The mineral mix mentioned by CarolionaDeerHunter provides minerals that the deer need. The NaCl (plain salt) is not much as far as nutrition, but attracts the deer to the artificial lick. The DiCal provides much needed minerals, especially for lactating does. You can also add a high calcium "dairy" mineral to the mix. The guys I hunt with try to keep the licks we have set up with no more than 25% NaCl. Another way to set up a lick is to pour the mix over a stump. We put out about 2000#/year of such a mix. Over the years, one of the lick areas has been dug out 8'' or so in diameter and 3' - 4' deep. Frankly, I have seen deer using only one of the 12 or so licks we have made and only one time, but all have b een used heavily. Lots of trail cameral photos .... almost all nocturnal.
My cousin tried the peanut butter jar trick. Unknowingly, I just happened to be sitting near where he had set one. About dark I heard a bunch of commotion of to my left. It was a a raccoon working on getting that jar off the tree. It did and off into the woods it ran, carrying the peanut butter jar with him. He told me that everyone he had set out was gone. I figure word must have gotten out in the raccoon community ---- free Skippy for the taking !
The group I hunt with does not put out loose feed .... such as deer pellets or shell corn. Instead we plant about 35 acres of food plots, year round.