Salt Licks
 

Looking for a good homemade salt lick or any recipies for one. Also any tips on where to make them is appreciated. I am thinking about using this one, if anyone has gotten any luck with it.

"ARM & HAMMER LICK RECIPE

To start one brand new I use two 50 lb bags of fine stock salt and two boxes of " Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda". It must say this on the box or you have gotten the wrong stuff. You start off by choosing a spot where deer normally pass by and dig a hole four foot in diameter and 4 to 5 inches in depth. Try and get the soil as loose and possible. Pour in one of the bags of salt and one box of the A & H. Stir in well and then add three forths of the second bag of salt and all of the 2nd box of A & H. Mix in well and smooth over the top. Spread evenly the remainder of the bag of salt. The white will cause the deer to notice it and start to use it. Rain will dissolve the mixture. Once this is established the next spring around May 1st I add one more bag of salt and one box of A & H. Then once again around August 1st. You won't have to stir in the salt or A & H when you refresh the lick. Just spread it over the lick and watch it grow in size and depth.

Remember it should say somewhere on the box....100% Sodium Carbonate

Cost....The salt cost $3.20 for a 50 lb bag and the A&H sells at my local Price Chopper for under $3 a box."

My favorite is a bag of Trace Mineral Salt and some strawberry Koolaid powder. The sweet with the salt seems to work well. However in some instances a regular salt block works if near a water hole.

IMO you are making this waaaay harder and more expensive than necessary.

Go to the nearest farm supply store and buy a trace mineral block. No need to dig a hole, mix stuff, etc. Just drop off and leave. The deer will take over from there. They sell all kinds of blocks/supplements for livestock. Some disintegrate faster than others.

Mineral Block
 

I have put out a mineral block with a white salt block close by to see which one get hit first. The deer destroyed the white block, and only went to the mineral block occasionally.

Isn't the white block, at least when it's pure salt essentially useless for deer?

ie the point is for trace minerals, salt not really being essential?


Personally I think, at least in the area I hunt, if guys would just lay off 2.5yo bucks and under big deer would be everywhere.