Thread: Luring deer to a feeder

I have tried all sorts in front of trail cameras with very mixed success. Top ones seemed to be: leaves/branches from palatable plants eg mahoe, broad leaf, willows etc. Apples, some cut up for a bit of scent. Feed pellets, ones that had use for deer on the packet. Then maize, some with molasses poured over it. Salt blocks, zero activity on the trail cams for some reason, that was both rock salt and mineral blocks with reds and Sika present.
The branches with leaves on may be easier to spot too and seem more natural to the deer, who knows.

Then maize, some with molasses poured over it. Salt blocks, zero activity on the trail cams for some reason, that was both rock salt and mineral blocks with reds and Sika present.

Yep definitely a mystery with the maize. It's like they don't smell it. Molasses they could care less. Possums, rats and pigs get it first. I reckon what I'm seeing with maize (and molasses) and salt blocks is that here you need to educate the deer. It seems different to how many folk in the US and Canada (with corn fields across half the country) talk about deer lure, and where maize is probably something they know and look for as food. Only once I have led a deer to the maize and/or salt lick (my feeders are tree mounted, pigs can't get at them) does it seem to work it out. Then it is back every day, twice a day minimum, rain or shine.

Today I went out and doused two spots with turnip shavings (no leaves unfortunately), and also grated the juicy turnips on pine bark high up to catch the wind. Even I could smell the turnips from 30m away no probs. This is in a spot loaded with Red deer which will walk within meters of a pile of maize not seeing it.

Rather than sprinkling their trail this time, I want to see if the turnip will pull them in by their noses on the wind. Could be the perfect setup, as then I can take my finished feeders into difficult country, install, cover in turnip or swedes, and lure them in from the get go