This Is my 2nd year using Tom's Monster Raxx minerals. I've experimented with this stuff trying to figure out the best method on where/how to place on the ground. Last year It got hit good but I thought I could've done better. Last year I didn't use any of the attractant's that Tom sells. This year though I did. What a big difference that made. 2 weeks ago I thought I'd try another Idea. I dug holes 2.5 feet In diameter about 5 Inches down. I did this In hopes when It rained the flavor would stay and not wash away. It certainly didn't wash away when It rained. After digging these holes I added 2 bags to each site (I have 3 sites on 120 acres). 8 days later 2 of the 3 Monster Raxx sites have mold In them from an Inch of rain that we got. The mixture of all the mineral and the Inch of rain we got molded my stuff. Pissed I was at myself. It certainly wasn't Tom's fault as I was experimenting. I wouldn't recommend digging holes as deep as I did but I would still recommend digging some so the flavors stay there. Another thing I noticed too was that 2 different older bucks (one Is a 3.5 I think, the other Is 6.5 years old) came upon these deep holes and bolted out of there. Again, my fault and not Tom's. I'll be filling these holes In some. I could leave them as I'm sure these older bucks will get used to them eventually. Question for you Tom- I've read that you say to only put one site for every 40-50 acres and to use one 5 lb bag per area every 2 months or as needed. I just started adding 2 bags per site and I'm doing this every 3 weeks or so. Can a person use this stuff too much? Just curious as to why you said what you said above that I bolded out. I figured Instead of calling Tom and asking him this question I'd post It here In hopes others can learn a thing or 2 here.
I am not sure why you got any mold Steve I havent seen any of that before and havent heard from any one else that had that problem. There isnt any feed so I am a little puzzled there. The 1 per 40-50 acres is an average you could have more or less depending on what you are trying to accomplish. My lease is 1200 acres and I have 30 mineral sites. I do not have one on every 40 acres but it averages out that way. In one area I have 3 mineral sites in about 3 acres but there is a point and a steep hill and the deer come from different directions there. There are spots that I have where I also put 2 or 3 bags per spot and I am not worried that they will eat to much, they will only eat so much mineral and only eat it when their body needs it. That is one of the biggest problems with the products filled with salt, they say it is so they wont eat to much minerals but that is just not true salt is CHEAP and they are trying to put the least amount of cost in there bag so they can make more $ and lets face it deer will eat salt. I would like to eat hamburgers for every meal but you know it isnt good for you. That is where the trick lies you have to figure out away to get the deer to eat something that they need and is good for them, that is why I use low salt and build the attractant in, to almost try and fool them into thinking they are getting a treat. I put out a bag in January, 1 in March, then I put a bag each month from May through August when the bucks are growing antler and the does are lactating, I also put out a bag in October to make sure there is something in the mineral site until the begining of January. So it averages out to about 1 bag every 2 months. At mineral sites that get heavy traffic I will use 2 bags each time. I started using mineral year round a couple years ago. I used to only put it out in early spring and summer and the more research I did and testing and thinking about it I changed to year round use. I know some are thinking you are saying this to have more sales but that is not true. The reason I decided to do this is simple I want to make sure the deer have some witamins and minerals when they are going through the toughest part of the year during the winter where they can not find much to give there body what it needs. Obviouslly the spring and summer is the most important time because what is going on with antler development, does lactating and getting fawns off to the best start possible. I get almost as excited with all the fawn pics with there head burried in the Monster Raxx sites as I do the big buck pics. The bucks will usually stop hitting the mineral sites during October and wont hit them again until after the rut. The does and fawns however will continue to hit them year round. We have shot some of our biggest bucks the last few years by our mineral sites because the bucks know the does will be there and come in to scent check. During the winter if the deer needs anything to help it survive it will take it from its skeletal system. In the spring when most people put out mineral the first thing they will do is replace what they used up. I want the mineral they use in the spring to go directly to antler growth not replenishing what there body is missing. Steve I usually dont dig a hole but I understand your thought to do that with the dry spell we had this year. Minerals like food were funny this year. Some of my best mineral spots for years were not hit as hard as usual and I would check them when checking cameras. Usually the deer make there own hole and it is moist from the rain. This year they were all dried out and you could see where the deer were pawing at the dirt and could hardly scratch anything up. After it rains mu pictures really increase, the deer like to drink the water that is flavored by the mineral and the dirt is softer for them to dig up. I do know guys that do dig holes and have luck with that, I just dont because I carry every thing on my back to check cameras and freshen mineral sites. Big bucks are funny though and some times the slightest change can throw them off. Another thing that I know alot of guys do and I have started to do more is to pour a bag on a stump the pour a bottle of Whitetail Magnet or Apple Harvest over the stump also. the liquid seeps into the stump and the deer will really pound it. I know alot of guys like to use the attractant to give the spot a little extra especially new spots to help it take off. The good thing is it is highly concentrated and you do not have to use much. Steve I hope I answered all of your questions and didnt ramble on to much. If any one has any other questions please let me know I will do anything I can to help. You can post questions here or email me or send a private message to. Thanks Tom
I've been using minerals for 2 years now. This is my first year using Monster Raxx. The difference between feed mill mix and Monster Raxx is substancial. Usage still goes in cycles but the MR product gets used the most, by a lot. I have 1 mineral site and it is 20 something yards from my water hole. I raked out about a 4 foot diameter spot in the dirt and applied the MR. The deer did the digging. At the start of each year I add 2 bags of MR and about 1 per month after that. Sometimes during a heavy use month I use 2 bags. What I have noticed is that bucks and does alike start using the minerals right away. As time nears for the does to start dropping fawns, the does take over the site. The bucks will sneak in there once in a while but the does pretty much dominate the site. After the fawns are born and the does are keeping them hidden, the bucks start using the site more often. When the fawns start traveling more the bucks and does are using it about the same amount. This year I noticed a big increase of buck actitity starting the second week of July. The bucks are still hitting it hard now. Maybe to finish off their racks for fall. I am expecting this activity to taper off later in the season, especially during the rut. We will see.
Pretty much the reason why I dug a hole, to preserve the flavor In the dirt. I'm guessing Tom my holes were way too deep and were filled with a good 4 to 5 Inches of water. I've had bear baits do this before from liquids that we've used for attractants. It's not a knock on the product at all, just what happens when stuff gets VERY wet and doesn't drain. Like I said, my holes were to deep. Completely my fault. Thanks for posting Tom. You as well Greg.
Although I don't dig a hole where my mineral sites are, there ends up being a hole there. The deer have dug into the ground getting to the minerals that have soaked into the dirt. Now when it rains the hole tends to hold water for a day or two. I have had no problems what-so-ever with mold. It could be something as simple as the ground you're having trouble with has an abundance of organic matter in it. Not sure exactly what the problem is caused from, but I hope you can get things lined out. Just thought I'd chime in and let you know my experiences, too
If that's true, you would love the pics on the card I pulled from a cam last weekend. I did something similar...I set up a new mineral site on the ground next to an old stump and poured the Apple Harvest on the stump. It must have worked because I had more pics in one week than I had all of last fall and early winter.
I also had mold i added it to a stump not sure if it was hit batt died in my camera but had some bear sign but i was shocked to see it molded up i scooped most of the moldy stuff out will see this weekend how it was hit
The sites at the cabin all have holes, never have I seen mold. They fill up with a lot of water after a good rain too.
No mold here either EVER with about 20 sites going now. This is strange. I swear I could dump it in the road and the deer would find it :D
I had it on a old stump and all the stuff that was on the ground had mold on it im putting another bag out this weekend and will check my cam if the deer dont care about mold neither do i.on another note there was beer s%&# all over ive never seen beer sign back there untill i put out your products not a bad thing at all seeing how i have a bear permit but i think they like that apple scent stuff we will see but if they do im gonna buy a ton of the apple scent
Here is what I do. Make a 4foot circle. Completely remove the grass/leaves or whatever you have around your site until it is complete dirt. Rake it up a bit and then add half the bag of MR. Rake it back up and then add the rest of the MR. I add about a half a cup of MR Attractant to each site and it goes from there. And trust me it works. Ask Mr. Lester himself!
