How To Attract Deer With Peanut Butter

Deer hunting strategies may vary, and hunters employ a variety of techniques. One of the most popular ways to hunt a deer is with peanut butter. As compared to other deer attractants, peanut butter contains essential nutrients that they cannot find in the forest. This is why deer cannot avoid its taste.

There is a reason why peanut butter is such a popular deer bait among hunters. Because it is inexpensive and readily available. You may get peanut butter from any grocery store and use it in your hunting. It’s really simple and quick to set up using peanut butter.

Do Deer Really Like Peanut Butter? 

Yes, deer really like peanut butter. It contains vital deer minerals and nutrients deer need. And deer cannot resist its taste or aroma! If you want to deer hunt, try deer hunting with peanut butter as your deer attractant.

When using peanut butter as a deer bait, it’s advisable to use creamy peanut butter. Because it has oil which is an essential deer mineral and nutrient they cannot find in the forest. However, deer like the taste and smell of peanut butter no matter if it is creamy or chunky.

How to Attract Deer With Peanut Butter

Peanuts are a highly effective way to attract deer because they smell so good, and deer are unable to resist them. Deer can smell peanuts from afar, which makes them an appealing option for deer hunters. In addition to that, you can use peanut butter instead of putting whole peanuts in your hunting ground or deer feeder

Firstly: Check out deer baiting legality in

This is the first thing that you should consider when you are hunting a deer using baits. You need to verify with the local wildlife authorities to ensure that you are not doing something illegal. It is good to know if using bait is illegal before you do it.

So before you invest your money in buying deer bait, know the state laws concerning deer hunting and the restrictions that are there. You will find out that some states permit hunting deer with bait while others have some restrictions.

Once you have figured out that deer bait hunting is legal in your state, the next thing you need to do is to set your bait using one of the following methods:

Method 1: Smear It On a Tree 

This is the most straightforward method to do it because all you need is a knife and some peanut butter in your jar. While this isn’t the most efficient approach, it’s ideal for individuals who just want to get things done and quickly.

To begin, make sure that you and the jar, as well as everything else you touch with the peanut butter, are odor-free to prevent deer from becoming wary.

Within peripheral view from where you’ll be hiding, find your chosen tree to spread the peanut butter on (may it be a ground blind or a tree stand).

Place the peanut butter around 4 to 5 feet above the deer’s head, making sure it’s within their reach.

Take the peanut butter with your knife and, using a big piece of it, rub it on the tree until it adheres. You may repeat this method with additional trees, but we recommend doing it only one at a time to avoid raising suspicion.

Method 2: Use The Whole Jar

This approach does require some work on your part but it is the most effective.

You just need one large jar of peanut butter, 2 large-sized screws or nails, a hammer or screwdriver, and a knife.

Find out a place that you know there is plenty of deer, then do the following;

  1. Remove the peanut butter jar lid and screw it to the tree with your screwdriver, or hammer with nails if that’s preferred. Make sure it is about 4-5 feet off the ground in a high-traffic deer route where you’ll be hunting.
  2. With a sharp utility knife, carefully cut the bottom off the jar while maintaining a clean incision.
  3. Carefully screw the peanut butter jar back to its lid.

You’ve just made one of the most effective deer lures. You may simply sit back and enjoy the deer’s enjoyment of peanut butter while they eat it.

TIP: Pour molasses over the top of the jar to keep the squirrels away. They despise sticky paws, and it also draws deer.

Alternative method

There is also another method that you can use to attract deer. Mix peanut butter with molasses and brown sugar in such a way that it is thin to drop off a spoon but thick to prevent pouring. If the weather is favorable, you can create a shallow hole and pour the mixture for the deer to find.

If the weather is bad, you can use a clean coffee can with some holes on the lid. At the bottom of the coffee can, drill a hole that can fit a straightened wire hanger through and then bend the wire to form a circle that will fit perfectly well in the can. Finish your circle with an L at the center of the circle. This makes the circle sit flat while projecting the straight wire vertically upwards.

Fill the can with the mixture you made and then seal the lid using duct tape. You can now hang it on the branch using the protruding wire in a sunny place that deer love to visit. The sun will soften the mixture and it will begin to drip out of the holes you made on the lid.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: What are the most common deer attractants that you can use?

A: There are several deer attractants that you can use to lure deer which include peanut butter, corn, acorn, salt, vegetables, homemade mixtures, chestnuts, and sugar baits among others. But if you need a healthy option that is also affordable, I would recommend using peanut butter deer baits.

Q: Which is the best method that you can use: Scattering or using a feeder?

A: When you are attracting deer, some people choose to use the scattering method while others prefer a feeder. Scattering might not work in most places and it can even attract other animals but it can also give you better results if you do it the right way.

We recommend using a feeder because other animals will not eat from the bait. If you have a feeder with a timer, it can train the deer to come at specific times making it easier for you to spot them.

Q: Are there laws regarding the use of deer baits?

A: Yes they are and this varies from one state to the other. In some states, deer baiting is allowed while in other states there are restrictions. Before you set up your bait, understand the laws in your state regarding the use of deer baits so that you avoid breaking the law if it is not allowed in your state.

Final Words

There are so many deer baits that you can find on the market today. This makes finding the right one quite a task. Before you begin deer bait hunting, make sure you do your research and consult the right authorities in your state to ensure that it is legal. Many hunters use mineral blocks with high amounts of sugar and little nutritional value.

However, if you use peanut butter, it will provide nutritional value because it is rich in iron, protein, and other ingredients. Deer also love the taste of peanut butter and this is why it is one of the best deer attractants that you can use. You now know a couple of useful methods to lure deer with peanut butter bait.

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