your kinda late. you should get the salt out in early spring. if you want to go cheap just get a bag of water treatment solar salt at walmart or home depot for 5$. ive never had to dig a hole. just clear out the ground a bit and if you can try to put it near water. no rules. i like to get the deer use to it and using it often before putting a trail camera on it. usually first week of august works for me and you get to see racks by then.