RE: Mineral pits are deer magnets
 

i have gotten better results.......from buckgrub and regular trace mineral salt mixed together......topped off with a trace mineral salt rock ....the deer go nuts over it......

RE: Mineral pits are deer magnets
 

Informative article on importance and history of hunters and salt/minerals at www.saltinstitute.org My mix is 100 lbs of di-cal, 50 lbs of trace min salt, 50 lbs of stock salt and 25 lbs of buck grub.

RE: Mineral pits are deer magnets
 

c903,

Even though deer may not congregate at one time to such an area, the spores may very well stay in the ground. As far as the clover field comparison two things stand out to me as being very different.

1. The deer are using an area that is confined to an area that is confined to a square yard as oppossed to your comparison where they would be using an area that is spread over a 100 sqare yards or more (typically). Therefore, there would be much less chance for a concentration of spores.

2. The deer in a mineral lick are doing exactly that, licking. In the clover field they are biting and tearing the forage up. They aren't for the most part passing their saliva into the soil. In a mineral lick the deer are all leaving their saliva in the ground for the next deer to come along and ingest. If, like scientists believe, CWD can be passed by saliva and CWD spores can live up to two years, then nub may have a valid point. You may choose not to believe it or not to practice preventative measures but that doesn't mean the point isn't valid.

RE: Mineral pits are deer magnets
 

Silent:

Saliva is secretion. Common secretion origins are saliva, perspiration, glandular secretions, and urine. Deer piss everywhere and other deer will often nose or lick the urine, as will bucks during rut. However, your point is valid. Although there are many sources that could hold and transmit the disease, it does make sense to reduce the means of exposure. Although CWD has not yet been detected in my particular area, I may have to rethink the use of mineral pits.

RE: Mineral pits are deer magnets
 

Seems to me that Healthy deer would be better able to wart off desease.
They are going to seek out the minerals anyway and obtaining these minerals , where ever they may be, involves licking.
There is no CWD in LA, thats Louisiana, and natural mineral licks are everywhere.

RE: Mineral pits are deer magnets
 

3 step last year in Texarkana I poured about 100 pounds of salt in a 20 by 20 slough about a 2 weeks before it dried up and the deer tore it up once the salt disolved and seaped into the mud. Plan on adding to it again this year. They did not seem to hit the solid salt licks or mineral blocks I had out nearly as well.

RE: Mineral pits are deer magnets
 

Hey.....thats a good idea. Theres a slough like spot on our place that goes dry each summer. Your system would help speed up things. Thanks for posting.
Good Luck

RE: Mineral pits are deer magnets
 

seen hole's 2 feet into the ground from deer digging up the earth where these mineral block's have been. I don't consider this as baiting but as to giving the buck's in your nieghborhood a better growth of antler's,this is not a bad thing ,sure it also keep's the deer in the area which also isn't a bad thing espeacially if it's the area you hunt .I've hunted area's where any of the deer I've taken have had nothing but little basket rack's caused from the lack in mineral's that they need ,so if I can help supply these deer in my hunting area develop better rack's and also keep's them in my hunting location then that's just one great big bonus for me.

nubo

RE: Mineral pits are deer magnets
 

Yeah......Thats what I'm Talkin 'bout.