Deer hunting always has been and always will be a passion of mine. From an early age, my dad and grandpa always had me out in the woods. It was a magical experience for a young man and it’s an experience I will pass down to my kids as well. I don't just hunt for the sport of it. It’s been passed down in my family for some time that you eat what you kill and don't let anything you shoot go to waste. Texas always has been and always will be home to monster white-tailed deer. Baiting is legal in Texas on private property and below you'll find some of the most effective methods I've used to attract monster bucks across the lone-star state on a budget.

1. Kool-Aid Soaked Corn

First and foremost, this has been the best attractant I've used thus far. Whether you’re as far west as Fredericksburg or out east near Franklin, TX, I've had the best results with this combination. It's simple and works great! What I'll typically do is grab a five gallon bucket and fill it with corn about halfway. Then, add a Kool-Aid packet (usually cherry or grape) right in and mix it around. Once you've done this, go ahead and spread that around your blind or corn feeder and wait for the action. The alternate method I've used with great results is adding some water to the five gallon bucket till the corn and Kool-Aid  fill up about 3/4th's of the bucket. Give it a good stir and then let it sit out for a couple of hours. I've had huge success with this method, whether it be deer or wild hogs.

2. Green Apples

Green apples have brought me wonderful opportunities in the realm of huge white-tailed bucks. What I'll typically do is buy a bag of 12 apples and take out about four apples and slice and dice em' into 6th's and spread them around my feeder or out and about in a field where I have a wide range of sight. Green apples are known to be sour. This is very appealing to white-tails as I have been doing it for some time and have had close to 20 to 25 deer around my feeder in areas I haven't seen many white-tail at all.

3. Syrup

Deer love all things sweet! Why not syrup? When using this method, it has produced quite a large amount of trophy bucks in each of the areas I've hunted over the years. What I typically do is draw some lines with a bag of corn in and around my feeder or out in a field. Put as much or as little of this as you see fit. Now, it doesn't have to be the best syrup by any means (I'll usually buy the cheapest), but I'll drizzle some of this in a zigzag motion over each of the corn lines I made around my intended shot zone. The sweet smell drifts through the wind and with any luck will bring those big bad bucks your way. It has produced some large bucks for me on many occasions and I hope it returns the favor for each of you.

A Couple of Myths Debunked...

No, you don't have to have a food plot or a ton of land to attract big bucks. It doesn't work that way. A nice Texas 10 or 12 point has always been a nice trophy in my book. These deer will roam far and wide in the heat of the rut. There's only one thing these guys are thinking of...their next girlfriend. So with the above methods I have discussed, you'll have the does coming your way, and soon those big Texas bucks will follow as well.

How to Tell If It’s Working?

Game Cameras! These come in handy quite often. I'm usually away from my place during the week as I work and go to school and only really come in to hunt on the weekends. Game cameras can capture activity at your stand or feeder around the clock and I've seen some animals ranging from big black-bucks out west to huge axis out east using these methods. They don't just work for monster bucks - you might have some unwelcome visitors as well. The biggest problem I have with the methods above are wild hogs. These pests are known for ravaging fields and ruining crops throughout the state and can often ruin a sizeable crop in a matter of a few days if there's a large group.

I hope this article has taught you a great deal on hunting big white-tailed bucks on a budget! As always, check your local parks and wildlife rules and regulations regarding the use of baits. Please comment below and let me know how the above attractants work for you.

Happy Hunting!