RE: ??? about deer / mineral licks...
I just started using the "homemade" mineral mixes this winter/spring. I use 2 parts Di-Cal, 2 parts Trace Mineral Salt & 1 part Vitamin A-B-D. In MN I usually buy at Fleet Farm. 125 lbs for about $30. The one thing I tried that seemed to really work well was to buy 1 bag of "name brand" mix and put some on top of my "home-brew". The "name brands" use an attractant and the deer seem to find it faster. Once they find it the first time, they seem to keep coming back. Also, it has been working better on stumps as compared to just mixing it with the soil.