I have to agree that it does not hep with patterns come fall. I thought the same thing you did, and kept careful track with my Cuddeback - and I cannot say that the deer that frequented the lick the most in the summer - were around any more or less than other deer come fall.

I do think that there might be some benefit of a Lickfor does establishing a "home range" - but I've not proved it to myself yet.

FH