When i first started hunting about 25yrs ago i would try anything but honestly, the only thing i've ever attracted with apples are opposums, racoons, rabbits and fireants. The deer around here could care less and apples would just lay out and rot before deer would eat them. I'm sure they attract deer in other areas but not here in my part of NC.
My area is mostly woods, swamps and crops fields. The deeraround here tend to hit the soybeans hardin the early season and corn in the late season. But i agree with BB66 that if the acorns are dropping thats where the deer will be until the acorns are gone. I'll take one oak thats dropping acorns anyday overacres of corn and beans or 100 apple trees.