Deer bait for a broke guy?
 

I know that it's not legal in some states but it is here in N.C. Before I was put out of work I used corn. Just wondering if there is anything free or very cheap that I could use that works as good as corn? I can't really scout alot because of my celebral pausey ans severe spinal stenosis. Really wish that I could but that's the way it goes. Thanks

there isn't really to many things out there that are cheap or free when it comes to having to get it in bulk. You cant just put 2 apples out or something so in general you have to have bulk of something. I think a good idea for you would be to make some kind of homemade liquid. Something you can dump or spray. They have that cmere deer stuff in liquid form, you can prob make something like that. Apple juice and crushed apples or corn something like that into a liquid and spray it all over your area. give it a shot. im sure if you look online somewhere someone has a recipe for something like that.

You can pick corn most farmers will not care if you are picking in moderation collect acorns. If there are any old apple orchards many times they will give you or allow you to take the apples unfit for sale or cider.

Find a persimmon tree, and pick up some persimmon.
Deer love that.

Apples work well. And if you look around and ask around, you can find people with volunteer apple trees that have half-wild apples falling by the bushels that do not get used for anything. Feed stores will also sell "deer apples" fairly cheap. Mix in some corn with the apples and it will work as well as the corn itself, if not better, since the birds will not cart off half of it before the deer get to it.

And if you go for the persimmon, get permission 1st :)

Agree with everyone else on picking up apples that are already on the ground and no good for human consumption. I know alot of farmers will allow me to go into a field that has been freshly cut for corn. There are thousands of ears on the ground that the picker misses and will only goto the deer if not picked up and used elsewhere. Never have I had a farmer tell me no to just walk around the field and pick up leftovers. Also if the field has been cut only a day or 2 prior to you getting there you can get quite a bit of shelled corn as well where it has either missed or fallen out of the dump trucks on the ground. I usually get 100 to 150lbs just by shoveling the pile thats left over. Good luck.

Definitely apples. We can't hunt over bait in PA, but I like to run a trail cam near my home in the suburbs where I don't hunt. I go around the neighborhood and pick up apples on the ground near peoples apple trees. I also asked the neighbor if I can have the ones that fall in his yard. He says yeah because he doesn't have to pick them up - I do it. I usually slice the apples in half or quarters. It releases scent and they spend longer eating them.

Salt blocks work, last a long time and are inexpensive.:s2:

yes, there is you can go to your local feed mill and buy a 50 pound bag of molasses and a 50 pound bag of mineral salt for cheep but honestly a 8 dollar bag of deer cane or deer cocaine that you can buy at Cabelas or Gander MT will work wonders we have 8 deer cane spots and the deer camera pics are crazy full! they will eat a ginormous hole in the ground about 6 feet wide every one in our hunting neighbourhood uses it and that consists of 1700 acres.
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drive around you will see apple trees that no one seems to look at...and all the apples fall and rot..find one of these and use them to your advantage and if on someones property ask before you trespass. There are lots of apple trees around here like that.

Has anyone ever had much luck with pears? There's tons of them on a tree by the house!

Thanks for all the input. I'm not sure why I didnt think of apples. Guess my mind isn't working to good right now. Hard to go from working all of your life and suddenly be put out. Kind of an emotional time for me right now but with the help of God and getting in the woods, I know that everything will be ok. Thanks everyone!

YES !!! they love them! they will eat the skins if you "can/jar" the pears and save the skins!
Sorry to hear about your job loss...Prayers out to you finding a job. also God provides a plethora of wild animals so you don't go hungry!

My home-aid version was a gallon of corn oil,lots of table salt,and some grape cool aid.I poured it on a downed tree and the deer almost ate the tree.Cheap and it worked.

sugared koolaid? sounds interesting...

I've taken crab apples from a school by my house (the janitors said I was helping them out) And taken crab apples from a mall by me. Also pop corn kernels are cheaper than corn intended for deer/game and cheaper good luck

I think they are little more expensive around here...bag whole corn is cheaper here.

I should of specified that what I found was a mass amount on amazon that was dirt cheap. i could see it being more expensive in the store :popcorn:

The bad thing is I can't work anymore. It really bothers me having to depend on family for support. I know that they don't mind but I've always made it by myself. Guess I'm lucky to have family that cares so much for me but it's going to take some time to get use to not working. God will see me through though. Thanks for all of the ideas. This is the best forum on the net with some great guys and gals. Hope that everyone has a great season!

peanut butter

Can you apply for disability? I don't know your situation but at least that would help

peanut butter will be a cheap attractant

nail the lid to a tree, screw the plastic jar back on and split the bottom of the peanut butter jar so they can lick it

I tried peanut butter,here it was to warm and only the bees and wasp and ants loved it.
Unsweetened cool-aid.

Might have already been mentioned but at Rual King or Tractor Supply they sell wildlife feed blocks that usually retail around 8-9 dollars they last a long time about a month and really attract deer.

CVG Ohio

Thanks for all of the ideas. The kool-aid thing does sound interesting. I may have to give that a try. Yes I have applied for disability. I know that it may sound crazy to some but not going to work is a very hard thing to deal with. Leaving a job after 16 years that you love doing but can't do anymore takes it's toll on you.

Bait
 

I have heard that works? Has anyone else tried it?

other animals get it before the deer do...in my experience..

Make a Salt or Mineral Lick to draw in the Deer and keep them returning.Dig a small spot up and pour about 10-20 pounds of the cheap rock salt ($4.00 for 40lb bag) on it,add a 1/2 box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda to enhance it and save the extra salt and A & H to refresh it every 2-3 months.You can add some minerals to it a little at a time also!

Apple,Pears and other Fruits will draw in Deer also,Persimmons and Grapes will work very well also!

+1 on salt blocks, Hell at Gander Mountain You can pick up a good sized salt block apple flavor for about $6.49 and Mine is lasting a long time...

Corn and molasses

Most farmers wont mind to let you pick some corn up off the ground after they cut it. Just find a field and ask for permission.

corn and mollasses #1
Salt block or Mineral sites #2 they also are good for the deer
peanut butter is stellar when it gets cooler out and insects have gone bye bye

Or standing corn for that matter. A few cobs ain't gonna hurt if it's a big field of corn.

Go to your feed store and get a few gallons of molasses for cheap.