Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) has long been a subject of curiosity regarding its effect on deer and other wildlife. This common household product is created through a two-step fermentation process, which leaves it with a sharp, pungent odor combined with the underlying sweetness of apples. The resulting liquid contains complex volatile organic compounds, making it potent to animals with a highly developed sense of smell. Its dual nature—a strong acid derived from a fruit deer naturally consume—sets the stage for an ambiguous reaction from the animals.
The Direct Answer: Deer Preference for Apple Cider Vinegar
Deer do not have a uniform preference for apple cider vinegar; their reaction is consistently mixed and context-dependent. The strong, acidic scent of the vinegar component often acts as a temporary repellent, causing deer to avoid areas where it has been applied in high concentrations. However, the initial smell of fermented apples can attract their curiosity, especially when ACV is used to scent mineral sites or food plots. The initial attraction is usually short-lived, as the overwhelming pungency of the acetic acid quickly discourages feeding or lingering. The effectiveness of ACV as a deterrent or attractant is highly sensitive to external factors like the concentration used, the availability of other food sources, and the time of year.
Understanding the Chemical Components That Attract or Repel
The ambiguous reaction deer exhibit is rooted in the distinct chemical makeup of apple cider vinegar. ACV is primarily composed of water and acetic acid, which typically makes up about 5% of the liquid, along with residual sugars and malic acid. The high concentration of acetic acid produces the sharp, vinegary odor that disrupts a deer’s sensitive olfactory system, signaling a potential threat or an unpalatable substance.
Deer rely heavily on their sense of smell to navigate their environment, detect predators, and locate food. Conversely, the fruity, fermenting aroma of the residual apple components acts as an attractant, mimicking the natural smell of fallen, rotting fruit that deer readily consume. The balance between these two competing chemical signals determines the deer’s ultimate behavior.
Practical Applications: Using ACV as a Deterrent or Supplement
Humans use apple cider vinegar in two contrasting ways based on the deer’s mixed reaction to its scent and taste. As a deterrent, diluted ACV is often sprayed directly onto garden plants, fences, or rags to exploit the repellent properties of the acetic acid. This method discourages deer from browsing, though the effect is temporary and requires reapplication, especially after rain.
Conversely, ACV is also used as an attractant or a purported supplement, primarily by hunters and wildlife managers. Highly diluted ACV or apple vinegar is sprayed onto mineral licks or mixed with feed to draw deer in. The appealing apple scent encourages deer to find and utilize the mineral site more quickly, establishing a feeding routine. While some claim ACV supports digestion or mineral uptake, this health benefit for wild deer remains largely anecdotal and debated.