fish (edited 09-08-2003).]