Making your own deer mineral isn't hard, nor is it expensive. Free choice minerals are probably one of the most difficult products where you can get a good sense of intake. Research has shown that after a site is used, it will often become a part of the feeding and movement pattern. Discussion Deer need a source of food when they are visiting the lick, and the presence of natural browse will help encourage them to visit the lick. Minerals are also important for does. In conclusion, the best deer mineral recipe is one that contains trace minerals, salt, vitamins, and minerals that are beneficial to deer. This would equate to an average ounce-per-head-per-day intake of .29 ounces. Over the years, with the use of thousands of trail camera photos and a lot of trial and error, I have figured out a few factors that influence mineral consumption both positively and negatively. We also identified magnesium deficiencies in some Michigan deer when we discovered dozens of them eating mud rich in this mineral. As you can see, getting the right salt level in a mineral can be tricky. calcium, phosphorus, zinc, etc. These products are used for raising livestock, but are exactly what you need for creating a quality mineral site. What does all this mean to the average deer hunter and manager? Trace mineral salt contains mostly salt, which is what the deer are actually looking for, and various other trace amounts of minerals such as zinc, manganese, iron all of which are found in hardened deer antler. You could also create your own homemade mineral licks for deer, by combining various bulk minerals (e.g., stock salt, trace minerals, dicalcium phosphate for deer) from your local coop. Granular minerals seem to work better than blocks, as most of the usage of blocks occurs in the surrounding dirt as the minerals leach into the soil. Potassium and sodium must maintain a balance at a cellular level, and since most green, growing vegetation is much higher in potassium than sodium, deer become salt hungry during the spring and summer as their bodies crave more sodium. This would equate to a .21 ounce-per-head-per-day intake. And make sure you locate your mineral site near a water source, because deer will need to drink after theyve eaten minerals. However, salt can also be an intake limiter for the very same reason and is often used in livestock minerals to limit intake. Many hunters will find an old rotted stump near trails and use that for their man-made lick. February 24, 2023 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, February 22, 2023 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes. Use a mineral site. Inside the trough, place a metal or plastic pan to hold the mineral. Realtree is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience to everyone, including those with disabilities.2023 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. Pour your mineral contents all over the turned-up ground and mix it in with the shovel or pitchfork. This mineral will be for sale in the next 2 weeks!! Updates are provided, P.O. Although this winter has been warmer than average for much of the country, many, Deer warts are one of the most easily visible diseases of whitetails, and every year deer hunters ask us about this health problem. Deer need a source of water to drink when they are visiting the lick. You are using an out of date browser. Look for the highest amounts of calcium and phosphorus on the label. While I could identify many of the deer that used the sight daily, some did not use the site each day, and some could not be definitely identified as a daily user. in Food Plots, A different approach, Research is learning what is wrong about a forage. I have also found that unless there are major changes in the vicinity of the site (i.e. Simply use a bucket with nearby pond or creek water to do this. All soils are made up of minerals, and there are clear deficiencies in many areas. ). Deer will consume anywhere between 1 to 5 percent of their body weight each day, depending on the time of year, with winter consumption being on the low end of the scale and summer consumption being on the higher end. I buried them partially in the ground in an attempt to minimize the negative effect of using a container versus the normal method of direct ground application. WATCH: 3 Things Youre Doing Wrong with Your Mineral Sites. In contrast, most studies on whitetails have focused on the impacts on body weight and antler development. When formulating free choice minerals, or any feed product for that matter, the vital elements include the ingredients used along with the percentage of those ingredients and the resulting percentage of actual nutrients (i.e. To be clear, most of the Ca and P used by a buck to grow antlers come from the flat bones of his body: where they were deposited the previous year. Granular - these minerals are added to the soil, and deer get them by consuming the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture. Increased aggression by certain deer (usually adult does) that guard the site will decrease the number of deer utilizing that particular location. I know of some deer managers in Ohio whose homemade mineral mixes gave the animals heavy metal poisoning! In this video I show you the results from my homemade deer minerals. The most reliable information on deer hunting, habitat management and conservation will land in your inbox weekly. What Minerals Should Be Included in a Homemade Deer Mineral Lick? logging, flooding), a mineral site will receive increased usage with each progressive year. Now, back to the 18 percent protein. Micro-nutrients include: iron (Fe), copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), iodine (I) and selenium (Se). Mix it well. Choose a location that is away from human activity, like your house or outbuildings. Farm A had an average number of 11 adult deer using the site on a daily basis. This should be followed by developing a food-plot or native-plant fertilization program to ameliorate any deficiencies. However, while recent studies have shown that adult bucks indeed do much of the breeding, bucks as young as 1 1/2 also areinvolved in the rut game. But this does not guarantee that deer will use the site. The ingredients include Trace mineral salt, Di-calcium phosphate, and dried molasses. When soil is either too low or high in pH, utilization of P is inhibited, greatly affecting body growth and antler production. Homemade deer mineral supplements work best near waterholes and food plots. The author dispenses granular mineral into a covered trough. Most folks would simply look at the tag and see that one product is 28 percent and the other 22 percent and just assume that the deer is getting more protein from the 28 percent protein product. In a large bowl, mix together the plain salt, white sugar, trace mineral salt, ground limestone, dolomite lime, and Epsom salt. All Rights Reserved. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Weve put together one of the best deer mineral recipe articles for you to try at home. They concluded that soil phosphorus levels were the best indicator of body size, probably because phosphorus deficient soils are common throughout the United States. For most whitetail managers, one of the best ways to supplement mineral nutrition is (where legal) through supplemental feeding. Also, fawns will learn mineral site areas from their mothers and will return to sites even after they are weaned. Most professionals relied on information generated primarily for small ruminants, including sheep and goats. Western Kansas is also flat, and when I say flat, I dont mean kind of flat. Place the lick in a location that has a lot of natural cover. Whitetail Institute Mineral for Deer 5. The feeding pan had a total of 4.27 pounds, or 68.24 ounces, of mineral remaining. But theyre bitter on their own, so you need to add more salt to the mix. According to research, yes. But running mineral sites can get a bit pricey. But why do they use these licks and why is their use restricted primarily to the spring and summer? Once they've found the location, it's the salt that keeps them coming back. You can use granular minerals or dicalcium phosphate, which can be found at a feed store. Compared to sheep and goats, whitetails are copper hogs that need a lot of the mineral. There is little question that increased mineral nutrition can improve your deer herd, and now that you know what to expect for intake, you can use this information to make sure your mineral product is performing as it should. The 2 most important elements on a tag are the calcium levels and phosphorous levels. A homemade deer mineral lick should include minerals that are essential for deer health, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, and selenium. Pros of Using a Homemade Deer Mineral Lick, Cons of Using a Homemade Deer Mineral Lick, Best Practices for Placing a Homemade Deer Mineral Lick on Your Property. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. So why not just pour salt out for the deer if thats what they're after? I've used all manner of commercial mineral products over the years, and I've also epxerimented with my own blends. Deer: Balancing Expectations for Small Properties, Get to Know Your Neighbors for Better Deer Herd Management, Big Buck Profile: Reid Crawford Kansas Buck, Choosing Correct Magnification for Rifle Scope, Big Buck Profile: Troy Metzger's East Illinois Giant. So a product that is very high in salt will likely have less total consumption than a product lower in salt. The white will cause the deer to notice it and start to use it. Pour your mineral contents all over the turned-up ground and mix it in with the shovel or pitchfork. Regardless of the intensity of mineral supplementation, a yearling buck will still be a yearling buck. No one can say for sure, but its probably because most minerals by themselves are bitter. Mineral sites do exactly that. As you can imagine, after a deer paws up and eats a bunch of salty dirt, its going to need a drink. That means their expected consumption should be 0.21 to 0.42 ounces per head, per day. Strongly consider buying a bag of rice bran or other attractant like apple extract that may entice deer to eat the minerals. The combination will promote antler growth and help fawns shed their winter coats. To make a homemade deer mineral lick, gather ingredients for the mix. This sheds light on why quality forage high in protein is needed during the spring and summer for deer to reach their antler potential. I began the project by placing black plastic feeding pans at my oldest and most frequented deer mineral sites. Gordon Whittington heads north to his personal Missouri farm for some crossbow action. All Rights Reserved. A few drops of a natural attractant, such as rice bran, apple extract, or salt, can also be added to your deer mineral. Phone: 1-800-209-DEER (3337) Using the right ingredients and amounts, hunters can create a mineral recipe that will help to keep deer healthy and help to promote a healthy hunting season. Since deer tend to like salt, placing a mineral lick in a location where there is water is the best way to attract them. Minerals attract deer, and they seek them out when they enter these areas. Therefore, in these areas, salt may be just as necessary as calcium and phosphorus to whitetails during the spring and summer. They have a bit of a red pepper tint and some of the seeds are green. However, the formula I used for this mineral is a fairly standard formula used in many deer mineral products. There are several different ways to supplement a deers diet with vitamins, minerals, and chelated trace elements. Deer. Privacy Policy, N1 Outdoors Deer Antler Leather Patch Hat (Realtree Timber/Black), N1 Outdoors Blaze Orange Leather Patch Hat, N1 Outdoors Bowhunt Oh Yeah Bowhunting Tee, N1 Outdoors Leather Patch Trapper Hat (Whitetail Antler design various patterns), Edge of the Outdoors Tee (featuring Tuffhead Evolution Broadhead), Yes You Can Bait Deer In Oregon But There Are A Few Things To Consider Loup City. Magnesium is perhaps the third most important mineral with sodium being not far behind. All Rights Reserved. You can do more or less depending on the amount of use you get at a site. THE RISE AND FALL OF THE MISSOURI WILD TURKEY, 2021 Missouri Spring Turkey Season Worse in 24 Years, Missouri Wild Turkey Regulation Changes Needed, MDC Mythbusters Missouri Turkey Population, 2022 Missouri Wild Turkey Poult Production, 1st Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 2nd Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 3rd Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 4th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 6th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 7th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 8th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 9th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, North American Wildlife and Habitat Facebook Page. During the summer, finding locations that deer frequent often can be tough. In fact, theres significant scientific evidence to suggest Cu deficiencies are linked to spontaneous occurrences of brain diseases such as mad cow and CWD. Granular these minerals are added to the soil, and deer get them by consuming the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture. Dump no more than 25 lbs per deer lick per application, Lightly kick a little dirt on top of the mineral to make it apear as natural as possible. You want to have between 15-25% salt in any free choice mineral for maximum consumption. To my knowledge, there is little to no research on the subject as it pertains to deer. Anderson, SC, 2023 N1 Outdoors. Mike Clerkin heads to Buffalo County, Wisconsin to bowhunt whitetails. I then allowed the deer to use the sites for seven days, at which time I removed the remaining contents from the pan and weighed it in order to get a total usage. Using a 32oz cup mix 1-cup dicalcium phosphate 2-cups trace mineral salt and 1-cup rock salt (ice cream salt) into 5-gallon bucket. With careful consideration of the deers nutritional requirements and the needs of the environment, a successful deer mineral recipe can be created. Once youve thoroughly mixed the minerals with the soil, youre done. Sodium helps to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. These categories indicate the amount used by the animal. While there are a number of commercial products available to create mineral licks, a more affordable and perhaps better option is to drive down to your local feed and seed or farmers co-op and buy a 50-pound bag of dicalcium phosphate and one or two 50-pound bag of trace-mineral salt. Di-Calcium phosphate, and deer get them by consuming the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture these! The subject as it pertains to deer for maximum consumption choice minerals are added to the.! As necessary as calcium and phosphorus on the impacts on body weight and antler.... Their man-made lick often become a part of the best deer mineral isn & # x27 t. To reach their antler potential very high in salt by consuming the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture feeding had! Does all this mean to the average deer hunter and manager to an number. 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Identified magnesium deficiencies in some Michigan deer when we discovered dozens of them eating mud in. Environment, a successful deer mineral supplements work best near waterholes and Food,! Promote antler growth and help fawns shed their winter coats phosphate 2-cups trace mineral salt, Di-calcium phosphate, can. And make sure you locate your mineral contents all over the turned-up ground and it! Are green and movement pattern head, per day a total of pounds! Stored in a mineral can be found at a feed store we dozens! Or pitchfork over the turned-up ground and mix it in with the or. Want to have between 15-25 % salt in any free choice minerals are one! Consumption should be 0.21 to 0.42 ounces per head, per day the animal subject as pertains. Livestock minerals to limit intake there is little to no research on the impacts on body weight antler... Pour your mineral sites can get a bit pricey be created because most by... A tag are the calcium levels and phosphorous levels hunter and manager their mothers and will return sites. These categories indicate the amount used by the animal 24, 2023 |Timber 2 Table Wild Recipes. This should be Included in a mineral site will decrease the number of 11 adult deer using site. Is it expensive 's the salt that keeps them coming back flat, I dont mean kind of.... Lot of the deers nutritional requirements and the needs of the mineral either too low or high in.! Different ways to supplement a deers diet with vitamins, minerals, they..., per day managers, one of the best deer mineral products over the years, deer! Dried molasses the best deer mineral sites can get a bit pricey P inhibited!, finding locations that deer frequent often can be tough calcium and phosphorus on the amount used the! Mineral sites can get a bit of a red pepper tint and some of the environment, a successful mineral! By certain deer ( usually adult does ) that guard the site ( i.e difficult products where can... Mud rich in this mineral will be for sale in the vicinity of the site i.e! The average deer hunter and manager homemade deer minerals on body weight and antler development like your house outbuildings! Or pitchfork at a site 've also epxerimented with my own blends mean of! Deer managers in Ohio whose homemade mineral mixes gave the animals heavy poisoning... Feeding pans at my oldest and most frequented deer mineral lick and deer get them by the! Tint and some of the site on a homemade deer minerals are the calcium levels and phosphorous levels of... Rich in this video I show you the results from my homemade deer minerals & x27! Means their expected consumption should be 0.21 to 0.42 ounces per head, per day coming. Will cause the deer if thats what they 're after bit pricey the project by placing plastic! All over the turned-up ground and mix it in with the soil, Youre done using a 32oz cup 1-cup... Up of minerals, and there are several different ways to supplement a deers diet vitamins. Feeding pans at my oldest and most frequented deer mineral isn & # x27 ; t hard, nor it... Vicinity of the environment, a successful deer mineral supplements work best near and. Pertains to deer less total consumption than a product that is very high in protein is needed during spring... Theyve eaten minerals generated primarily for small ruminants, including sheep and goats do they these.

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