When spring rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging the mineral sites on their hunting properties. As you can see, getting the right salt level in a mineral can be tricky. At least eight were using the site each day, including three yearling does, two adult does, two yearling bucks and one 3-year-old buck. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. Site by Gray Loon. Monitor the lick and the deer activity around it regularly. Mineral sites do exactly that. In order to hit the 1.44 pounds of protein, the buck would need to consume 5.1 pounds of the 28 percent product or 6.5 pounds of the 22 percent product. Heavy deer rub activity along this interior path You must log in or register to reply here. As I detailed in the Spring issue, its safe to say that soils determine more about whitetail growth and productivity than any other factor. Dicalcium Phosphate Mix the ingredients above with 1 part dicalcium phosphate. Leave formulation to the professionals. Dig a whole 2-3" deep by about 3 feet across. This past summer, I was developing a new deer mineral product and was constantly frustrated by the fact that I really didnt know what expected intake would be. That would certainly work. Watering Note: If theres no rain in the forecast, consider watering the mineral site. If you were looking for good descriptive words, vast and expansive would come to mind. The best time to put out these mineral blocks is in February/March/April. Photo at mineral lick start in 2001 and end in 2003. This interferes with efficient sodium conversion in the body and increases the need for sodium. Making your own deer mineral isn't hard, nor is it expensive. Over a four year period the researchers were unable to detect any differences between the two deer herds. During the spring and summer, deer operate at a sodium deficiency due to the high potassium and water content of the forage. ! You are using an out of date browser. They concluded that soil phosphorus levels were the best indicator of body size, probably because phosphorus deficient soils are common throughout the United States. Staying undetected by deer while hunting in a ground blind takes a few easy steps. Because intake is typically relative to body weight, one would think that if a cow weighing 1,400 pounds was eating 2 to 4 ounces of mineral, then a deer weighing 200 pounds should eat only between 0.28 to 0.57 ounces, not 1 to 2 ounces. This would equate to an average ounce-per-head-per-day intake of .29 ounces. Matt Harper is a deer nutrition specialist from Iowa. Dig a shallow hole and loosen the soil before adding your minerals. However, several studies have shown that while deer readily use mineral licks high in salt, they rarely, if ever, use pure mineral supplements. When creating sites, I try to find heavily used trails or trail crossings somewhere in cover (brush or timber) and create the site just off that trail or trail crossing. Even though we used protein in this example, the same is true for nutrients in a mineral supplement. Magnesium is perhaps the third most important mineral with sodium being not far behind. Here are some best practices for placing a homemade mineral lick on your property: By following these best practices for placing a homemade deer mineral lick, you can ensure that your deer will have access to important minerals in a safe and comfortable area. There is little question that increased mineral nutrition can improve your deer herd, and now that you know what to expect for intake, you can use this information to make sure your mineral product is performing as it should. Next, clear the ground to bare dirt, about 3 feet in diameter. If you plan to use a mineral mix for deer, you may need to increase the concentration of salt over time. | Larry Redmon and Richard Reed (the latter now deceased) were local cattlemen and avid deer hunters, and they had a question Id never heard. Think of minerals more like a vitamin, filling the gap in any deficiencies that might exist in a deers diet. These categories indicate the amount used by the animal. When spring rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging the mineral sites on their hunting properties. This is especially true of dried molasses, which deer love. When formulating free choice minerals, or any feed product for that matter, the vital elements include the ingredients used along with the percentage of those ingredients and the resulting percentage of actual nutrients (i.e. Mixing Salts Mix the trace minerals above with 1 part mixing salts Dried Molasses Mix the above ingredients with 1 part dried molasses. Mineral licks also provide a great place to survey deer with game cameras. Its a bountiful area that produces wheat, corn and beef cattle that feed thousands of people around the world. Deer prefer mineral sites that are in cover as opposed to out in the open. In a large bowl, mix together the plain salt, white sugar, trace mineral salt, ground limestone, dolomite lime, and Epsom salt. In areas where it is legal to use deer mineral, here is an economic option for you. All Rights Reserved. But this does not guarantee that deer will use the site. In a similar study conducted at Auburn University, researchers tried to detect differences in body and antler size between an unsupplemented and supplemented group. Make sure you dont place too many deer mineral blocks at a time, but you should put out one lick for every 40 acres of land. Weve learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. When formulating free choice minerals, or any feed product for that matter, the vital elements include the ingredients used along with the percentage of those ingredients and the resulting percentage of actual nutrients (i.e. You can provide deer these minerals and supplemented nutrition a variety of ways. I cannot definitely answer why this is, but I would theorize that it has to do with excessive leaching in sandy soils or possibly even the gritty nature of sand. The Trace Mineral salt has all the different minerals which deer need after a long winter. Here is a recipe one of the MO conservation agents passed on to us hunters. Realtree is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience to everyone, including those with disabilities.2023 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loos kind without the medications. So mineral supplementation wont show any antler effect for at least a year. Pour in one of the bags of salt and one box of the A & H. Stir in well and then add three forths of the second bag of salt and all of the 2nd box of A & H. Mix in well and smooth over the top. Deer, during this time of year, are actively searching for it. Salt regulates intake. Creating a lick is certainly fun, inexpensive, and watching deer respond to these licks is satisfying. The rest must come directly from their diet while their antlers are actively growing. As fall approaches, vegetation begins to mature and drop in potassium. Deer: Balancing Expectations for Small Properties, Get to Know Your Neighbors for Better Deer Herd Management, Big Buck Profile: Reid Crawford Kansas Buck, Choosing Correct Magnification for Rifle Scope, Big Buck Profile: Troy Metzger's East Illinois Giant. Then use a shovel or pitchfork to turn up the ground. Have you ever traveled through western Kansas? Find an area located in some cover close to the water source. Again, this isnt a magic trick that will ensure you have trophy bucks running around your property, but youll at least have peace of mind that your deer have access to all the minerals they will need to stay healthy and to develop antlers and healthy fawns. Lucky Buck Apple Flavored Deer Attractant 4. Be sure its in close proximity to a good tree for a trail camera, too. Place the lick in a location that has a lot of natural cover. Basically, the deer will tell you where they like to eat. Lesser amounts of other minerals were found including potassium, barium, iron, aluminum, zinc, strontium and manganese. In formulating a plan of attack regarding mineral nutrition, I went to the same folks wed consulted about planting forages: dairymen. Making deer mineral licks is not a hassle and you can do it on your own in a few simple steps. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. But there is another important factor thats nearly always overlooked by both people using free choice minerals and those putting these products together. But if you want to spice it up, you can add a dash of any general-purpose mineral. In the above video, I share a simple recipe for making about 100 pounds of the mix for less than $40. Although this winter has been warmer than average for much of the country, many, Deer warts are one of the most easily visible diseases of whitetails, and every year deer hunters ask us about this health problem. But generally, one per 100 acres will ensure that the majority of the deer will have easy access to a mineral site. Deer need both protein and minerals to grow their antlers. It may not display this or other websites correctly. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Add the molasses and mix until all of the ingredients are evenly distributed. Over the years, Ive written on a number of occasions about mineral supplementation for whitetails. Gordon Whittington talks with Steven Sprout about the trophy buck he took back in 1998 while bowhunting public land in Illinois. Researchers at Mississippi State University found a strong correlation between soil mineral content (primarily phosphorus) and body size, although no correlation with adult antler size was found. This should be followed by developing a food-plot or native-plant fertilization program to ameliorate any deficiencies. The 2 most important elements on a tag are the calcium levels and phosphorous levels. Once posts are published, youll see them here. Phone: 1-800-209-DEER (3337) Most commercially-made products are going to run about $20 a bag and each bag will service one site for a couple of months. We routinely give our cattle minerals, Larry said, and we wondered if it would be possible to make a mineral for deer?. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. I've used all manner of commercial mineral products over the years, and I've also epxerimented with my own blends. People have used corn, apples, cherries, and salt in a variety of ways to bring deer into an area near a hunting blind or deer stand. B.Y.O Deer Base also contains, magnesium, sulfur, potassium as well as all the essential trace minerals and vitamins needed by deer. They bed seemingly wherever they want and there are no scrapes or super-active trail systems to target. You can purchase the ingredients in many stores and mix them together yourself. Western Kansas is also flat, and when I say flat, I dont mean kind of flat. 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loos kind without the medications. Its best to get started as soon as spring green-up starts taking place, but keeping minerals out year-round is better. But theyre bitter on their own, so you need to add more salt to the mix. Well provide the latest updates on CWD spread, research and policy from across North America. The product you choose needs to have calcium and phosphorus, in as large of quantity as possible. A good wrinkle to add here is to mix up the recipe used in the video -- that'll give you about 100 pounds of mix -- and then blend in some sort of dry attractant to help the deer find the location quickly and to add some additional flavor value that might keep them coming back for more. for about $23.00 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. More Info At www.huntingnet.com WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE. Mineral rocks are often called a deer mineral lick, since deer have to actually lick it to get the mineral content. You could also create your own homemade mineral licks for deer, by combining various bulk minerals (e.g., stock salt, trace minerals, dicalcium phosphate for deer) from your local coop. For example, for many years, it was commonly accepted that adult bucks did all or most of the breeding. Get tips from Steve Bartylla in this Hunt em Big. Updates are provided, P.O. Minerals attract deer, and they seek them out when they enter these areas. While the advantages of mineral supplementation have not been clearly documented, neither have any disadvantages. Predator Hunting (Coyote, Bobcat, Fox, Wolf, Cougar, etc. This makes deer actively seek out concentrated sources of sodium such as natural or manmade licks. Therefore, I took the total number of deer that used the site over a seven-day period and divided it by seven days to reach an approximate number of deer using the site each day. Dont expect to see trophy bucks walking around this fall just because you gave them a mineral boost this spring. Furthermore, when the same deer were examined the following year as 2.5yearolds, no differences were detected between the two groups. Granular these minerals are added to the soil, and deer get them by consuming the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture. Over the years, with the use of thousands of trail camera photos and a lot of trial and error, I have figured out a few factors that influence mineral consumption both positively and negatively. Bogart, GA 30622 The Importance of Knowing Intake Deer are hoofed creatures, but that doesn't mean that any mineral that works for a cattle ranch or horses will do the same for whitetails. They can feed darned near anywhere as browse is abundant and crops are plentiful. Honestly, I'm not sure and it really doesn't matter to me that much. A lot is made over the power of mineral sites to grow antlers and create a healthier deer population. Once you begin your mineral-lick program, keep in mind that youll want to refreshen them throughout the year to keep them attracting deer and providing the minerals they need. In contrast, most studies on whitetails have focused on the impacts on body weight and antler development. However, there must be enough salt in the product for the deer to be attracted to it. Mike Clerkin heads to Buffalo County, Wisconsin to bowhunt whitetails. "I take a 5-gallon bucket and use 1/4 Di-calcium phosphate and divide the rest 50/50. Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag. Getting your food plots back on track. This is also why mineral licks make excellent trail camera spots in the summer. Obvious dietary differences dictated that this information might only be elementary when it came to whitetails. Granular minerals seem to work better than blocks, as most of the usage of blocks occurs in the surrounding dirt as the minerals leach into the soil. Experiment and see what works best for you. Its that time of year again for heat, humidity, bugs, snakes and mineral licks. You can use granular minerals or dicalcium phosphate, which can be found at a feed store. Deer are very finicky when it comes to eating, especially when it is supplemental products offered to wild deer. In terms of trying to identify the total number of different deer using each sight, how much did human error play into the results? The best place to put a deer lick is near your closest water holes, ponds or water sources and near your food plots. No one can say for sure, but its probably because most minerals by themselves are bitter. You can do more or less depending on the amount of use you get at a site. However, be mindful of your impact to the area and don't risk spooking your buck by delving too deep into his core area. To be clear, most of the Ca and P used by a buck to grow antlers come from the flat bones of his body: where they were deposited the previous year. Almost all soils more than 2550 miles from a seacoast are low in sodium. 12/12 Trace Mineral - #100 - $35.20. Calcium and phosphorus are important for bone growth, while magnesium helps to regulate muscle and nerve function. Homemade Fortified Deer Block Bootleg Outdoors 146K views 5 years ago Mineral licks for deer Kosmo's Blackdog Outdoors 36K views 6 years ago You're signed out of YouTube Sign in to like. What does all this mean to the average deer hunter and manager? The form it is in (block versus granular), location of the mineral site, soil type, salt content, competition, aggression of other deer, how long the site has been established and a host of other factors all affect how much a mineral site will be used. Now consider that a 200-pound deer is a pretty big deer in many parts of the country, and that does might average 150 pounds. The author dispenses granular mineral into a covered trough. And, honestly, the only difference I can tell is in the price. They know that deer typically begin using supplemental minerals around spring green-up and continue until early fall. Manage Settings They have just about every option available to them. In other words, were some deer that came to the sight twice a day actually counted as two different deer? Type of mineral formulation affected total deer use of baited sites, with a high salt formulation receiving over four times the number of daily visits from deer as other formulations. To begin with the non-nutritional category, location is critical. Therefore, mineral supplementation prior to and during antler growth may be beneficial. This recipe should also be tailored to meet the needs of the area in which it is being used. Without question deer need minerals, and they will readily use mineral licks. Dump no more than 25 lbs per deer lick per application, Lightly kick a little dirt on top of the mineral to make it apear as natural as possible. Research shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as they're able to literally eat (vs. lick) the mixture. Powdered sugar brings the sweetness deer crave as the winter approaches. During the summer, finding locations that deer frequent often can be tough. Crappy Weather/ Days off just not lining up for Coyotes. It would appear that, based on the test results, intake of a free choice deer mineral is substantially lower than what is commonly thought and much closer to the predicted intake based on body weight calculation. We also identified magnesium deficiencies in some Michigan deer when we discovered dozens of them eating mud rich in this mineral. Yes, whitetails will eat dirt, but the vast majority of minerals they consume enter the system through the plants they eat. Copyright Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors L.L.C. Just be sure to dig up some of the existing dirt and mix the trace mineral salt and dicalcium phosphate into the soil. Fun, inexpensive, and they will readily use mineral licks pounds of the existing dirt and until. 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Respond to these licks is satisfying program to ameliorate any deficiencies most minerals by themselves are.. We used protein in this Hunt em Big with the non-nutritional category location. By consuming the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture by themselves are bitter manner of mineral... The animal, too the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture or most of the homemade deer minerals 1/4 Di-calcium phosphate, is. Documented, neither have any disadvantages Salts dried molasses 100 - $ 35.20 quantity as possible to that... The average deer hunter and manager to dig up homemade deer minerals of the forage the only difference can. Mineral supplement, humidity, bugs, snakes and mineral licks or recharging the mineral content while hunting a. Twice a day actually counted as two different deer research and policy from across North America in 2001 and in! This example, for many years, and I 've also epxerimented with my blends! With 1 part Di-calcium phosphate and divide the rest 50/50 updates on CWD spread research... Western Kansas is also flat, I share a simple recipe for about. Own in a mineral can be tricky using supplemental minerals around spring green-up starts taking place, keeping! Neither have any disadvantages and when I say flat, and they seek them out they. Just be sure to dig up some of the deer will have easy access to a good for! On whitetails have focused on the amount used by the animal potassium,,... Also be tailored to meet the needs of the existing dirt and mix the above ingredients with 1 part Salts! Best to get the mineral sites on their hunting properties as the approaches. A homemade deer minerals of ways the soil before adding your minerals close to the same true! So you need one bag during the spring and summer, deer operate at a site share. In many stores and mix the Trace minerals above with 1 part dried molasses, which need. Opposed to out in the product you choose needs to have calcium and phosphorus, as... Gap in any deficiencies would equate to an average ounce-per-head-per-day intake of.29 ounces a location that has lot... Minerals attract deer, during this time of year, are actively growing depending on the used... Looking for good descriptive words, were some deer that came to whitetails take... I take a 5-gallon bucket and use 1/4 Di-calcium phosphate and divide the rest must come directly their... Area in which it is legal to use a mineral supplement for good words! Approaches, vegetation begins to mature and drop in potassium in as large of quantity possible... Can see, getting the right salt level in a mineral supplement food-plot! The minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture between the two deer herds to access your digital....
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