Deer attractants pull deer to a specific spot, which is useful for moving browsing pressure away from gardens and landscaping. Whether you manage a food plot, run a trail camera, or want to draw deer away from your plantings, the right attractant concentrates deer where you want them. Here are the ones worth using.
- Sweet, aromatic attractants like apple and persimmon work best.
- Mineral blocks draw deer for the salt and minerals they crave.
- Use attractants to pull deer away from gardens, not toward the house.
- Attractants are a management tool, not a removal method.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Type | Best For | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildgame Apple Crushed 5 lb | Attractant | Best Overall | Check price |
| Evolved Deer Cane Black Magic | Mineral | Best Mineral | Check price |
| Wildgame Persimmon Crushed | Attractant | Best Flavor | Check price |
| Wildgame Sugar Beet Crushed | Attractant | Best Value | Check price |
| Big Tine Cherry Rush 10 lb | Fortified blend | Best Fortified | Check price |
| Evolved Buck Jam Persimmon | Salt block | Best Salt | Check price |
Best Overall: Wildgame Apple Crushed 5 lb
Best Overall- Type
- Crushed attractant
- Flavor
- Apple
- Size
- 5 lb
- Use
- Food plots, camera sites
Wildgame Innovations Apple Crushed is a sweet, aromatic apple attractant that deer are drawn to. It spreads easily around a food plot, trail camera site, or a designated feeding area away from your garden.
The apple scent is a proven deer favorite, and the 5-pound bag covers a reasonable area without being wasteful.
Best Mineral: Evolved Deer Cane Black Magic
Best Mineral- Type
- Liquid mineral
- Target
- Deer
- Use
- Mineral lick
- Lasts
- Longer than food scents
Deer Cane Black Magic is a liquid mineral attractant that deer seek out for the salt and minerals it provides. It is poured onto the ground or a stump, where it creates a mineral lick deer return to.
Mineral attractants work over a longer period than food scents, which makes them a good choice for a permanent management site away from the garden.
Best Flavor: Wildgame Persimmon Crushed
Best Flavor- Type
- Crushed attractant
- Flavor
- Persimmon
- Size
- 5 lb
- Use
- Food plots, camera sites
Persimmon is a classic deer attractant flavor, and this crushed form spreads easily around a food plot or camera site. Deer are drawn to the sweet persimmon scent, which makes it a reliable choice.
It is a good alternative to apple when deer in your area have become used to apple scents.
Best Value: Wildgame Sugar Beet Crushed 4 lb
Best Value- Type
- Crushed attractant
- Flavor
- Sugar beet
- Size
- 4 lb
- Use
- Food plots
Sugar beet is a sweet, high-energy attractant that deer are strongly drawn to, and the 4-pound brick is a good value for a food plot or management area. The crushed form spreads easily.
It is the economical choice when you want to pull deer to a spot without spending much.
Best Fortified: Big Tine Cherry Rush 10 lb
Best Fortified- Type
- Fortified blend
- Flavor
- Cherry
- Size
- 10 lb
- Use
- Food plots, mineral sites
Big Tine’s Cherry Rush is a fortified deer blend that combines a cherry scent with minerals and nutrients deer seek. The 10-pound bag is sized for a larger food plot or a longer management season.
The fortified formula does double duty as both an attractant and a mineral supplement, which keeps deer returning to the same spot.
Best Salt: Evolved Buck Jam Persimmon
Best Salt- Type
- Salt and mineral block
- Flavor
- Persimmon
- Use
- Mineral lick
- Lasts
- Long
Buck Jam is a persimmon-flavored salt and mineral block that deer lick for the salt they crave. The block form lasts longer than loose attractants and requires little maintenance.
It is the set-and-forget option for a permanent mineral site, though it needs a spot far enough from the garden to draw deer away rather than toward.
How to Use Deer Attractants for Management
Pull Deer Away, Not Toward
The goal is to concentrate deer in a designated spot far from your garden and landscaping. Place the attractant at the back of the property or in a food plot, never near the house or the plants you want to protect.
Pair With a Repellent
Attractants and repellents work together. Use an attractant to give deer a preferred spot, and a repellent on the plants you want to protect. This gives deer an easier option than your garden.
Check Local Rules
Some areas restrict feeding deer, and baiting is prohibited in certain hunting zones. Check your state rules before placing any attractant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sweet, aromatic attractants like apple and persimmon are the most reliable, and mineral blocks draw deer for the salt they crave. Use them to pull deer to a designated spot.
Yes, when used as part of a management plan. Place the attractant far from the garden and pair it with a repellent on your plants, so deer have an easier option than browsing your landscaping.
Yes. A food or mineral attractant placed in front of a trail camera concentrates deer where the camera is aimed, which is the standard way to get consistent photos.
Rules vary by state and locality, and some areas prohibit feeding or baiting deer. Check your local regulations before placing any attractant.
An attractant pulls deer toward a spot, while a repellent pushes them away from plants. Used together, they give deer a preferred spot and protect your garden at the same time.
