Any Luck with Salt licks or mineral sites

[Scott E]

Has any one had luck with salt licks and mineral sites as far as attracting deer goes. Its legal to use them where i hunt and the companies swear they work but do they really? How do you use them?-Scott
Please I dont want to get into the ethics of baiting etc. You hunt your way I'll hunt mine as long as we all have fun no need to argue

[BillJ]

I have a friend who put a salt block behind his house, and it is regularly surrounded with fresh tracks. He hasn't hunted it, but it does seem to draw deer.

BillJ

[Blackhawk]

They are great if you want pics for your trail camera.

[ChuckC]

I always put out a mineral lick with stuff like Antler King.  I THINK it is good for the deer.  Maybe I am taking it hook line and sinker...who knows.   I don't hunt over or near it though, it is for them.  They eat the stuff and the ground around it.  I had one such area on a parcel I used to hunt (can't feed anymore in lower WI) and the deer had eaten and pawed an area probably 5 feet wide and 6-8 inches deep.
ChuckC

[vermonster13]

If legal where you are they are very beneficial for both does and bucks in late winter/early spring. Gives pregnant does a step up for fawn growth and milk production and helps bucks grow larger antlers. Not legal here nor is any type of feeding of deer.

[Scott E]

which brands do you prefer?

[Widowbender]

I use powdered minerals in 50# bags. I put them in a few locations throughout the property I hunt. I use them as a nutritional supplement...just rake them into the soil. Deer usually hit them during fawning/lactating and antler growing periods. They have salt in them because the minerals by themselves have a bitter taste. I forget the name offhand but are the same minerals are used by some of the deer ranches. I think they are actually cattle minerals, which is good because if it had a deer on the bag they would probably cost $40 per bag. I think i paid
$12 per bag

David

[John C Keith]

I hunt an area that is mostly a pass through area, with some bedding.  Surrounded on three sides by a lot of agricultural crops (rotating, but often corn and soybeans).

The deer in this area will not eat anything I put out.  Apples, carrots, sugar beats, I have tried two different mineral blocks.  Each either rotted or slowly deteriorated with rain/weather. Even after the crops were harvested.  The only thing I have seen eat the dropped acorns were squirrels.  I think the deer around here are mutants.
Stay safe
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Sorry, just reread my post and not sure the relevance, besides saying not everything works everywhere.

[Gatekeeper]

Scott

Here is the recipe that I have used and had good results with. If you want more information on this recipe use this site.

 http://www.qdmaforums.com/archive/index.php/t-11.html  

Blackhawk is correct about setting up game cameras at the mineral licks. My mineral licks get most of their activity in the spring and summer. During the fall and winter the activity tapers off a lot.


WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE
Printable version
Ingredients: Makes 200 lbs. for about $23.00

1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores.
Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag.

2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loose kind without the medications.
Comes in 50lb Bags at around $5.00 you need two bags.

1 part Stock salt, ice cream salt.
Comes in 50lb Bags at around $2.00 you need one bag.

Directions:

-Use a 3 pound or similar size coffee can to use as your measure for each part of the mix.

-Mix all together well but not until read to use, keep ingredients separate until ready to put to use.

-Dig or tear up a circle in the soil about 36 inches wide and about 6 inches deep.

-Mix your mineral mixture with the soil.

Maintenance:

-Replenish in 6 months with fresh supply of mineral, and then each year there after.

Hope to see you in the woods this weekend. horntagger

Helpful hints: One is best time to put it out is March/April and I put all 200 lbs in one hole. Also I like a water source to be within 100 yards.

[Aeronut]

I set up a mineral lick using Deer Cane.  The deer have dug a hole there.  I don't hunt over it but I have sat and watched the animals come and go.  I have trail cam pictures of deer, squirrels,coons, turkeys, coyotes, and bobcats around it and have watched deer and squirrels drink the mud.  It reminds me of a hog waller.
Here are a few shots.  The dark spot in front of the buck in the first picture is the lick in the first year.  It covers a spot about four times that size now and I haven't re-stocked it for about a year now.







Dennis

[fireman_3311]

I use the same recipe as Gatekeeper....it works!!! Check out the hole they've dug out!

[Scott E]

wow! it realy does work. Those are some really good pictures. I have to give it a try now. I'll let you know how it works out.Thanks-Scott

[pseman]

I have a lick that I have kept going for about 5 years and it is big enough for me to lay down and hide in. I have pics of deer that only half the deer is visible. BUT, the deer will tear it up from about March until September, but it fills up with leaves during hunting season.

I guess the deer need extra minerals during fawning and antler growth periods, as well as during very hot weather, but in the fall it is barely touched. I'll try to post some pics of it when I get home.

[ChuckC]

I see the same.  in the fall, they don't use it near as much.
ChuckC

[BustaCrook]

I have bought the powdered minerals sold at Tractor Supply. Which is targeted for Cattle. It works. As soon as I can figure out how to post/attach a picture, I'll show ya the huge hole the deer dug.

[macster]

I have used the 30-6 minerals from the whitetail institute and the deer crush it from spring until september. I have used it for about 10 years now and the area has turned into a small pond. I have hundreds of pictures of does, fawns, and bucks using the mineral lick.

[JasonW]

A question for you guys putting out minerals?

Do you place the minerals right of the trail(1-5yds) or off to the side (10-15yrds)?  I was always told that placing the minerals on the trail didn't work as well...Opinions?

Tks
Jason