Deer Attractant Tests
 

I have been using areas off a heavily travelled trail to test different attractants. Each new attractant I try is set further down the trail than the previous from the bedding area. I leave a trail cam set up on the attractant for one week. I rated each attractant by:
1. Number of deer showing up;
2. Number of adult deer;
3. Buck to Doe Ratio; and
4. Longest Time spent at attractant.

Here are my results so far:

Trophy Rock: ($14.99) 16/15/7:8/6min 3rd one tested and still has a lot of activity.
Deer CoCAIN (Black Magic) ($7.99): 37/37/5:32/12min WOW! they come in and stick around for quite a while.
C'mere Deer ($19.99): 8/0/0:8/2min 2nd one setup and visits dropped off drastically after trophy rock setup.
Salt Lick ($5.70): 32/16/2:14/1min 1st one setup and least frequented since the others started.

I just set up a trail cam on a product new to me - Advantage 360 Supermaxx ($9.99)

Questions:
1. Has any of you done any type of study on different attractants in your area?
2. Do you feel the criteria I set up is fair for rating the attractant?

Thanks for your input.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

Best stuff I found mineral wise was whitetail addiction like 5 bucks at wally world for a gallon and it keeps'em coming in for weeks.

It looks like some of your attarctant brings in Jackass's....lol

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

Looks good to me AF,I am glad to see the results of the Trophy rock, I put them out earlier this year!!!!! Good job on your test....

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

Oh, I forgot, I tried "Buck Jam" Corn flavor ($12.99) didn't get diddly. Even though I am trying different attractants, if one of the previous sites gets low, I restock it. This could be a long cost intensive test by the time I'm done, but, I really want to know what draws them in the best without having to rely on some ad.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

good work AF---thanks for the info

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

[quote]ORIGINAL: GR8atta2d

Best stuff I found mineral wise was whitetail addiction like 5 bucks at wally world for a gallon and it keeps'em coming in for weeks.

It looks like some of your attarctant brings in [email protected]
[/quote

I'll get some and try it. Thanks GR8

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

With all the members of this forum, I figured there would be more people out there that would have tried something like this instead of just listening to the manufacturers brag about their products and taking them at their word besides GR8, nothing. Kind of disappointed.[X(]

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

That's pretty cool AF, thanks for that data.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

Great study. I'd like to hear a little more bout that dee cocain.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

I've usually had good results with Trophy Rock too.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

trophy rocka and black magic are the 2 that i also found to work the best!

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

You just saved me alot of time, money and energy! Thanks AF :)I think your criteria is great, though I'dbe interested in seeing the average time spent,also.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

I like what you're doing AF; kinda like a consumer reports on deer attractant. Here in the CWD zones in WI we can't use any of that stuff, but I still like the way you have it all set up. We have to use food plots for attraction and find as many oaks and other fruit bearing trees to hunt around. I'm still working on the right combination in the food plot thing, but after seeing this, I'll try to share my findings more.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

Try putting rock salt out... The elk over here love the stuff... and black magic is there favorite!

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

I love black magic. ive had better results with that than any other one listed. [&:]

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

I purchased the Deer CoCAIN Black Magic at Sportsmans Warehouse for $7.99 a bag. All you do is find an area fairly secluded just off a trail they use, clear out an area about 4' in diameter, loosen up the dirt on topand sprinkle the powder on the ground. I had deer hitting it the evening I put it down and are still frequenting it. The deer find it by the smell I presume and then once they start licking it, they stick around for several minutes. It's pretty amazing stuff.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

Thanks so much for taking the time to make such an informative report! I like the rock also, I'll have to take back that buck jam I just bought thou!

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

Thanks AF. I like the Deer Cocain Blackand another one I have had good success with is the Imperial Whitetail 30-06 / Plus Protein. They love the stuff,It's a little pricey but it is all powder so it is very easy to make a good lick by digging up a couple foot circle and then mixing the soil & mineral. After a good rain it will be active for at least 2 seasons before I refresh it. Also the powder is easy to mix in a trough feeder with corn or other deer feed and that gives them a great boost of protein along with all the minerals during the spring/summer.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

1. Not on "different" attractants....other than my minerals and a corn/peanut mix.

During the summer (antler growing and fawn rearing months).....they tear the crap out of my minerals. Other times of the year.....I don't think it gets frequented, that much. I would "think" your results on these products would be "seasonal". Also.....if I'm going ot put out minerals....I shy away from heavily slat-laden (only) products. if I'm gonna provide something.....they may as well get a benefit from it. I also put it in the ground.....which is their natural way of receiving said.

As far as supplemental feed/"bait" as an attractant.....you just can't beat a corn'peanut blend. They will devour it.

2. Your criteria is "fair" if you look at it as "seasonal".....and weigh your results with that in mind.

Good stuff.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

I'll have to find the Imperial Whitetail 30-06 and give it a try. GMMAT, I intend to keep this going over a year period and see what happens. I don't know how well it will fair when the ground is covered with snow and ice, but as long as they keep hitting it, I will keep providing. As far as the peanuts, do you get shelled or not? I will try that (as long as the corn prices don't go up any further) over by their bedding area and see how it does.

Yesterday when I was putting out the Advantage 360 I was in a hurry and forgot to put a SD card in the trailcam so i went to put one in and downloaded pics of 2 does and 2 bucks hitting it this morning.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

The peanuts and corn are ground up, together. They will DEVOUR it

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

Ive truthfully had my best luck with black magic as well. Another thing that works good for me is buck jam.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

Ill let yall know how Buck Jam Persimmon works along with Evolved Habitats Rut N Apples. I jsut set both out at a camera site along with about 15 pears (They have ate my neighbors pears off of her tree for two months) . Corn is to high for me to want to buy it right now [:'(]. BTW I have never had any luck with anything besides Deer Cain and it wasnt very good luck with it then. Only two deer visited. The Biologic Minerals create a real nice lick, but nothing seems to want to eat it [:@]

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

If you want to talk about what works, I'm a new fan of the Trophy Rock. Bought one last year with all of the hype and placed it in an area that I know deer travel. I set a Cuddeback on it for the entire hunting season and never moved it. What I found was that it was a little slow for the first two weeks or so! But once the rain hit it a few times and it began to break down a little, they bagen to hit it with regularity. By November, the majority of the Rock was gone and there was a whole maybe 3 or 4 inches deep that the deer had pawed/eaten. I got more pictures on that camera than the other three cameras combined. The other cameras had previously had corn available before the season opened!

Just my experience with, The Rock!!

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

Im surprised at how good of results everyone is/has had with the deer co-cane Black Magic! I put this stuff out along a nice trail and absolutely nothing!!!
Now I use te regular deer co-cane and they tear it up????

I guess its all about location!!??

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

I had no luck at all onBuck Jam Apple, but it might be because I have a huge apple tree plum full of apples 300 yards away from there. I would have to agree it all depends on your geographic area what the deer will come to. I am excited about this Advantage 360 Supermax. I put it out and boom that night they hit it. It's still early but I think its gonna be good.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

I used Deer Co-caine a couple years ago and put it out late in the fall and they did not touch it, but when I went back the next year mid summer it was tore up. I have horses and see the same results in that much of this is seasonal.
Currently we have out three sites on 100 acres. 2 are with a 30lb block of mineral that I got at Tractor supply and one is called rack up. We started putting out the 30lb blocks in March and it is now Aug and we have gone through 6 blocks so far. I have the trail cam on one site that I can see from my house and we are averaging about 200 pics a week. Tractor supply ran out of the block the last time, but had a different block that was a mix of corn and mineral. I tried it and OMG. I had 687 Pics in 4 days. There were some of a couple crow ( about a dozen ) the rest were deer. They came in and just tore this up. It was the same two bucks and about 7 does, but they were hitting it at all times of the day and night. Where as the mineral was usually at night or early morning/ Late evening. I do believe though that mineral is benificial for the deer during spring and summer, but here in the Northern area's that usage winds down as the weather gets cooler.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

I've use buck jam persimmon on stumps and rotted logs. They chewed a hole right through the stump to the ground.The logs which were probabley 8 inches or more around were turned to toothpicks. Now this wasn't over night but for my hunting spot this stuff is awesome.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

I have had no luck w/ buck jam or acorn rage.
I have had mixed results in the past on Deer Cocain.
I am now very reluctant to try anything.

I am intrigued by the trophy rock. Any tips on that? How long before season do most people put them out?

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

AF, great information and thank you for taking the time and expense to do this and share with us.

I've used the trophy rock with some success. It's gotten activity on a fairly regular basis. The nice thing about the trophy rock is they last a good long time and don't need to be refreshed which will spread your scent around. I used 30-06 and it got some activity, but not anywhere near what would justify the cost.

This year I started making my own using trace minerals, dicalcium phosphate, and Buck Grub that I got on sale for $6 for a 25 lb. bag. The results have been impressive. I've gone through about 120 lbs. of it since April and have had to freshen up the site as often as every 2 weeks. I know the traffic will die down come fall, but I use it to get pics and not to hunt over so I'm not worried about that.

With that, I'm curious to try Acorn Rage as I hunt a lot of oak stands and since it is a food attractant would be curious to see how deer react to that in season. I'd probably put it over a trail cam site more for research purposes than hunting, but I am curious and will likely try it.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

Trophy rock is sea salt that is mined in Utah with "trace minerals". You place 5 - 10 ft off a trail and the deer will find it.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

If you hunt oak stands and deer know when acorns are in season, I don't know if it would be that beneficial. The new stuff I am presently testing is showing a lot of promise right now. I have the Supermax (which is an attractant) and will be putting out Advantage 360 (which is a mineral supplement) shortly. Have to wait a little bit, I only have two trailcams.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

Boy they are really tearing up the Supermax! I am really astonished how quick they located it 30' off a trail and how long they are staying around. It will be neat to see the final numbers. I was also told the Advantage 360 is good. Advantage 360 is not an attractant but a supplement with very little salt. I am getting some next Wednesday to put out and see what happens. A friend of mine has gone through 200 lbs since 1st of June and says he is going to send me photos of his bucks.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

AF Hunter, keep us posted on your results. I will be taking my cameras out to set them up soon, and would like to try something new to bring them to the camera. Last year I tried the trophy rock, for some reason they wouldn't touch it. Also Buck Jam persimmon flavor- no results. Pig out no results. The old standby corn does get results, but thats a pain.
I am curious about the Supermax. What is it and who makes it? Will probably try the Deer CoCaine this year. Also have a trophy rock out this year, been out for couple months. Haven't been up to check it in about a month, but last time I checked they haven't been hitting it. Thanks.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

Went and looked at the empty bag of the Supermax, it's made by Xtreme Whitetail Products. The website on the bag is XWT-LLC.com. I'll have to look at the website and see if you can order straight from the manufacturer or if you have to find a local dealer.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

AF,

Thanks for sharing. It's truly a great service you are doing the rest of the hunting community here.

I have another question for you though, and I'm sorry if I missed it in the thread but, which product so far is the best bang for the buck? I mean in terms of the length of time it will last versus its effectiveness?

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

HH,

So far the one that has lasted the longest would be the trophy rock. Of course since it is a hard salt/mineral rock vs powder, it would naturally be visible longer. With the powders, they do soak into the soil so it's hard to say how long they continue to attract deer once it is no longer visible to the human eye. I have a feeling, I'm going to be checking these spots for a long time after I quit reloading them. I'll have more stats once the Supermax has been out for a week. I did go back to check and see how long after the products were placed before a deer showed up and here are the results:
Trophy Rock: 36 hours (14.99)
Deer CoCAIN (Black Magic): 27 hours (7.99)
C'mere Deer: 50 hours (19.99)
Salt Lick: 80 hours (5.70)
Supermax: 12 hours (9.99)
All times are rounded to the nearest hour as I did not record the exact hour/minute I put them out.

For the best bang for the buck (no pun intended), its hard to say. So far, the Supermax attracted deer faster than any other product checked, the deer I got photos of in the first 24 hours were bigger bucks than previously recorded with other products, and they have stayed there longer than with the other products. But I still don't have the number of total deer frequenting the spot yet. I will pull the pics off the trailcam on Wednesday and will have complete stats for that then.

Crap! you made me think more and it really hurt! Since I have placed all the aforementioned items along the same trail from a bedding area, I need to see how many deer were hitting it on the way out vs how many were hitting it on the way back. Thanks HH, make me do more work! I'll run those numbers on Wednesday too.

Side Note: Leave Milwaukee and move away from the big city environment to a nice quiet place like....West Allis? (Lived in West Allis back in the late 80's).

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

C'mon Mark, we need you to be on the ball here. Quit crossing your eyes and dotting your T's. We're not paying you good money for nothing now! :D;)

stallis isnice and quiet? Oh yeah, you did say late 80's. That was when everything west of 43rd Street aka Sherman BLVD was nice and quiet. Now you have to put a 1 before the 4 for that to be the case.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

Is it valid???/ yes and no. The no part might be when you set them out. For example, when the does are carrying fawns and have just had them they'll hit salt heavy and daily. By mid summer they'll just leave it alone except for an occasional walk by the old salt source. I'd say if you put them near each other at the same time you'd find within a couple days which they seem to prefer. But, all in all I think your findings are pretty cool.

RE: Deer Attractant Tests
 

Good points! First, I didn't think of that, but I only have two trail cams and can't afford more right now so I only put one out at a time making sure that when I moved a camera to the next one I kept the others stocked. It would have probably been cheaper to find an area where I could put them all out in the same area and have the two trail cams cover the whole area. I do know one spot where I could do that but there are already several spots that have not only the product out but also "contaminated earth" where the attractants are.

In my thread about food plots, I am trying to get input so I can put in a food plot in the spring with several different plants to see what the deer prefer (in this area anyway). Must be the analyst in me that makes me do this "stuff" and spend what little money I have on this type of thing vs something else stupid like food for myself. :D