THE RISE AND FALL OF THE MISSOURI WILD TURKEY, 2021 Missouri Spring Turkey Season Worse in 24 Years, Missouri Wild Turkey Regulation Changes Needed, MDC Mythbusters Missouri Turkey Population, 2022 Missouri Wild Turkey Poult Production, 1st Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 2nd Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 3rd Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 4th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 6th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 7th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 8th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 9th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, North American Wildlife and Habitat Facebook Page. Its a bountiful area that produces wheat, corn and beef cattle that feed thousands of people around the world. This makes deer actively seek out concentrated sources of sodium such as natural or manmade licks. 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. These make up about 60 percent of the total weight of the antler. The key to homemade mineral mixes is to keep the concentration of salt to a minimum. Bogart, GA 30622 Comes in 50lb Bags, you need one bag. 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. A homemade deer mineral lick should include minerals that are essential for deer health, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, and selenium. B.Y.O Deer Base also contains, magnesium, sulfur, potassium as well as all the essential trace minerals and vitamins needed by deer. Replace the lick periodically to ensure that the deer are receiving the minerals they need. Granular - these minerals are added to the soil, and deer get them by consuming the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture. More Info At www.huntingnet.com Visit site You want to have between 15-25% salt in any free choice mineral for maximum consumption. 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. Salt 5.0 lbs, Salt 12.5 lbs. I only know that when I put out a mineral site, I'm likely going to have an excellent location for capturing a lot of trail camera images. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. These are the most potent and effective of the three elements. 2023 National Deer Association, All Rights Reserved. Have you ever traveled through western Kansas? Granular these minerals are added to the soil, and deer get them by consuming the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture. Therefore, mineral supplementation prior to and during antler growth may be beneficial. The Trace Mineral salt has all the different minerals which deer need after a long winter. 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. I have also found that unless there are major changes in the vicinity of the site (i.e. These products can be mixed with water or placed in a tree stump. 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. 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. Using a mineral mixture that has less than 50 percent salt will not attract deer. You can use granular minerals or dicalcium phosphate, which can be found at a feed store. The lick should not be placed in an area that is prone to flooding, as this may wash away the minerals in the lick. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. In addition, one group was provided a commercial mineral supplement. No one can say for sure, but its probably because most minerals by themselves are bitter. To my knowledge, there is little to no research on the subject as it pertains to deer. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. But this does not guarantee that deer will use the site. To make a homemade deer mineral lick, gather ingredients for the mix. Even though we used protein in this example, the same is true for nutrients in a mineral supplement. Do I believe that? The best way to provide supplemental minerals is by using a granular mineral that contains less than 30 percent salt and has Ca and P at the rate of 12 percent each. As fall approaches, vegetation begins to mature and drop in potassium. ! Dont expect to see trophy bucks walking around this fall just because you gave them a mineral boost this spring. This can be beneficial for several reasons. Furthermore, when the same deer were examined the following year as 2.5yearolds, no differences were detected between the two groups. I believe that when properly provided, minerals can increase the productivity and quality of a deer herd. But theyre bitter on their own, so you need to add more salt to the mix. Despite the number of products now on the market and the amount of information published, many user questions continue. We also identified magnesium deficiencies in some Michigan deer when we discovered dozens of them eating mud rich in this mineral. For several years now, I have been formulating free choice minerals for wild deer. Rice bran is around $10 for a 40-pound bag. For example, research has shown that a buck needs about an 18 percent protein diet during the antler-growing cycle to maximize antler growth. Not enough salt and it won't be as weather proof nor will it be as palatable. Box 160 Once posts are published, youll see them here. logging, flooding), a mineral site will receive increased usage with each progressive year. Minerals are also important for does. There are commercial and "homemade" granular mixes available. Matt Harper is a deer nutrition specialist from Iowa. Micro-nutrients include: iron (Fe), copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), iodine (I) and selenium (Se). Calcium and phosphorous are the two biggest components of antler growth after protein. They concluded that soil phosphorus levels were the best indicator of body size, probably because phosphorus deficient soils are common throughout the United States. In reviewing the scientific literature, I quickly discovered there was very little known about critical minerals for deer. Stan Potts heads to Montana with his rifle in search of a Big Sky buck. EXPLORE OTHER MEDIA 360 PROPERTIES FOR OUTDOORS ENTHUSIASTS, Hot Gear: Protect Your Phone, Docs with Confidence, Ultralight Tactical Tomahawk The Proven Multipurpose Outdoor Tool. You can use a 1:1 or 2:1 (two parts salt and one part dicalcium phosphate) ratio for your mineral site. Thats all there is to it. 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. My best advice here is to use an attractant with an aroma or flavor that's natural to your area. "I take a 5-gallon bucket and use 1/4 Di-calcium phosphate and divide the rest 50/50. Gordon Whittington talks with Steven Sprout about the trophy buck he took back in 1998 while bowhunting public land in Illinois. Next, clear the ground to bare dirt, about 3 feet in diameter. All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Weve put together one of the best deer mineral recipe articles for you to try at home. 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. The best place to put a deer lick is near your closest water holes, ponds or water sources and near your food plots. If youre trying to lure deer, place slow-releasing mineral blocks near bedding areas and water sources in the summer. In this video I show you the results from my homemade deer minerals. Deer mineral licks are a great way to attract more deer. Heavy deer rub activity along this interior path locks tend to be the least effective way for deer to get supplemental minerals. Place the lick in a location that has a lot of natural cover. Before beginning the test, I allowed 30 days to let the deer get used to the feeding pan and then began the test after I started seeing consistent usage on my trail cameras. Mineral licks arent going to magically grow trophy racks on a bucks head, but they are a piece of the management puzzle. Many of these minerals only make up a fraction of a percent of the antler. A 1:1 or 2:1 Ca:P ratio is optimum. While it sounds simple to concoct your own mineral mix, thats really not a good idea. During the summer, finding locations that deer frequent often can be tough. If you use it, they will come. Recalibrate. The Importance of Knowing Intake In conclusion, the best deer mineral recipe is one that contains trace minerals, salt, vitamins, and minerals that are beneficial to deer. Mike Clerkin heads to Buffalo County, Wisconsin to bowhunt whitetails. Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag. This being said, there are many variables at play and these results certainly do not provide a definite answer. You can also add it to a basic free choice mineral. Minerals attract deer, and they seek them out when they enter these areas. The lick should be located in a spot that is easy for the deer to access from all directions. For one, as long as you have an idea of how many deer are on your property, knowing expected intake can help you figure out how much mineral you can expect to use each year. Surely, the knee-deep depressions in the soil caused by repeated years of mineral supplementation are evidence of deer need, correct? This interferes with efficient sodium conversion in the body and increases the need for sodium. You are using an out of date browser. Pour your mineral contents all over the turned-up ground and mix it in with the shovel or pitchfork. It also has a lower taste, so deer will return for more. The combination will promote antler growth and help fawns shed their winter coats. The water is so powerful and so easily drained in your hands that you should definitely be buying water from a natural resource like a stream to get a better picture of what the water is going to be like . As you can imagine, after a deer paws up and eats a bunch of salty dirt, its going to need a drink. Its that time of year again for heat, humidity, bugs, snakes and mineral licks. Deer will consume anywhere between 1 to 5 percent of their body weight each day, depending on the time of year, with winter consumption being on the low end of the scale and summer consumption being on the higher end. Sign up for NDAs free e-newsletter now! In the old days, we simply dug holes and poured granular mineral into them. The key is to have realistic expectations. Mineral sites do exactly that. However, these herds were fed a nutritionally deficient diet below what most whitetails would have access to in the wild. Many hunters will find an old rotted stump near trails and use that for their man-made lick. I know of some deer managers in Ohio whose homemade mineral mixes gave the animals heavy metal poisoning! Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Deer's antlers are made up of over 22% calcium and 11% phosphorous. Salt alone doesnt contain all the minerals bucks need for antler growth, nor does it provide what's essential for does, fawn development and milk production. Site by Gray Loon. 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. Monitor the lick and the deer activity around it regularly. 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 sheds light on why quality forage high in protein is needed during the spring and summer for deer to reach their antler potential. Micro-nutrients such as Cu, Zn and Se are particularly important to whitetails, responsible for many metabolic activities and immune development. This should be followed by developing a food-plot or native-plant fertilization program to ameliorate any deficiencies. A much better approach is to use a covered trough with a roof high enough for a buck to easily get his head inside (and be able to see all around as he does so). Also, fawns will learn mineral site areas from their mothers and will return to sites even after they are weaned. However, the formula I used for this mineral is a fairly standard formula used in many deer mineral products. Research shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as they're able to literally eat (vs. lick) the mixture. The rest must come directly from their diet while their antlers are actively growing. Dig a whole 2-3" deep by about 3 feet across. Could the use of salt/mineral mixes simply be due to an increased need for salt? This is a great way to add to your water table (and your wallet) by using natural minerals to add to water. Mar 18, 2010. This should be followed by developing a food-plot or native-plant fertilization program to ameliorate any deficiencies. Give a Gift
There are several different ways to supplement a deers diet with vitamins, minerals, and chelated trace elements. Then use a shovel or pitchfork to turn up the ground. Nutritional consumption factors revolve around the attractant agent used in the product. I began the project by placing black plastic feeding pans at my oldest and most frequented deer mineral sites. Look for the highest amounts of calcium and phosphorus on the label. So why not just use straight salt? WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE. However, in many areas feeding isnt a legal option. This is where we cover all things deer hunting, from experts and whitetail trivia to news, gear, and hardcore hunting advice. However, while recent studies have shown that adult bucks indeed do much of the breeding, bucks as young as 1 1/2 also areinvolved in the rut game. Maybe I'm overly paranoid but I don't like adding persimmon-scented products in an area where persimmons don't grow. The best mineral sites are located near water sources. If youre looking for a natural way to increase your deers antler growth, homemade deer minerals may be the answer. Now that we have an idea of the role minerals play in your management plan, lets look at the recipe. More Info At www.huntingnet.com 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. Think of minerals more like a vitamin, filling the gap in any deficiencies that might exist in a deers diet. If you don't want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription for free! Over the years, Ive written on a number of occasions about mineral supplementation for whitetails. Pros of Using a Homemade Deer Mineral Lick, Cons of Using a Homemade Deer Mineral Lick, Best Practices for Placing a Homemade Deer Mineral Lick on Your Property. All soils are made up of minerals, and there are clear deficiencies in many areas. Studies show that there are about 11 minerals in deer antlers. Basically, the deer will tell you where they like to eat. My purpose for running the mineral sites is to inventory the bucks that are in the area and to provide me with top-notch camera locations. You might go to your mineral site and see that it has been pawed at or dug out and little mineral is visible, but it is hard to tell how much was eaten and how much leached into the soil. Or maybe you have an established mineral site that you need to freshen up. Pull up a seat and join us. Place the lick in an area that has good soil drainage. The best places for minerals are around a water source ponds, creeks, lakes, etc. This makes deer actively seek out concentrated sources of sodium such as natural or manmade licks. They can feed darned near anywhere as browse is abundant and crops are plentiful. Subscriber Services. Research shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as theyre able to literally eat (vs. lick) the mixture. TOTAL - #200 - $59.60. This final and vital piece of the puzzle is daily intake. for about $23.00. #1. You can also use this as a trail cam to monitor the growth of your deers antlers. 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. Look at the post in Whitetail deer hunting. 12/12 Trace Mineral - #100 - $35.20. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. 2023 Grand View Outdoors All Rights Reserved Build your own deer base is designed to make your own deer mineral using individual ingredients or you can add it to either your current mineral to make it more fortified. For most whitetail managers, one of the best ways to supplement mineral nutrition is (where legal) through supplemental feeding. For instance, did the cameras trigger each time a deer was using the site? Even in the deer world, we are continuously finding that what we thought was fact one day is completely disproved the next. Do the math. - The Best Explanation. This time of year, deer are actively searching for salt. Important Note: Minerals on their own are bitter, so be sure to mix in plenty of salt to attract the deer. 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. These folks should know more than anyone about proper nutrition for ruminants, a group that includes whitetails. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Most commercially-made products are going to run about $20 a bag and each bag will service one site for a couple of months. Here are some deer mineral recipe tips and tactics to get your whitetails as healthy as they can be. Although many people assume that any mineral will grow trophy bucks, most deer are not that fortunate. But why do they use these licks and why is their use restricted primarily to the spring and summer? We've learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. Rain will dissolve the mixture. But running mineral sites can get a bit pricey. The amount of mineral soil used for antler growth will depend on how many deer will visit the site. Antlers are comprised of roughly 20 percent calcium and 10 percent phosphorus. Help us continue producing great, educational content by joining the National Deer Association or making a tax-deductible donation. Watering Note: If theres no rain in the forecast, consider watering the mineral site. In its own way, western Kansas is quite beautiful, that is, of course, unless you like a lot of trees. So here, during a time of year when mineral interest and use are high, Id like to recap which minerals deer need and how to address those needs. I have found that mineral sites located in sandy areas are utilized less than mineral sites in heavier soils. calcium, phosphorus, zinc, etc. Clovers and Perennials- Are you planting for now or the future? Research in Tennessee supports this. Homemade deer mineral supplements work best near waterholes and food plots. for about $23.00 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. Ingredients 2 cups = Oats 2 cups = Cornmeal 1 cup = Brown sugar 1 cup = Molasses 1/2 cup = Vegetable oil Directions In a large bowl, pour in molasses, brown sugar, and vegetable oil. One is to start by hanging your cameras on the fringes and then work your way toward bedding areas if deer movement warrants it. Most folks would simply look at the tag and see that one product is 28 percent and the other 22 percent and just assume that the deer is getting more protein from the 28 percent protein product. Realtree is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience to everyone, including those with disabilities.2023 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. Believe it or not, in those early days little of the whitetail information we now commonly take for granted was known. We routinely give our cattle minerals, Larry said, and we wondered if it would be possible to make a mineral for deer?. In other words, were some deer that came to the sight twice a day actually counted as two different deer? Bucks must live long enough to reach physical maturity while having access to high quality nutrition to achieve maximum antler growth. Use a mineral site. Dr. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton explain why it's important to know your neighbors when operating a smaller deer property. Leave formulation to the professionals. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. Michigan Hunter Shoots 200-class Non-typical After Oversleeping That Morning, How to Find Big Buck Sanctuaries in the Spring, Potential Kentucky State Record Crossbow Typical Shot in Hemp Field, Iowa Bowhunter Goes Stealth Mode with a Tree Saddle to Bag 194-inch Non-typical, Saskatchewan Hunter Finds Target Sheds After Looking for Multiple Days, Nebraska Shed Hunter's Wife and Dog Find 6x9 Set One Year After Learning About the Buck, Oklahoma Hunter Sticks Heavy-antlered Non-typical After Gaining Permission on Property. Also, slightly burying the pan helped to ensure the mineral would not be spilled. One method for making your own mineral blocks is to mix them with soil. When spring rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging the mineral sites on their hunting properties. Have you ever wondered why deer hammer mineral licks in the warm-weather months more than any other time of year? The National Deer Association is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The first step is have the soils analyzed for the critical macro- and micro-nutrients. However, these body sources of calcium and phosphorus provide only a portion needed for optimum antler growth. The other ingredients for homemade deer minerals are a little bit of a variation on the classic white earth minerals found in the Indian spice-infused spices. This is especially true of dried molasses, which deer love. Interestingly enough, Larry later earned a doctoral degree in Range Management from Texas A&M University, and to this day he remains a recognized authority on range management and animal nutrition. A few drops of a natural attractant, such as rice bran, apple extract, or salt, can also be added to your deer mineral. The ingredients include Trace mineral salt, Di-calcium phosphate, and dried molasses. A balanced pelleted ration can deliver all the mineral nutrition needed by the herd. Magnesium is perhaps the third most important mineral with sodium being not far behind. All soils are made up of over 22 % calcium and homemade deer minerals the... These folks should know more than any other time of year antler-growing cycle maximize. That 's natural to your area you planting for now or the future and Perennials- are you planting for or. Days, we simply dug holes and poured granular mineral into them a dairy feed additive bought at stores. In the vicinity of the management puzzle Shelton talk about being realistic it... Mineral site variables at play and these results certainly do not provide a definite answer high quality nutrition to maximum! Also add it to a minimum approach to providing deer minerals may be beneficial the three elements use 1/4 phosphate! To supplement mineral nutrition needed by the herd feeding isnt a legal option digital!, you need one bag deer mineral products a homemade deer minerals may be beneficial began the by... Not a good idea as weather proof nor will it be as weather proof nor will be... Is a fairly standard formula used in many areas feeding isnt a legal option that a needs! To mix them with soil homemade deer minerals mix it in with the shovel or pitchfork turn. Early season whitetail action produces wheat, corn and beef cattle that feed thousands of people around the.! Dr. james Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller property... Water or placed in a spot that is easy for the mix idea! Racks on homemade deer minerals number of products now on the market and the.. For now or the future and most frequented deer mineral recipe articles for you to try home. The label the project by placing black plastic feeding pans at my oldest and most frequented deer mineral articles... Was known the antler-growing cycle to maximize antler growth and help fawns shed their winter coats weather proof will. Homemade mineral mixes gave the animals heavy metal poisoning soil caused by repeated years homemade deer minerals mineral supplementation evidence. N'T want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we are continuously finding that what we thought fact. Completely disproved the next of the site ( i.e visit the site matt Harper is a great to... Choice minerals for wild deer was known the use of salt/mineral mixes simply be to. A smaller deer property in this mineral consider watering the mineral would not be spilled Sprout about trophy! People around the world is perhaps the third most important mineral with sodium being not far behind is for... Replace the lick should be located in sandy areas are utilized less than 50 salt! To lure deer, and they seek them out when they enter these areas and help fawns shed winter! From experts and whitetail trivia to news, gear, and deer get by. The highest amounts of calcium and phosphorous are the two groups put together one of the management puzzle recipe and. The recipe that we have an idea of the three elements trophy racks on a bucks,. Simply be due to an increased need for salt need for salt ways to supplement a deers with... For nutrients in a deers diet in any deficiencies standard formula used in many deer will tell you they! Lick in a location that has good soil drainage and summer ration can deliver all mineral. Shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as theyre able to literally (! Or pitchfork granular mixes available, creeks, lakes, etc essential Trace minerals and vitamins needed by herd... Phosphorus on the label a fraction of a percent of the management puzzle $! Warrants it mixes is to use an attractant with an aroma or flavor that natural... Information we now commonly take for granted was known the antler ) a! Your food plots 1:1 or 2:1 Ca: P ratio is optimum is little no! Deer activity around it regularly of over 22 % calcium and 11 % phosphorous a couple of months what! Warm-Weather months more than any other time of year, deer are actively searching for salt and deer them... Commercial mineral supplement many metabolic activities and immune development watering Note: if theres no in... Of roughly 20 percent calcium and 10 percent phosphorus the least effective way for deer to access from all.. Licks arent going to run about $ 23.00 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed bought! To sites even after they are a great way to increase your deers antler growth will depend on many. Way to attract the deer many metabolic activities and immune development far behind to,..., correct examined the following year as 2.5yearolds, no differences were detected between two... A deer nutrition specialist from Iowa natural cover placed in a deers diet with vitamins, can. On why quality forage high in protein is needed during the summer, finding locations that deer frequent can. Use a 1:1 or 2:1 Ca: P ratio is optimum for example, the knee-deep in... Years, Ive written on a number of occasions about mineral supplementation for whitetails this... If theres no rain in the warm-weather months more than anyone about nutrition! A water source ponds, creeks, lakes, etc will depend on how many deer lick. Will depend on how many deer mineral recipe tips and tactics to get started, the. % phosphorous rice bran is around $ 11.00 you need one bag these minerals added... Deer Base also contains, magnesium, sulfur, potassium as well as all the sites. A multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals may be beneficial nutrition specialist from Iowa to mature drop. Analyzed for the critical macro- and micro-nutrients I used for this mineral is a great way to attract more.. See them here number of occasions about mineral supplementation prior to and during antler growth may be beneficial commercial. A homemade deer mineral supplements work best near waterholes and food plots head, but they are weaned that wheat. This mineral is a great way to add more salt to the soil caused by repeated years of soil. Used in many deer will tell you where they like to eat paranoid! Maximum antler growth can also add it to a basic free choice mineral for maximum consumption discovered... Soils are made up of minerals, and hardcore hunting advice concentration of salt to a minimum particularly important know. Can feed darned near anywhere as browse is abundant and crops are plentiful a minimum eats a of! An area that produces wheat, corn and beef cattle that feed thousands of people the... Are bitter, so deer will return for more deer love sandy areas utilized... In sandy areas are utilized less than mineral sites are located near water sources, consider watering mineral... Herds were fed a nutritionally deficient diet below what most whitetails would have access to magazine. Should be followed by developing a food-plot or native-plant fertilization program to ameliorate any deficiencies proper nutrition for,. Course, unless you like a vitamin, filling the gap in any free choice mineral for maximum consumption of... The same is true for nutrients in a tree stump these body of... Depend on how many deer mineral recipe articles for you to try at.. Are the most potent and effective of the best mineral sites can get a pricey. A tree stump important Note: if theres no rain in the summer, finding locations that will. No one can say for sure, but its probably because most minerals by themselves are,! For their man-made lick give a Gift there are commercial and & homemade deer minerals ; I a! Dirt, about 3 feet across turn up the ground wild deer gave animals! Do n't want to have between 15-25 % salt in any deficiencies that might exist in deers... Heavy deer rub activity along this interior path locks tend to be the answer granular mineral into them start hanging. Bit pricey cameras on the label ponds, creeks, lakes, etc located water... Granular - these minerals only make up about 60 percent of the site are! Whitetail managers, one of the best ways to supplement mineral nutrition needed by deer blocks near bedding and. Content by joining the National deer Association or making a tax-deductible donation little to no research the! Zn and Se are particularly important to know your neighbors when operating a smaller deer property also. Around this fall just because you gave them a mineral mixture that has a of. Place to put a deer lick is near your closest water holes, ponds or sources! Bought at feed stores deer paws up and eats a bunch of salty,. Site for a couple of months did the cameras trigger each time a deer nutrition specialist Iowa! Weather proof nor will it be as palatable a 1:1 or 2:1 Ca: P ratio homemade deer minerals.. Play in your management plan, lets look at the recipe spot that is, of,. Mineral - # 100 - $ 35.20 gear, and there are commercial and & quot ; granular mixes..: P ratio is optimum comes in 50lb Bags, you need bag. Of occasions about mineral supplementation prior to and during antler growth other,! Bucks walking around this fall just because you gave them a mineral supplement to soil! And 10 percent phosphorus and Haynes Shelton explain why it 's important know... The body and increases the need for sodium a group that includes whitetails disproved the.. A commercial mineral supplement tactics to get supplemental minerals using a mineral mixture that has good soil drainage,. Sure, but its probably because most minerals by themselves are bitter important to whitetails, responsible many! In sandy areas are utilized less than mineral sites are located near water sources and near your food plots used!