I put out (5) areas of mineral licks on Wednesday evening. We had a HECKUVA storm, last night.....so they got plenty of rain. I put three in hollowed out logs (some with easy access to the minerals...some not).....and (2) I dug and put in the ground.

How long before they see some action? I should have my trail cam by the first of next week.

Thanks, in advance, for your responses.

Jeff

Get it out right away. You will have taffic in no time. i have gotten pics the first night.

I put out one of those mineral rocks and nothing touched it for 2 weeks. Then the 3rd week I checked it it was half gone!

I was wondering about that. I put out mineral licks the, kind from feednseed stores, in the summertime so they can have them through the summer into the fall for antler growth. Are there better quality blocks out there more suited for deer or is what I am using just fine? I know the deer sure seem to like em just fine, those things only last afew months for me.

I made up mine with the help of someone from the forum, here. I mixed it up......dug the holes .....and made my own. I had 200#'s of product.....all for less than $30.00 (And I only used HALF of what I have).

I'll replenish in the spring.....and I'll be good for another season.......likely 2 if they dig at it like I think they're gonna.

I'm just curious as to how long it's gonna take them to find it.....and start using it. I bought (now another ) trail cams.......and I was wondering whether or not to put them on the feeders or the mineral licks. I guess I can do BOTH, now.

Jeff

It took the deer about 3 to 4 weeks to find my trophy rock. I had it set up wedged in an old stump where it couldn't be moved.I checked it every week or 2 and around the 4th week I went back to check it to findthat the deer had knocked it somehow off the stump, and tore all the ground up all around it.. It is kind of like an all or nothing thing as far as i see it.

It's a very good thing that you got some rain on them. In fact, pray for rain because it's the moisture pounding the block that will wash off the mineral into the soil. A mixture with soil is what the deer actually prefer. A whitetail is simply not equipped to lick blocks efficiently and would MUCH rather prefer to paw/forage in the dirt. A far better option is the loose mineral suggested above. Not only will it attract moreanimals but it will get them there quicker and hold them MUCH longer. You won't have to wait for weeks or even months for the animals to begin to utilize the site. You won't believe the difference a quality mineral site will make especially if you want to get some quality photos over the site. Good luck bud

WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADEMINERAL MIX RECIPE

Ingredients: Makes 200 lbs. for about $23.00

1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores.
Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag.

2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loose kind without the medications.
Comes in 50lb Bags at around $5.00 you need two bags.

1 part Stock salt, ice cream salt.
Comes in 50lb Bags at around $2.00 you need one bag.

Directions:

-Use a 3 pound or similar size coffee can to use as your measure for each part of the mix.

-Mix all together well but not until read to use, keep ingredients separate until ready to put to use.

-Dig or tear up a circle in the soil about 36 inches wide and about 6 inches deep.

-Mix your mineral mixture with the soil.

Maintenance:

-Replenish in 6 months with fresh supply of, mineral and then each year there after.

They will dig huge holes and the precip continues to spread the mineral to the soil.

I have heard those homemade mixes work great and seen it on friends land firsthand. Deer really tear it up.

I bought a bag of one of those commercial mixes the two years ago and nothing touched the area. However, I didn't see any bucks whatsoever until the rut so the traffic wasn't exactly there. This year, I've got several yearling bucks tearing that spot I prepared up two years ago.

I also went out and bought a regular salt block and a cattle mineral block, dug shallow holes for each, placed them in the holes, and smashed them into about four or five pieces each. Easier for the deer to lick and it disentegrates better into the soil that way.The deer seem to have taken a liking to those areas as well - the holes are getting deeper and I see them licking them on my trail cams.

Bottom line, my opinion is if you can do it yourself, I'd go that route versus buying the mixes. But the mixes are more convenient - and they often go on sale at the end of season.

Hey guys....

I DID dig the holes.....and I DID use the formula from the other thread (the same one repeated on this thread).I followed the instructions to a "T". I have (2) places where the minerls were mixed with the soil in a 3'x3' area.....and the rest was put in hollowed out stumps (that had access from a side I tore off). I didn't put out rocks or blocks.

I'm going to check them, today. They've been in place for 5 nights, now......and I shoud have one of my trail-cams to put out, this evening. We've also had 3 POUNDING rain storms on them. I got lucky, there. I'll report back, tomorrow.

Jeff

Rigt away. I saw someone mentioned that they had it out for antler growth. Of the minerals that der need to grow a maximun rack, sodium is less than 2% of what they need. Actually, if they rely solely on the salt, they will refrain from consuming what is needed to grow the maximum rack. I use it as well, but this is just the research I have done on the salt licks.