Our favorite time of year is finally here: whitetail hunting season! As the season kicks off, it’s no surprise to see store shelves at your local sporting goods or feed shop overflowing with more deer attractant options than you even knew existed. They all promise to be packed with nutrition, totally irresistible to deer, and somehow better than everything else out there. So how do you cut through all that noise and find something that works for you? That’s exactly what we’re here to help with.
How Attractants Work
At their core, attractants are something to attract deer. They’re designed to be more appealing than natural forage, giving hunters or wildlife photographers a better chance of spotting deer out in the open. While most attractants will get eaten if a deer stumbles upon them, they’re often consumed by non-target species too.
Here’s the thing: many attractants are marketed as “nutritional supplements,” but in reality, they don’t offer much more than a bit of energy. Most are grain- or commodity-based with few (if any) ingredients that support digestive health. A small bag of attractant just doesn’t provide enough intake to make a real difference in herd health or antler growth.
That said, the right attractants can be very effective, especially when conditions are tough. A mature, free-range buck that’s not in rut is all about efficiency, meaning he’s not going to travel far if he doesn’t have to. During pre-rut when we’re all trying to find that edge, the right attractant may coax that wary buck out of cover and into view.
Is Corn Enough?
For most hunters, shelled corn is the go-to attractant, and for good reason. When placed side by side with most bagged granular attractants, corn will generally outperform 95% of them. If you’re using corn, just make sure it’s been tested for aflatoxin and is below 20 ppb. Anything higher can be harmful to wildlife.
Flavored or scented corn can also give you an edge, especially during a heavy acorn year. Deer rely heavily on their sense of smell, and sweet-smelling corn tends to get noticed faster, especially in areas where deer aren’t used to it.
Getting the Best Results
Deer are creatures of habit. To get the best results, you’ll want to pattern them to a food source. That means placing attractants in the same spot multiple times before you hunt or using a spin-cast feeder to create consistency.
Where legal, one of the most effective setups is a timed corn feeder filled with a 50/50 mix of corn and Record Rack Golden Deer Nuggets or Record Rack Wild Berry Flavored Deer Corn. If you’re more of a “dump it on the ground” type, Record Rack Golden Deer Nuggets is right for you. It is berry flavored and has shown strong preference in field tests.
A Natural Draw
Even with the tastiest attractant out there, you’ll still be up against those mast-producing areas. Deer have been known to munch acorns under a tree while a dog is barking its head off just a few feet away. That’s how much they love acorns. So keep in mind that no matter what you’re using, it’s going to be tough to compete with that kind of natural draw.
Wishing You Luck
At the end of the day, there’s no magic product that guarantees success. The hunters who consistently fill tags are the ones who’ve done their homework through scouting, patterning, and using attractants strategically. If you would like more info on building an effective supplemental feeding program, please reach out to us at Record Rack.
We wish everyone the best of luck this season!
Last Updated on 09/20/2025 by Cowboy Lifestyle
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