to put minerals out to give bucks that head start for antler growth. Im going to check my trail cam later and was wondering if I should some minerals down to help them along?
There is no "bad" time. I keep mine replenished 12mos/yr. The does also use minerals a lot to promote lactating. NOW is a great time. Great reminder, actually. I need to do this.
In my areas, I have the best results (for attractant purposes) from simple mineral blocks used by the cattle ranchers.. Trace Mineral and or rock salt poured into the ground. I have found that the deer in my areas like the dirt with salt/minerals in it over the blocks themselves.. I have a couple mineral licks right now that are over almost 2 feet deep from the elk/deer eating the dirt.. To add to the nutrition I add in the deer cocain Black Magic to the salt.
I take it you go to your local "elevator" or farm supply and get a mineral lick? Or what excatly do you ask for? Do you need to dig them into the ground? What should the average cost be and how long do they last typically.
I like to start a site with rock salt .....dig up the dirt, pour the rock salt in it, then add about 5 gallons of water.. then place a trace mineral block on top of the surface there.. Here, within about 2 years the trace mineral will dissolve over time into the soil.. during those first couple years I will add a bag of Black Magic, one per season... to the surrounding soil around that trace mineral block.. So I have rock salt in the dirt, mineral block dissolving over a couple years and finally the Magic adding more nutrients than just salt.. Once that mineral block is dissolved, I simply refresh the site with the black magic.... We have a lot of elk here so they get hammered pretty hard, that and I get a ton of rain ..so the sites get a lot of mineral deposited in the dirt at a fairly fast rate.. The rock salt and trace mineral blocks, you can buy at any feed/farm and supply store.
I just buy trace mineral that can be bought at any feed store. 50 pound bag poured on the ground will soon become a lick that will be used for years. You may want to dig it up a little just to get it started. I add to it every year or so. We cant hunt over bait or mineral so mine is right next to a machine shed/cabin where I can watch it. Great place to get buck pictures in the summer!
Wow just checked my local elevator's website and they have all kinds of choices. Any suggestions anyone? http://www.wbelevator.com/food_plot.htm
I dont have any pix of the lick in the field other than night time visits by a certain buck that I cant seem to KILL! LOL Its illegal to hunt over minerals here in Idaho.. But it wouldnt matter.. I have yet to see an big bucks in my area hit them other than late at night.. But its great for inventory and giving them some added nutrients.
Troy.............. how much rock salt to start with? This is something I must do. I never did it before because it wasn't legal where I lived or hunted. Now it is on the land I bought. Been extremely busy lately getting ready for a trailer we bought to be brought out to the land. Thanks.
This is actually a Great time to get a mineral lick started, both Bucks and Does will hit it hard right now and for the next few months. Later on use will taper but it will get hit at anytime during the year. Here is a recipe that works well. http://www.mosportsmen.com/land/deermineral.htm Dan
25-50 pounds depending on how much you want to buy. This is a good initial attractor. here is a pix of the buck most of you guy know I have been after the past two years.. this is him last aug standing in lick.. this lick is about 2 feet wide and over a foot deep ... Its illegal to hunt over them here but putting them out for the animals isnt.. and I dont know how they would ever regulate it if they tried ban minerals...because this one happens to be on public lands with open range cattle, there are cattle minerals scattered all over... The only down side to this lick is when the cattle show up I get a couple thousand pix of cattle! it suckS! LOL
