Everyone likes a treat that is sweet and flavorful! Luckily, Molasses is one of such kind, and guess what? It is a widely used deer attractant! If there is one thing that a herd of deer loves, it is Molasses.
In hunting, molasses is known to be one of the best deer attractants. But the point is; do deer really like molasses, or is it merely a myth?
This sweet treat, Molasses, is delicious, aromatic, excellent, and long-lasting for attracting deer.
Do Deer Like Molasses
As per deer hunters, whitetail deer love molasses as a treat and as a food source too. Hunters have been using molasses as bait to lure deer to the hunting sites. Moreover, due to its good taste, molasses is used as a common constituent in deer attractants.
If you want to attract whitetail deer to your property, you can try using molasses as an attractant. Mix molasses with water and place it in a shallow dish in an area where you have observed deer activity.
Furthermore, to entice a deer, you can use other attractors including corn or apples. This way, you can enhance the aroma of your baiting mixture and attract deer in a more effective way.
Pro Tip: After setting up the bait, check the trap from time to time to see if any deer comes by.
When it comes to attracting deer, certain types of baits help hunters to attract deer to their hunting spot. However, hunters usually use various recipes and items to create these attractants at home.
On that note, Molasses can be used alone as an attractant. Moreover, Molasses can also be used to create various salt licks, deer attractors, and deer feed.
As a hunter, if you want to create an attractor that instantly captures the attention of your buck, mix molasses with other kinds of ingredients such as acorns, apples, and cracked corn.
You can even mix molasses with peanut butter to create rich and nutritional deer feed! Mixing peanuts with molasses is going to be a game-changer.
Additionally, leaving molasses in a container that is exposed to sunlight, such as a tub or can, can increase its attractiveness to deer. The heat from the sun will cause the molasses to melt, releasing its sweet aroma and making it more appealing to deer.
This method can be especially effective during warmer days when deer are more active and searching for food.
However, it’s important to note that leaving a container of molasses in the open can attract other animals like bears and raccoons, so it’s always better to place it in an area where it won’t attract other unwanted animals.
What Exactly Are Molasses?
Molasses is a sweet, thick, syrupy substance that is derived from the juice of sugarcane or sugar beets. It is often used as an attractant for deer, as its sweet aroma and long-lasting properties can draw deer to a specific area.
This liquid sugar, Molasses, mainly includes components such as sucrose and lower concentration of the monosaccharides fructose and glucose.
Unlike table sugar, which humans love, Molasses isn’t as sweet. Plus, it is commonly denser as it is stickier and thicker than any other liquid and volatile sweeteners such as honey, agave syrup, and high fructose corn syrup.
Moreover, did you know that molasses give brown sugar its characteristic moisture, color, and flavor?
Common Types of Molasses
There are two types of molasses. Sugar cane molasses, and sugar beet molasses.
The one produced from sugar cane is used and mixed with other ingredients for human consumption. On the other hand, sugar beets give rise to molasses that is commonly preferred to be used as animal feed. Hence, it has a bitter flavor.
Molasses made from sugar beet is perfect for deer’s diet. And as a hunter, knowing where your game’s food comes from and how it can be used can truly help you become an expert huntsman!
Knowing when to use molasses and how to use it can upgrade your hunting experience as a deer hunter.
As mentioned earlier, a deer would love some sticky molasses mixture on a branch of a tree. If you place the treat at the right place, a deer’s sharp nose might easily and swiftly sniff the good smell out!
Though, this scenario leads us to another query—
How Far Can Deer Smell Molasses?
One of the most legendary qualities of a deer is its sense of smell. A deer can pick up scents from a mile or two if the scent is strong enough. Be it winter or spring. A deer will use its sharp nose to sniff out any potential food source in the area.
As a hunter, you can use this deer’s ability to your advantage by knowing which materials and food sources best attract a deer. And if you are looking for a treat that reaches far to a deer, Molasses is your best option.
A wild buck or doe is exceptionally attracted to sweet scents. This is the reason why hunters utilize sweet-smelling options such as apple-scented sprays or doe urine as bait to lure deer into their hunting spots.
Therefore, a deer loves this sweet and sticky stuff when it comes to molasses. This sweetener, when mixed with corn, will attract a deer from up to a mile! Plus, if you mix some peanut butter into it, the smell will reach even further and faster!
Just remember, as a hunter, you should know your area well. Make sure to deeply learn that if you are luring a whitetail deer with molasses, place the attractant in an open area so that the deer can easily locate it, thus, increasing your chances of shooting some wild bucks!
However, the topic whether a deer enjoys molasses is controversial. As per hunters’ experiences, molasses have been found as a good deer attractant.
For example, hunters have observed that a buck or doe will locate and reach out to eat molasses-baited traps. Moreover, some hunters employ molasses-laced feed to lure bucks and does to hunting grounds.
Due to all these reasons above, hunters look for deer attractants and supplements rich in molasses. All this suggests that a wild buck will tolerate a block of sticky molasses when it is hungry and enjoy it too!
As a hunter, if you are looking for ways to attract a nice, wild buck or doe to your hunting property, Molasses may be worth a try.
What Are Some Of The Best Molasses For Deer?
There are several types of molasses made from different types of sugar, including sugarcane, sorghum and beet sugar.
The most common types of molasses used for deer attractants are blackstrap molasses and Sorghum molasses.
It’s important to note that, when using molasses as a deer attractant, it’s best to use food-grade molasses and mix it with other food items to provide a more nutritious meal for the deer.
Each type of molasses have its extraordinary flavor and nutritional value.
You can use Blackstrap molasses when you want to attract a deer for hunting season. There is no doubt that this is the most effective type of molasses for bucks and does.
It is the by-product of boiled sugar syrup, and it is known for its dark color, robust flavor and high nutrient content. Moreover, it is high and rich in protein, sugar, and energy!
Other types, such as cane molasses, are also high and rich in sugar content. However, unlike other molasses, this cane has a mellow flavor that some wild bucks prefer more than the regular one!
The third type is called Sorghum molasses. It has a lower sugar content than the other two.
Sorghum molasses is made from sweet sorghum juice and is an excellent alternative to sugarcane molasses. It also has tons of nutritional value for the deer!
Another kind that hunters prefer to use is dried molasses for deer. It can be made into blocks, mixed with salt licks or mineral blocks. Some hunters have even tried mixing various candies appropriate for deer to create the best molasses mixture block!
Despite its taste and various benefits, it is important to note that this sweet substance should not be the only part of a buck or doe’s diet. It isn’t natural to feed molasses to a deer.
Hence, it shouldn’t be solely relied on as the only food source.
A deer can be attracted to a hunting ground with plenty of other sweet foods. Try honey as an attractant if you want to feed deer a versatile diet.
Increase the diet options. After all, a good huntsman will consider all options to make the game as fair and smooth as anything!
Homemade Deer Attractant Molasses
The best part about molasses is that it can be prepared at home. It is simple to make and will lure a deer into your hunting spot or yard in no time!
To make homemade molasses, mix natural ingredients and add foods that a deer cannot resist! To make molasses from scratch, try out this simple recipe:
Take bread and cut it into small pieces. Then, take a pot and add crumbled bread. Next, mix honey and molasses and pour them on your bread.
Mix the bread, honey, and molasses to create a smooth, mushy texture. You can add corn, a spoonful of peanut butter, or slices of apples to the mixture. Then, stir until the extra ingredients are evenly distributed in the pan.
When the dish is ready, set it outside in the sun. The sun will dry up the mixture to form a block. Then, at 200 degrees, put the pot in the oven. Once it cools up, place the block outside at any place of your choice and attract the deer!
Remember, choose right after sunrise or sunset if you want to feed the deer in time. A wild buck is the most active during these periods; its hyper-sensitive senses will locate your bait in no time!
How Can A Hunter Feed Molasses To Deer?
Hunters can feed molasses to deer in a variety of ways, but here are a few common methods:
- Mix molasses with water in a ratio of 1:1, and pour the mixture into a shallow dish.
- Now, place the dish at a site where deer visit regularly.
- Keep an eye on the bait to see if any deer passes by.
- You can also mix molasses with water and other treats that may attract deer. Corn and apples are the best choice for that. This will increase the attractiveness of the mixture and provide a more nutritious meal for the deer.
- Spread the molasses on tree trunks, rocks, or other natural surfaces in an area where deer activity has been observed. This method works well if you want to attract deer to a specific area, such as a hunting blind.
- Mix molasses with other bait items such as corn, oats, or wheat, and place it in a bait station or feeder in an area where deer activity has been observed.
- Dump molasses on the ground and sprinkle corn or other food items on top of it. This method can be used to attract deer to a specific area, such as a food plot or a hunting blind.
It’s important to note that the use of attractants can be regulated by law, so it’s best to check the regulations in your state or hunting area before using molasses as a deer attractant.
Additionally, If you wish to go all out, try the old, attractive method—turn it into a salt lick! Salt licks are super easy to come by and affordable for hunters. They are available on Amazon and at shops in various states.
Salt licks are full of nutritional value, and they help to balance out the feed. To set up a salt lick with molasses, set them up for the deer to sniff, locate, and try. Replace the block every once in a while when necessary.
And once the deer frequently visits the place, you can set your tree stand and get to the shots! Moreover, if you want to create molasses in its liquid form, there is nothing better than a homemade recipe!
Final Thoughts
Are you thinking of attracting a deer? Consider molasses as one of your best options!
To feed your deer in your home state, you must check all the necessary guidelines and food permits as a hunter.
Moreover, when balanced and mixed with vanilla extract and peanut butter, molasses appeal more to a deer’s senses. It will smell it from within a mile and run to it!
Additionally, ensure that your hunting spot is set up to welcome a wild deer without any threatening scents. Happy hunting!