In my home state of Missouri, it is currently illegal to use bait for hunting deer or wild turkey. But I’ve figured out another way to attract them that’s perfectly legal, and it will work anywhere.
I use an ordinary garden rake to take advantage of the curious nature of deer and turkeys.
I rake the ground about 15 to 20 yards from where I plan to set up my blind or stand, creating piles of leaves, dirt, sticks and rocks that never seem to fail to attract deer and turkey.
Curiosity seems to play a big role in the way they look at the piles then come in to investigate.
I don’t know if the raked areas attract deer and turkeys because they appear to be places where another animal has pawed the earth to search for food, uncovered minerals or perhaps made a mock scrape, but in any case, the raked spots act as an animal magnet.
If you live in a state that does not allow baiting, give this a try!
Editor’s Note: Although I’ve never tried Mike’s trick, it makes perfect sense. Deer are very curious creatures, and I’ve known hunters who have dug holes in the ground in order to create dirt piles and small mounds in areas they want to hunt.
I’ve also noticed deer are highly attracted to construction sites and man-made clearings. Logically, something as simple as a pile of raked dirt and leaves should do well for attracting and holding deer.
– Tim H. Martin/Buckmasters Tip Editor