Just curious how often everyone here freshens up their minerals and checks cameras? Take in mind the areas I'm talking about are new sites.
Every 2-3 weeks on cams. Many people like to let cams sit for a month or more at a time. Minerals as needed, in early spring they get hit hard so every 2 weeks later in the year maybe once a month or two.
Minerals I like to do monthly from March-Sept, bi monthly after that. Cameras 2-4 weeks, depends on location, weather, and work schedule.
Every two to three weeks is a fair amount of time. Basically, you want it to be there when the deer come to get it. Year round is encouraged if the state regs allow it.
I drilled out a chunk of white oak with 7/8" holes about 2-1/2" deep, I don't lose mineral to the ground and I can see when I need to add more. I add as needed usually every 3-4 weeks.
I'll check on them once a month. I planted a small food plot of red clover and it's doing well. I can't get tractor equipment or a till down where I hunt. Luckily the soil is fertile and it's grown quite nicely. I'll put corn out to keep deer coming in. Ten days before season starts I am legally obligated to not put corn out. But I do have my red clover and I'm thinking of planting Winter Rye in December or January.
Stumps are a good way to go. I visited my BIL awhile back where i used to hunt 3 years ago. Deer are still hitting the site. stump is almost level to the ground and tracks all around it. Crazy.
I do it slightly different I have cameras that send pictures right to my phone so in may I put in 350lbs of mineral at 3 separate sights and haven't been back since cameras still have battery life with the aux solar panels and the minerals are hit daily this is the first year I'm trying this so I'll have to see how this works out Dan
The stump is actually a block of white oak cut off near the base, 24-30 inches tall just set by the feeder. Best part is it is a portable mineral site just load the stump up and move it. Would work great in areas that do not allow for trace minerals left in the ground.