I have an old site that gets sparse use because I have few deer. The site is somewhat of a puddle now after years of use... When I add mineral it is simply going into water.... is this a good or bad situation? Would I be better to: A. move this site to a new place? B. keep using this site? C. fill in the puddle with soil and keep using? I understand water near a mineral site is a good thing.. does this salty puddle satisfy both needs? Thanks, Tom
If water is standing in it I would move it a few feet and restart the mineral site. They can't really get to the minerals easily if its under water. In Virginia we have a lot of clay soil and it hold water. So we just move a little bit so they aren't snorkeling to get to it.
If you have clay fill it in with that. I use a stump with a bunch of 3/4" holes drilled in top, that works in sandy soil and the mineral site is portable.
Ive always tried to utilize rotten logs to put my mineral directly onto. Itll soak into the wood and keep it out of the puddle of mud that is bound to form below. This site is going on year 4: And here's a quick time lapse of me starting another lick that's also going on 4 years old:
I second the stump and logs. Have a couple stumps that I covered with a mineral two season ago and the deer still come and chew on them. Have never added more mineral to them.
I do stumps, but they disappear and become puddles too. I just move a few feet when I need to. Our product does like a little moisture though as it uses water and chemistry to get the added attractant into the air.
I have both stump and ground sites, but my stumps are the longest lasting, and most frequently visited without refreshes.
Just stocked up my minerals for this spring. Real thankful I have a few Archery Country's near me that carry Monster Raxx! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
A bit late this year... It feels great to get all of the sites up and running with cams set. Summer velvet is not far away!
I don't worry too much about standing water unless I think it's going to hold water all the time. The mineral will dissolve and leach into the soil. The deer will just eat the dirt to get to the mineral.
So, out of curiosity, how far from these sites are you guys placing stands come season? I am thinking of doing some mineral sites on some ground that I am on this year but don't wanna get myself in a bind for hunting over bait. Of course I won't put anything in there in the weeks leading up to or during the season. Just kinda new to the minerals game and looking for advice. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
Well I can not speak for the regulations in your state my state says "What is bait? Liquid scents (example: doe in heat), sprays, salt,and minerals are not bait if they do not contain liquid or solid foodproducts." So I can put mineral wherever I want you just have to make sure the mineral you use does not contain any food at all in my state. If your state counts minerals as baiting you couldn't put it anywhere on the property I dont know if any state counts minerals as baiting? What state are you hunting
zachd- I'm in Illinois. Unless I'm missing something in the regs we have to remove any "bait" at least 10 days before hunting a spot where it was placed. This is just new territory for me and I didn't know if I should put it out now and then come later this summer/early fall put a stand within range of where it was placed after it was gone.
Actually a couple years back they changed it in Illinois. You cannot use anything to feed wild game animals besides birds. No bait, supplemental feed, minerals, salt of any kind. https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/oi/documents/oct10deerbaits.pdf Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
I heard a rumor that they were trying to get mineral sights legalized again in Illinois, but nothing official. I hope that you know something I don't because as far as I know it is illegal in Illinois. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
