However, be mindful of your impact to the area and don't risk spooking your buck by delving too deep into his core area. This makes deer actively seek out concentrated sources of sodium such as natural or manmade licks. The first step is have the soils analyzed for the critical macro- and micro-nutrients. The Trace Mineral salt has all the different minerals which deer need after a long winter. Be sure its in close proximity to a good tree for a trail camera, too. Western Kansas is also flat, and when I say flat, I dont mean kind of flat. One of the easiest ways to lure deer to your property is to place a mineral lick. Site by Gray Loon. Research shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as theyre able to literally eat (vs. lick) the mixture. This is especially true of dried molasses, which deer love. Using a 32oz cup mix 1-cup dicalcium phosphate 2-cups trace mineral salt and 1-cup rock salt (ice cream salt) into 5-gallon bucket. Just be sure to buy and use them in conjunction with an EPA-registered water filter. In the above video, I share a simple recipe for making about 100 pounds of the mix for less than $40. While there are a number of commercial products available to create mineral licks, a more affordable and perhaps better option is to drive down to your local feed and seed or farmers co-op and buy a 50-pound bag of dicalcium phosphate and one or two 50-pound bag of trace-mineral salt. Research in Tennessee supports this. The author dispenses granular mineral into a covered trough. You can purchase the ingredients in many stores and mix them together yourself. Potassium and sodium must maintain a balance at a cellular level, and since most green, growing vegetation is much higher in potassium than sodium, deer become salt hungry during the spring and summer as their bodies crave more sodium. 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. 2001 Mineral Lick I then allowed the deer to use the sites for seven days, at which time I removed the remaining contents from the pan and weighed it in order to get a total usage. Many of these minerals only make up a fraction of a percent of the antler. 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. 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. Powdered sugar brings the sweetness deer crave as the winter approaches. This should be followed by developing a food-plot or native-plant fertilization program to ameliorate any deficiencies. Thats because its long been a topic of widespread interest not only on the part of landowners and other habitat managers, but hunters, as well. Maybe, or maybe not. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. So why not just use straight salt? Blocks these are commercial mineral blocks placed on the ground or on a stump, and deer get the minerals by licking the block or consuming the soil below it. Make Your Own Deer Mineral 128,225 views May 5, 2014 485 Dislike Share Save Realtree 279K subscribers Antler Geek Tony Hansen shares his recipe and tips for making your own deer mineral. Plain Stock Salt - #50 - $4.30. What Are Arrows Shot From Untuned Bows Likely to Do. 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. However, these body sources of calcium and phosphorus provide only a portion needed for optimum antler growth. Use a mineral site. That would certainly work. JavaScript is disabled. About 40 percent is composed of protein. 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. | All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Besides calcium and phosphorus, little is known about the role of other minerals in antler growth. I believe that when properly provided, minerals can increase the productivity and quality of a deer herd. But running mineral sites can get a bit pricey. You can also add it to a basic free choice mineral. If youre trying to lure deer, place slow-releasing mineral blocks near bedding areas and water sources in the summer. They know that deer typically begin using supplemental minerals around spring green-up and continue until early fall. This makes deer actively seek out concentrated sources of sodium such as natural or manmade licks. The diacalcium phosphate costs about $25 to $30 and the trace-mineral salt is about $12 to $15 per bag. Calcium and phosphorus are important for bone growth, while magnesium helps to regulate muscle and nerve function. Once youve tagged that big whitetail deer, take a look at some of our most popular venison recipes like our Old School Deer Jerky Recipe or the Delicious Deer Backstrap Crockpot Recipe, What Is A Piebald Deer? An easy and beneficial mineral recipe for whitetail deer and an aid in antler. A classic study on the mineral needs of deer was conducted at Penn State University in the 1950s. Now, back to the 18 percent protein. Although many people assume that any mineral will grow trophy bucks, most deer are not that fortunate. Deer will be less likely to visit the lick if there is too much human presence. Deer minerals are simple math. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Deer, during this time of year, are actively searching for it. Anderson, SC, 2023 N1 Outdoors. What is the Most Important Factor in Whitetail Nutrition? Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. 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. calcium, phosphorus, zinc, etc. 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. In this edition of "Big Buck Profile," Gordon Whittington talks with young whitetail hunter Reid Crawford about his trophy buck taken in 2017. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE Ingredients: Makes 250 lbs 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. Whether the addition of supplemental minerals is truly benefitting the deer, or if the deer are simply using the site because of the salt, isn't really a primary concern of mine. Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens Deer Food Buying Guide Easy to use Effectiveness Affordability Portability Frequently Asked Questions Well provide the latest updates on CWD spread, research and policy from across North America. 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. Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag. The test was conducted in July. Rice bran is around $10 for a 40-pound bag. Because of this, I normally recommend at least one site per 40 acres to minimize site competition, with more sites needed in areas with higher deer density. As you can see, getting the right salt level in a mineral can be tricky. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Many home deer mineral lick recipes use a 2:1 ratio of dicalcium phosphate to salt. Inside the trough, place a metal or plastic pan to hold the mineral. Placing the lick in a spot with tall grasses or shrubs will help the deer feel safe when they are visiting the lick. I have used the same product literally 100 yards apart from each other, and the deer heavily used one site but not the other. But generally, one per 100 acres will ensure that the majority of the deer will have easy access to a mineral site. The best place to put a deer lick is near your closest water holes, ponds or water sources and near your food plots. 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. 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 . Weve learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. You want to get as much calcium and phosphorous into a deer as possible. Growing antlers are composed mostly of proteins (80 percent by weight); whereas hardened antlers contain roughly equal amounts of proteins and minerals. Clearly minerals are important in antler development. This would equate to an average ounce-per-head-per-day intake of .29 ounces. Watering Note: If there's no rain in the forecast, consider watering the mineral site. I know of some deer managers in Ohio whose homemade mineral mixes gave the animals heavy metal poisoning! 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. A homemade deer mineral lick should include minerals that are essential for deer health, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, and selenium. Clovers and Perennials- Are you planting for now or the future? All soils are made up of minerals, and there are clear deficiencies in many areas. In terms of trying to identify the total number of different deer using each sight, how much did human error play into the results? Homemade deer mineral supplements work best near waterholes and food plots. Food additive these minerals are combined with a supplemental feed, and deer get them while consuming the feed. Along those same lines, deer will more readily utilize minerals that are ground applied than offered in a man-made feeder. This being said, there are many variables at play and these results certainly do not provide a definite answer. A balanced pelleted ration can deliver all the mineral nutrition needed by the herd. Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag. In addition, one group was provided a commercial mineral supplement. Realtree is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience to everyone, including those with disabilities.2023 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. Interestingly, the immense prehistoric deer called the Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus) went extinct during the last global warmup shortly after the Ice Age, apparently due to the loss of tundra plants high in Ca and P. Fossil evidence supports these deer were victims of spontaneous cervical fractures caused by osteoporosis. Weve put together one of the best deer mineral recipe articles for you to try at home. Granular - these minerals are added to the soil, and deer get them by consuming the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture. Surely, the knee-deep depressions in the soil caused by repeated years of mineral supplementation are evidence of deer need, correct? Deer need a source of food when they are visiting the lick, and the presence of natural browse will help encourage them to visit the lick. However, age and nutrition are the two most important ingredients for producing large antlered bucks. Top 5 Best Homemade Deer Attractants Reviewed 1. 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. Also, the use of a foreign object, the plastic feeding pan, could have decreased usage even though I did not start the test until the deer were regularly using the site with the feeding pan in place. The first step is have the soils analyzed for the critical macro- and micro-nutrients. My best advice here is to use an attractant with an aroma or flavor that's natural to your area. For example, for many years, it was commonly accepted that adult bucks did all or most of the breeding. 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. Mix the minerals and dirt well in the depression, and then add a little molasses for a sweetener. They have just about every option available to them. Mineral sites do exactly that. Minerals are important to all living things, serving a host of physiological functions. A homemade deer mineral lick should include minerals that are essential for deer health, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, and selenium. Even though we used protein in this example, the same is true for nutrients in a mineral supplement. It won't take long to sink a few hundred bucks into the ground. Therefore, in these areas, salt may be just as necessary as calcium and phosphorus to whitetails during the spring and summer. Now that we have an idea of the role minerals play in your management plan, lets look at the recipe. 2023 Grand View Outdoors All Rights Reserved Photo at mineral lick start in 2001 and end in 2003. As I previously mentioned, intake is a vital factor when formulating a mineral or protein supplement or complete feed. 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. Dicalcium phosphate contains around 19 percent phosphorous and 20 to 25 percent calcium. Trace mineral salt contains mostly salt, which is what the deer are actually looking for, and various other trace amounts of minerals such as zinc, manganese, iron all of which are found in hardened deer antler. Homemade Deer Mineral Recipe Watch on Be sure and Visit North American Wildlife and Habitat Facebook Page Below are photo using 35 mm game camera, Mineral lick site was started in 2000 on this piece of property in Southern Missouri along the Arkansas Border. Studies have shown that calcium and phosphorus are by far the two most common minerals in deer antlers, comprising 3035 percent of the mature antler by weight. Its best to get started as soon as spring green-up starts taking place, but keeping minerals out year-round is better. Taking common ingredients found in most homes and mixing them into a viable, attractive combination that deer love is an easy process. Allow the deer to lick the mineral lick for about two weeks. These make up about 60 percent of the total weight of the antler. Getting your food plots back on track. Updates are provided, P.O. Over the years, Ive written on a number of occasions about mineral supplementation for whitetails. While all these minerals are important, we quickly learned that Ca and P in particular had a lot to do with the size of deer and their antlers. B.Y.O Deer Base. 2023 National Deer Association, All Rights Reserved. When spring rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging the mineral sites on their hunting properties. Making deer mineral licks is not a hassle and you can do it on your own in a few simple steps. July 1, 2022 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, February 27, 2023 |The Realblog with Stephanie Mallory, February 28, 2023 |Brow Tines and Backstrap. 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loos kind without the medications. 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. To make a homemade deer mineral lick, gather ingredients for the mix. Ohio Hunter Balances Hunting and Family to Bag 190-inch Typical, Dr. They can feed darned near anywhere as browse is abundant and crops are plentiful. 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 lot is made over the power of mineral sites to grow antlers and create a healthier deer population. Any one of a hundred things can influence how often a deer will use a supplemental mineral and how much it will consume. Heavy deer rub activity along this interior path The key is to have realistic expectations. Minerals are also important for does. During the summer, finding locations that deer frequent often can be tough. However, these herds were fed a nutritionally deficient diet below what most whitetails would have access to in the wild. If a buck consumes 8 pounds of total food per day, then in order to hit an 18 percent protein level in his diet, he would need to consume 1.44 pounds of protein. Give a Gift Here is a recipe one of the MO conservation agents passed on to us hunters. 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. Once they've found the location, it's the salt that keeps them coming back. To my knowledge, there is little to no research on the subject as it pertains to deer. I've done more research on this that I care to disclose, but from . However, when antlers are in the velvet stage and growing, they contain about 80 percent protein and 20 percent phosphorous and calcium. 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. These products are used for raising livestock, but are exactly what you need for creating a quality mineral site. Pour your mineral contents all over the turned-up ground and mix it in with the shovel or pitchfork. The most common intake claim by deer products on the market is 1 to 2 ounces per head per day or 1/16 to 1/8 of a pound. However, deer are not attracted to a high-salt solution and will not consume it. Once youve thoroughly mixed the minerals with the soil, youre done. Thats all there is to it. 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loos kind without the medications. B.Y.O Deer Base also contains, magnesium, sulfur, potassium as well as all the essential trace minerals and vitamins needed by 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. So why not just pour salt out for the deer if thats what they're after? What does all this mean to the average deer hunter and manager? For most whitetail managers, one of the best ways to supplement mineral nutrition is (where legal) through supplemental feeding. Salt 5.0 lbs, Salt 12.5 lbs. Email: info@deerassociation.com. This is why knowing your intake is so important for your mineral program. 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. Of course, while mulling this over in my Excel spreadsheet, I was making a lot of assumptions, so I decided to conduct a research project on one of my farms to see if I could come up with a number based on real data. While the advantages of mineral supplementation have not been clearly documented, neither have any disadvantages. "I take a 5-gallon bucket and use 1/4 Di-calcium phosphate and divide the rest 50/50. But adding a mineral site to the mix has been the ticket for me. According to research, yes. Even taking all of this into consideration, I believe that, at the very least, the results strongly suggest that the intake of free choice minerals is substantially lower than 1 to 2 ounces per head per day. Watering Note: If theres no rain in the forecast, consider watering the mineral site. Here are some deer mineral recipe tips and tactics to get your whitetails as healthy as they can be. 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. Once posts are published, youll see them here. Honestly, I'm not sure and it really doesn't matter to me that much. Now add in the oats and mix again. Im talking smashed with a giant skillet flat. In so doing, we get fantastic response from the deer herd. 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. Gordon Whittington heads north to his personal Missouri farm for some crossbow action. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Believe it or not, in those early days little of the whitetail information we now commonly take for granted was known. In reviewing the scientific literature, I quickly discovered there was very little known about critical minerals for deer. 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. Nutritional consumption factors revolve around the attractant agent used in the product. Could the use of salt/mineral mixes simply be due to an increased need for salt? If you were looking for good descriptive words, vast and expansive would come to mind. You can do more or less depending on the amount of use you get at a site. Free choice minerals are probably one of the most difficult products where you can get a good sense of intake. No one can say for sure, but its probably because most minerals by themselves are bitter. Of course, we now know the Earth isnt flat, but it wasnt a popular belief until science and ocean navigation proved it. #1. The rest must come directly from their diet while their antlers are actively growing. Mar 18, 2010. Now, consider two different protein supplements, one with a level of 28 percent protein and one at 22 percent protein. Wildgame Innovations, for example, has all manner of attractants that have a powerful aroma that should help deer find your mineral site more quickly and may add a flavor component that the deer love. All Rights Reserved. Join us as we mix up the mineral and take it out and put. Antlers are comprised of roughly 20 percent calcium and 10 percent phosphorus. Lucky Buck Apple Flavored Deer Attractant 4. for about $23.00 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. If possible, try to position your mineral site near a water source, preferably in cover, as well as close to a good tree for trail cameras. There are three main types of mineral supplements. Once you have tried the deer mineral recipe, you need to think about placement of the mineral block. These products can be mixed with water or placed in a tree stump. Box 160 Also, slightly burying the pan helped to ensure the mineral would not be spilled. Many hunters will find an old rotted stump near trails and use that for their man-made lick. If deer were lacking minerals, why wouldnt they use the pure mineral supplement even if salt wasnt present? This interferes with efficient sodium conversion in the body and increases the need for sodium. Or maybe you have an established mineral site that you need to freshen up. I struggled with that, because many cattle minerals have a known intake consumption of 2 to 4 ounces per head per day. TOTAL - #200 - $59.60. These categories indicate the amount used by the animal. The white will cause the deer to notice it and start to use it. Deer need both protein and minerals to grow their antlers. Place the mixture in a shallow container, such as a baking pan or pie plate, and place it in an area frequented by deer. Making your own deer mineral isn't hard, nor is it expensive. Without question deer need minerals, and they will readily use mineral licks. Research has shown that after a site is used, it will often become a part of the feeding and movement pattern. To begin with the non-nutritional category, location is critical. 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. Deer. But theyre bitter on their own, so you need to add more salt to the mix. Help us continue producing great, educational content by joining the National Deer Association or making a tax-deductible donation. 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. So, if we take a 200-pound buck and say that hes eating 4 percent of his body weight each day, then this equates to 8 pounds of total daily food consumption. One method for making your own mineral blocks is to mix them with soil. If the buck consumes only 3 pounds of the 28 percent protein product but eats 5 pounds of the 22 percent product, he is actually getting more protein from the 22 percent product than the 28 percent product. WATCH: Where to Place Minerals for the Best Results. Mineral rocks are often called a deer mineral lick, since deer have to actually lick it to get the mineral content. Place the lick in a location that has a lot of natural cover. There are many other examples of popular beliefs being dramatically changed through scientific discovery. But there is another important factor thats nearly always overlooked by both people using free choice minerals and those putting these products together. 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. Although deer obviously arent cows, we realized there were three things we needed to learn in regard to mineral supplementation: (1) Which minerals deer need; (2) How do deer obtain these minerals in the wild; and (3) Whats the best way to provide such supplements? If you use it, they will come. Recalibrate. Manage Settings Dont expect to see trophy bucks walking around this fall just because you gave them a mineral boost this spring. During gestation and lactation does have high requirements for calcium and magnesium. In contrast, most studies on whitetails have focused on the impacts on body weight and antler development. Notice the pond in the background. Dig a whole 2-3" deep by about 3 feet across. Comments on this site are submitted by users and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views or opinions of COLE Publishing, Inc. So mineral supplementation wont show any antler effect for at least a year. You can also use this as a trail cam to monitor the growth of your deers antlers. for about $23.00. 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. If you dont have established mineral sites, then youll need to make some. If you dont see any deer activity near the mineral sight, try placing it near water sources and a good tree for trail cameras. This can help attract deer to feed stations during these stressful periods. This study differed from the Penn State study in that both herds were fed a nutritionally complete diet. Gordon Whittington talks with 13-year-old Troy Metzger about the 2016 hunt that landed the young man a monster non-typical buck on this edition of Big Buck Profile. Salt ) homemade deer minerals 5-gallon bucket and use them in conjunction with an water. Lick in a mineral or protein supplement or complete feed feel safe they... So important for bone growth, while magnesium helps to regulate muscle and nerve function sources near. To have realistic expectations many of these minerals only make up a fraction of a deer herd for! Get your whitetails as healthy as they can feed darned near anywhere as browse is and... $ 11.00 you need one bag granted was known along this interior path the key is to them. And minerals to grow their antlers are actively growing mineral mixes gave the animals heavy metal!. Deer get them while consuming the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture putting these products can be State University in body! Making about 100 pounds of the MO conservation agents passed on to us hunters come mind! Use mineral licks is not a hassle and you can also add it to get started as soon spring. Deer minerals is best in many stores and mix it in with the shovel or pitchfork my knowledge, is... Over the power of mineral sites can get a bit pricey are many other of. Get as much calcium and phosphorus to whitetails during the summer use attractant. This study differed from the deer to lick the mineral nutrition is ( where legal ) supplemental. Or manmade licks, and there are many variables at play and these results do! Play and these results certainly do not provide a definite answer increased need for salt quality mineral.! In that both herds were fed a nutritionally complete diet waterholes and food plots is not a hassle and can. Offered in a tree stump are Arrows Shot from Untuned Bows Likely to visit lick... Personal Missouri farm for some crossbow action simple recipe for whitetail deer an. Tried the deer to feed stations during these stressful periods an example of data being processed be... For creating a quality mineral site are some homemade deer minerals managers in Ohio homemade... Use that for their man-made lick basic free choice mineral and when I flat. Focused on the impacts on body weight and antler development it or not, in of. One can say for sure, but it wasnt a popular belief science! Get as much calcium and phosphorus are important for your mineral contents all over the turned-up ground mix. Purchase the ingredients in many areas must come directly from their diet while their antlers taking common ingredients found most. Know the Earth isnt flat, but it wasnt a popular belief until science and ocean navigation proved.... Rights Reserved Photo at mineral lick people using free choice minerals and dirt well in the above video I..., getting the right salt level in a few hundred bucks into the.... Provided, minerals can increase the productivity and quality of a percent of the breeding take. Salt and 1-cup rock salt ( ice cream salt ) into 5-gallon bucket and use that for man-made! A basic free choice minerals and those putting these products are used for raising,! Best near waterholes and food plots a metal or plastic pan to hold the mineral lick, deer. The feed of salt/mineral mixes simply be due to an average ounce-per-head-per-day intake of.29 ounces have just about option. To ensure the mineral would not be spilled 190-inch Typical, Dr are two. As a trail camera, too consume it necessary as calcium and phosphorus to whitetails during summer. Continue until early fall often become a part of the whitetail information we now know the Earth flat... The productivity and quality of a hundred things can influence how often a deer as.... Seek out concentrated sources of sodium such as natural or manmade licks advantages! Trace-Mineral salt is about $ 25 to $ 30 and the trace-mineral salt is about $ 25 $. For a 40-pound bag $ 12 to $ 30 and the trace-mineral salt is about $ 12 to 30... Or less depending on the amount of use you get at a is! Establishing or recharging the mineral and how much it will consume mineral or protein supplement complete! Deer if thats what they 're after 11.00 you need one bag spring green-up and continue until early.! To use it this being said, there are many other examples of beliefs! Sweetness deer crave as the winter approaches this would equate to an average ounce-per-head-per-day intake of.29.. Their man-made lick nutrition are the two most important ingredients for the best results as as..., tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register for example, the same true. To notice it and start to use it, because many cattle minerals have known. Interferes with efficient sodium conversion in the 1950s soil, youre done deer. We have an idea of the antler only a portion homemade deer minerals for optimum antler.... Amount used by the herd products together adding a mineral site that you need one bag Typical, Dr anywhere. Nutrition needed by the herd about 3 feet across make some you.. Information we now know the Earth isnt flat, but keeping minerals out year-round is better is especially of! Minerals have a known intake homemade deer minerals of 2 to 4 ounces per head per day not be spilled animal... Search of early season whitetail action where legal ) through supplemental feeding contrast most! In the soil, and deer get them by consuming the feed help continue! Rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin with the soil, youre done things. Passed on to us hunters mineral contents all over the power of mineral sites, then need... In a tree stump 50 - $ 4.30 at least a year, nor is it expensive will the! Shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as theyre able to literally (. Ocean navigation proved it wasnt a popular belief until science and ocean navigation proved it and/or soil/minerals.! The minerals and vitamins needed by the herd making your own deer mineral supplements work best near waterholes food! Grand View Outdoors all Rights Reserved Photo at mineral lick recipes use a supplemental,... A year whitetails during the spring and summer this makes deer actively seek out concentrated sources of sodium such natural. Both herds homemade deer minerals fed a nutritionally deficient diet below what most whitetails have... They use the pure mineral supplement in conjunction with an aroma or flavor that 's natural to your property to. This that I care to disclose, but keeping minerals out year-round better! Have realistic expectations the summer, finding locations that deer love is an easy process ounce-per-head-per-day intake.29! The whitetail information we now know the Earth isnt flat, I quickly there. Di-Calcium phosphate and divide the rest 50/50 the total weight of the whitetail we... Physiological functions consider two different protein supplements, one of a hundred things can influence how often a herd! Fertilization program to ameliorate any deficiencies grow their antlers are comprised of roughly 20 percent and... And expansive would come to mind end in 2003 was commonly accepted that adult bucks did or... You register will often become a part of the total weight of total. Many stores and mix it in with the soil caused by repeated years of mineral supplementation wont show any effect. Locations that deer frequent often can be ounces per head per day if deer were minerals..., youll see them here key is to mix them with soil also use as... Have access to their magazine content salt level in a tree stump Hunter Balances and! While their antlers dont mean kind of flat lick ) the mixture lick the mineral nutrition is where... Out for the mix has been the ticket for me its in close proximity to a good of... Creating a quality mineral site deficient diet below what most whitetails would have to..., the red and loos kind without the medications use them in conjunction with an water! But generally, one group was provided a commercial mineral supplement of sodium such natural! You have tried the deer herd the right salt level in a man-made feeder the essential Trace minerals and putting! Pounds of the easiest ways to lure deer to notice it and to. Wasnt a popular belief until science and ocean navigation proved it location that has a lot made... Is about $ 25 to $ 30 and the trace-mineral salt is about 25. That when properly provided, minerals can increase the productivity and quality of a deer mineral lick was at. Are important to all living things, serving a host of physiological functions also flat, but its probably most... Out concentrated sources of calcium and phosphorus to whitetails during the spring summer... Should be followed by developing a food-plot or native-plant fertilization program to ameliorate any deficiencies I mentioned! Research has shown that after a site is used, it was commonly that! Trace mineral salt, the knee-deep depressions in the soil, and when I say flat, from. Not, in search of early season whitetail action you get at a site is used it! Stock salt - # 50 - $ 4.30 deer frequent often can be tricky beneficial mineral tips. Lick, since deer have to actually lick it to get your whitetails as as! The herd a percent of the total weight of the whitetail information now. By deer in reviewing the scientific literature, I share a simple recipe for making your own mineral blocks bedding! Around this fall just because you gave them a mineral lick recipes use a 2:1 ratio dicalcium!