Trad Gang

I would like to do something for the deer around my property.  In Illinois, it is illegal to bait.  Fabricated mineral blocks are considered bait.  How about the natural mineral rocks?  Any other ideas are welcome.  There must be something other than the normal food plots.
                         Dick

Mineral rocks are mined sea salt. I did a trial and found mixing my own minerals was more effective and much more cost efficient.

For the deer, or for yourself?  The deer in Illinois aren't starving.  They have plenty of food and mild weather.  It's not wise to fool with mother nature.

I'm not trying to be proscriptive here, but whereever I look I'm seeing more and more effort to "manage" deer.  Maybe we should just leave them alone and hunt truly wild deer.  It's something to think about.

Amen
ChuckC

First of all, Salt would be illegal here in Illinois.  2nd, I wasn't talking about a "Food" source.  I was talking about minerals that would be beneficial for the deer.  We have Blue Tongue and EDH in our area.  Keeping the deer healthy might just help.  I've been bowhunting for 41 years and would like the give something back. Sounds like some would rather let the deer die than be proactive.
                           Dick

I agree with giving something back. Seems like there is something that we can do.

Any type of mineral block is illegal here in Michigan.(though they are sold and put out regularly)

As more of a hunting tool, about ten yrs ago, I began putting fertilizer stakes around oak trees and some wild apple trees that I know of. I found that deer will walk across forty acres of acorns to eat under the trees that I have fertilized. The acorns are bigger, more plentiful, and the trees produce every year for the most part.

Again, originally I thought it might help my hunting, and it did. But the deer benefit from it also. I like to think so anyway.

Deer will use the habitat they live in to the fullest benefit. Anything we can do to offer them more is a plus.

Truely wild deer live in roadless tracts in Minnesota, and forty acre plots in Illinois.
We have the knowledge to manage them for the better of the habitat, and the animals in both situations.

Imagine what we could have if we all "give back"
something.  :thumbsup:

EHD= blue tongue. minerals wont help. its spread by midges(noseeums, gnats) and has been especially bad in places this year due to drought concentrating deer areound available water sources where the gnats are also cocentrated.

I'd second what bonebuster said. Try to fertilize the natural food sources (ie oak trees) and you would still be legal in IL (I think) but the DNR is getting pretty strict on the mineral blocks. My uncle had them take a soil sample from his farm where a salt block HAD been 2 years earlier & they told him if the salt content of the soil was over a certain percentage they were going to issue a ticket.

the DNR is getting pretty strict on the mineral blocks. My uncle had them take a soil sample from his farm where a salt block HAD been 2 years earlier & they told him if the salt content of the soil was over a certain percentage they were going to issue a ticket. [/QB][/QUOTE]


I am glad I dont live in that communist state  

Bonebuster,
   Thanks!  I don 't know why I didn't think of that.  I remember an article I read many years ago that suggested the same thing.  Must be getting old!  Thanks a lot!
                   Dick

Dick,

Natural mineral rocks or not, they're illegal in IL. When in doubt, please contact the IDNR first. I'd hate to see you do something with the best of intentions, only to end up in trouble over it.

If you put it there, and they can eat it, it's considered baiting. This includes liquids and that antler growth stuff designed to "look like a scrape" that you pour onto the ground, and yes, they will take soil samples and check them out. Food plots are o.k. because it is naturally growing. Just don't pick the corn/beans, etc. and relocate it. That is where the official line is drawn anyway. That is straight from the DNR officer at the safety course.

You'd help more if you had a pond that you put an aerator in to keep the water moving.