I will be starting a mineral site this weekend an checking a camera at the same time at a new hunting spot for this fall. The camera I have now is right in front of a scrape line but more pointed towards a row of oaks. Im probably gonna put the minerals site somewhere in between the oaks. My Question is do you ever hunt over mineral sites? Is it just a dietary supplement for the deer? Is it legal in your state to hunt over mineral or bait. Do you see larger deer numbers after creating a mineral site? I've used some different minerals in the past to attract deer an I've had some success doing so. Im just trying to see what some of the different opinions are on creating a mineral site.
In my personal experience, I have killed deer over mineral sites that had a lot of salt. The salt keeps them coming back for a couple months. I would pick a good balanced mineral that will aid the overall health of the deer and add something in with a lot of salt (Big 6 Mineral Salt). This will make sure they are getting the right nutrition as well as keep them coming back digging in the dirt all year. Its not something that will have the deer floking to it but they will check it on a regular basis. I'm also interested to hear what other people have good experience with. Good thread!
Oh yeah!!! Thanks for your input Daryl Bell I will be lookin into big 6 salt an a few others everybody talks good about monster raxx as a good supplement too so i may try it as well .
I'm not as familiar with monster raxx. I personally use lucky buck, which does have quite a bit of salt. Big 6 is cheap, like $6 for 50pds and it does have some minerals in it as well. Some people also mix stock salt in with a good mineral as well.
I run mineral sites for my cameras but it is not legal to hunt over them where I live. Blessings.........Pastorjim
So you use mineral sites to keep up with deer see whats in the woods etc. Imo the baiting rule is a pretty stiff law with its reasons for the states that implement that law. So how do you work around it if you cant actually hunt over your site.
I do not hunt over the actual site. I spoke to the CO and they say the law does not specify how far you must be from a bait site. They said if you could shoot to where the animal is on a site, then it's a violation. To me it's a stupid law because if I wanted to plant a foodplot and hunt directly over it that would be ok. I just don't see the difference in doing that or sitting on the edge of an agricultural field. But what are you gonna do?!? Blessings...........Pastorjim
Well since I hunt primarily in OK our regulations dont say anything about baiting or not baiting here's a look at the regulations for my state.
Mineral sights have many different uses for every different hunter I personally think that deer rely more on natural food resources and the minerals are just and added bonus if the farmer wants to keep them on a property attract them etc when it comes to using it.
I can put minerals out in Indiana but cant hunt over them. If I were needing a stand where it was they have to be removed!
I have mineral sites on all of my best stands right now; not necessarily to hunt, but to get the deer comfortable with the area and with my scent checking it once every few weeks - like I will be hunting them. I have used Monster Raxx before, a lot actually and had pretty good results in terms of deer hitting it often. However, since I used it for such a short period of time, <3 years, I cannot attest to whether or not it is beneficial for the deer - simply because I have not used it long enough to present an honest hypothesis with pictures and numbers to prove. To answer your next question, I wouldn't say that I necessarily see more deer, but I see different deer coming in to check it out. Even raking back the leaves and turning up new dirt will draw the interest of many animals. Finally, and this is just me, I like to put my mineral sites in easy to access locations, between bedding and food, a few feet off the trail, usually in a low lying area where water collects to help refresh it. Give it a shot, you can usually get a decent supplement for under $20 that will last you a few weeks (depending on your soil).. tell me how you can have more fun on that budget stretched over a few weeks good luck
You hit the nail on the head BigPhil I look at this new location like more of a travel spot more than anything I could plant there but with this being my first time hunting it I wud think introducing the deer to something different would spark interest an slow them down next time they use it. What's also great is the scrape line thats near. When im out next time ill take some pics of the rub line I was also told there was a licking branch by that rub too. Im really wanting to get some of these deer in that part of the woods to use this spot. An when fall comes hope they hit that area at the right time an hold in there long enough for a gud shot. The Nice Lady who lives near this patch a woods says the deer eat her flowers. So obviously they get nutrition from that when needed. I just hope the right mix will do the trick.
Well, because there's a rub line, doesn't necessarily mean that they use that area year-round. Depending on the weather (or seasons), deer (as well as other wildlife) will use their environment to dictate their actions and habits; food, bedding, predation, etc...put out some minerals and a camera. It won't hurt
Will do thanks for your input I just hope there is some good activity at this spot. I hoping this first card pull shows me some good sign without the minerals my camera has been there now for two an a half weeks thid weekend will make three weeks
Ive been using Pops Loose Moose for two years now and I can notice mass increase in some of the regular bucks. I like Pops because there is a lot more than just salt in it, if any salt at all. They concentrate on all the other minerals deer look for. These sites will be visited by mature deer all times of the year.
I have found that putting out Lucky Buck close to water has done the best for me. bucks will hit it twice as much when water is close. I put it out in May, refresh in July and hunt it in October. the deer don't seem to want it as much in the fall.
