Bulltalk,We are allowed to put out salt and minerals as long as No grain is added for baiting the Deer.We are also allowed to plant food plots thru out the year and You can put out corn and other grains for trail camera pictures etc but it has to be removed 10 days prior to any Hunting.Kinda silly but that's the Laws here in Missouri?

Do we really need to put out salt and minerals to get a Deer...not really but it holds the Deer on your property and the minerals do help in Antler growth and for the Does raising Fawns (milk production)!

We usually hunt in the thick woods if we want to get a nice Buck,if we're looking to fill our freezers with Venison then we hunt by the food plots or trails leading to the food plots for the Does.During the Rut where there are Doe's the Bucks will follow.

As You stated good Scouting and knowing Your Hunting area and patterning Deer will give You the chance at a good Buck...and letting the smaller young Bucks walk will improve the quality of Bucks over time.

Eventually if CWD is detected more here in Missouri the Salt and Minerals won't be allowed any more either....as I type I heard they have banned the salt/minerals in some Counties in Northern Missouri!