RE: hot apple cider to attract deer
I have never tried that, but I do have a close hunting buddy that uses pure apple juice.
He puts it in a small spray bottle and begins spraying when he's within 150 yds from his stand. He lighly sprays small branches, twigs and some ground vegetation every 30-40 yds. He continues this until he has reached his treestand, where he again sprays the apple juice in that immediate area. I know he has shot some nice New England bucks and when he says he owes part of it to his apple juice....who am I to argue?