Now that spring is approaching when is the start date for your mineral sites? Also what is your favorite product and why? Sent from my XT1635-01 using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
Already did mine. Usualy use TSC brand trace minerals. Roughly $10 for a 50lb bag. Of course they were almost out when i was at the store so this year i changed it up and used Record Rack, Monster Raxx and some other trace cattle minerals for a couple of them. I have roughly 100 acres and 4 licks. I always add a 50lb trace mineral block as well. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
I tossed out a few tractor supply trace mineral blocks a few weeks ago. I might toss another block out mid/late summer if the lick is getting hit hard, but generally try to keep my distance in warm weather.
I've heard both do's and don'ts when it comes to mineral sites on old stumps or logs. I usually make my site on the ground and stick with it for a few years if the location is right. Does anyone have any input on pro's or con's to either? I'm going to fire mine back up in a few weeks.
That is a good question. I know there are products that say to apply directly to the ground and other products say to use a stump. Will have to look into if there is a better way or if simply preference or coming down to individual situations. Sent from my XT1635-01 using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
I have both (logs and dirt sets). I seem to have success with both methods to be honest. We just freshened all of the sites a few weeks ago (then proceeded to get 18"+ of snow. Just doing the homemade mix (Trace, DiCal, Stock Salt).
If you can legally place mineral my recommendation is to place mineral all year around. Obviously the amount of deer activity throughout the year will vary, but at many different points throughout the year a deer may need to consume mineral to achieve appropriate daily levels. I have found that March-August is the most crucial time to place mineral, but this varies from location to location based on plant species present, soil types, and land elevation/contour. Now in Wisconsin we can't legally put out any mineral until deer season which is a gripe of mine left for a later rant lol, but some properties I manage properties in Missouri and Kansas mineral is a crucial part of our deer herd management programs. As for selection of mineral, my biggest word of advice is READ THE LABEL! Too many mineral products on the market contain an obscene amount of salt in their product. All this does is allow for a larger amount of product to be made for a cheaper initial cost. Event though salt is essential for the salt/potassium exchange in the blood stream, it is not needed in the high levels many of these products have in them. The main items I look for in my mineral products are Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium, Copper, Magnesium, and many, many more but those are the main ones I look at percentages on. The best two products I have found being sold on the market are Grandpa Ray Outdoors and Lucky Buck. Monster Raxx was also a very good one, but currently unavailable for retail purchase. I have attached the Lucky Buck diagram as well to better understand when and why to put out mineral. .
Agreed. I bought some a couple years ago with great results. Now I can't find them anywhere near me in WI. Even messaged their Facebook page etc. No luck. I am trying to make my own from a feed supply store now. We'll see how it goes. I used the following DiCal (1 part) Trace Minerals (1 part) Farm/ Cattle Salt (2 parts ish,,,) Dried Molasses (1 part) Molasses is strictly for an attraction. I might stop using as soon as the deer find it to limit the amount of potential bear activity.
Put two bags of trophy rock on a stump last September, nothing touched it. Did some work yesterday and checked the stump, it is destroyed, so now is a good time. Put a camera on it and will be dropping more soon.
September would be a tad too late in most areas. We did the same this spring, a lick we setup in August last year had no action but was hoppin' already this year.
Im on the second batch of minerals this year. One in late april early may, (cant remember exactly) and this batch. I run 5 sites and mix 200# per batch. 5 5 gallon buckets are almost perfect. For each 200# batch i use 1 bag dical, 1 bag stock salt. 2 bags trace. They have dug 1 foot deep holes 3 feet around at the new sites to get to it.. Sent from my SM-N920P using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
