Mineral lick locations??????(updated now with pic)

Got questions,need answers :d I have only in the past put out salt blocks, Deer cocain or some concoction you pour on stumps :d The only thing that worked was the cain. They left exposed roots sticking out of the ground from rooting under them. I have been wanting to put out real mineral licks for the summer months when they hit it need it the most. Somewhere i have mixing recipees i copied from the net so thats not a problem. My question is where is the best places to locate them and not put me in jeapordy or be accused of hunting over them when the season rolls around. Do you guys just find heavy trails and locate them just off these?? Or do you like to keep them fairly close to food sources like crops fields. Im going to need to locate with easy access in mind, deep woods are out of the question here because of the overpopulation of seed ticks in the summer months. As i typed this something just hit me and brings up another question :d I do know where a natural mineral lick is in the area, it is almost always wet from a natural spring that feeds it. The deer have it wollered out to about 8" deep and its aprox 6'x 8' in diameter. question is since its a natural one is it legal to hunt over??? just ramblin
I was shed hunting today 2/25/09 near the natural mineral lick i mentioned before so i took a pic. I found a shed within 50 yards of it :d

 

I don't think it matters where you start one....they will find it. I used to have great luck with Trace Mineral. Try a feed store for that. It's been my experience that most deer don't hit the mineral in early Fall when bow season starts. I've watched them walk past the spot and not even stop.

I would start a site where two or more trails intersect and hang a stand down one of the trails that they probably would travel with or without the mineral even being there. Don't forget to put a camera at the site and be ready for alot of pics.

 

I've never given a ton of thought as to where I put them. As Janesburg said, they will find it. Really, most of mine are on inside corners of fields come to think of it, and in spots were we can create a natural trough for the mineral. We have two stumps that have notched "V's" in the top to place the mineral, the other locations, we have homemade troughs.

 

The best location to place a lick is just off of security cover within 50-100 yards of a constant water source. The salt will cause thrist. Give them those three things and your lick will get hammered.

 

Yeah, not a lot of experience here, but I've heard the need for a nearby water water source. It is mostly salt you know.

 

Good point about the water. Never thought about that. We only have one small seasonal water source on our property, but none of our licks are near it.

 

I always threaten to mix up a batch and place it, but thus far I have been all talk in the mineral lick department. Maybe this year will be the year, LOL...

Good tip on the water, never would have thought of that one.

 

Great answer. Also, think about how much total land you have. You want to average one per 40 to 50 acres. Now you have a good idea how many and where, the next question is what. I started out with Antler King's Hi Protein Big Block.


These run like 20 bucks a pop. The reason that I like them is for their protein content, up near 20 % which is great for antler growth/fawning. It's 3 times what most blocks/licks have in them. I have two to three parcels that I hunt with a total acre count near 319. So 8 blocks at a time or so for me. Running them from the end of the season, up till 30 days before Turkey, and then from after Turkey to 30 days before bow season, usually is two go rounds. (16 blocks @20 ea = 320 bucks) Not cheap, the best priced alternative to Antler King that I have found is located at Tractor Supply.


It's a smaller block, but its a better deal in my mind. Good luck buddy.

 

It seems as they have got it pretty much covered. The two mineral sites that I have set-up are both located within 70 yards of ponds. They are both off the edge of a trail that leads from a bedding area, past the pond and into the fields that the deer feed in. These seem like the only place that I can set-up a mineral station and actually have them get some serious use. I have tried setting them up in different sections of the woods and around field edges but they never got a consistant use, they would get hit for the first week or so and then die off.

 

Definitely agree 100% with the water comment. Just like a humans eating ice cream... the salt makes you thirsty.

 

I used Jeff's info he provided me with last year, with outstanding results. I cleared the ground of all vegetation and then took a weed-eater-tiller attachment to break the soil up really good and loose in about a 4ish' X 3ish' area, Located apx. 75 yards from our pond.

I mixed and poured the ingredients onto the ground. Then took the tiller and mixed it into the soil a little.

At 5:30 PM I set my trail camera and finished up, dripping with sweat, I think it was close to 80 degrees that day... and within 3 hours of finishing the site, I had deer in my mineral site.

 

Why would you mix it into the soil? I thought the point was for them to lick it??? Do they eat the dirt too??

 

Yes, they will eat the dirt, they will also eat stumps that you pour the mineral on, pretty much anything you the minerals are on/in they will hit.

 

Just a couple products I thought I'd share that are second to none when it comes to mineral feeding stations:
http://www.whitetailinstitute.com/products/3006/
http://www.whitetailinstitute.com/products/edge/

 

Your reasoning makes sense, but it's logic is flawed. If your mineral station and mixes primarily contain salt, then yes the salt will make the deer thirsty and they will seek water. However, this is extremely unhealthy for the herd as the increased thirst will cause the deer to water more and their stomachs will fill with water taking up room that should be used for digesting natural, nutrient rich forages in the spring and summer.

The Whitetail Institute makes great products, as wahoohunter provided, that provide excellent sources of vitamins and minerals yet are extremely low in salt.

 

Alot of guys put out salt licks as a treat to the deer in order to get them in front of a camera to inventory. I know, if I put one out, it will be for this reason. The deer don't need my help growing head gear around here, plenty of food, water, shelter, good soil, and minerals around for the taking. I will strictly use it to get them in front of a camera for scouting.

That said I would still use the mix that alot of these guys use over straight salt as it is undoubtedly better for them, at still a low cost. All this talk has me wanting to put out a salt lick now.

 

Trevor, i use mine for that purpose exactly. I love having my cams over mineral licks during the summer months to see what bucks are in the area and how their headgear is coming along.

 

Buckmaster, thats awesome that you had one come and start using it that quick Thanks guys for some awesome information.

 

What are your recipes for this? Just curious as to what you guys are using. Nutrition facts? I like to dable with things like this.

 

GMMAT (I think) posted his recipe last year.

My deer loved it!!

(edit: and there you have it:D)