Baiting without the "bait?" (It's illegal here)
 

Hey guys. I need some legal ways to bait deer. I BOW hunt in southern WI where it's illegal to bait deer, but I hunt a farm with corn and bean fields that are 100 x 300 yards. The deer just never seem to follow and set trails seeing as the fields are rotated so its always a crap shoot when choosing the stand to hunt out of. What are some LEGAL tips or tricks you guys use to attract deer when "bait" is illegal? A food plot is out of the question but any other ideas would be great.

Other than glassing the fields to see the best probabilities of the trails the bucks are using and having a good wind favorible access routes to your stands there isn't much else you can do. Calls/decoys may or may not work. One thing I would try is to offer to pay the farmer to leave a few spots of standing corn/beans in your favorite areas. It wouldn't take much, just six or so rows 30 yards long and that should help concentrate the deer.

if its on private land you could always drop a little molasses on some of the plants in the field and it will help. not all the way legal though. that is a stupid law. maybe someone on here knows the reason for it, id be interested to hear.

try hunting with a climber, this way you can stay mobile and move when you need too.

I don't know what constitutes bait in your state, but some of the trapping lures I used years ago brought deer in. Vanilla and even fox in heat lure pulled them in. Like I said, I don't know whats legal in your state.

If possible try building some funnels areas.

They ban it to stop the spread of desease from deer eating in one area cwd I think. But try some ansie oil or vanilla. I don't know if it works everywere but I had luck with charcol lighter fluid found that out by accident last year I spilled some on my boots and had a doe follow my traill righht to my stand

Time and experience to become a better hunter...you don't need bait.

I would agree with StealthHtr22. I have been hunting Southwestern Illinois for 8 years now and have no control over the crop rotation on the land I hunt. You just have to see how the deer pattern for a few years before you figure it out. In my spot I know how the deer will move if one field is corn and the other is beans or vice versa.

damn frosty. i feel like an idiot. what an obvious and valid reason. dont know why i never thought of that. learn somethin new everyday