My grandfather used to have what he called " his secret recipe" for deer attractant. He' d put a little vanilla into a table spoon of peanut butter and smear it on a branch near his stand. I' ve never tried it but if he swore by it I' d have to believe him since he hunted all year round to put food on the table.

He would also take a sweaty dirty shirt and leave it in his stand so the deer would get used to his scent being around.