About a month ago, I had four shooters coming to my mineral site on a daily cycle. Two weeks ago though, they totally stopped coming. I still have some does and 3 or 4 small bucks coming in, but none of the shooters. I sure hope I didnt spook them with my scent or the camera flash. I usually check it once a week. They certainly didnt seem to mind it during the month of June and July. Any thoughts?? I dont want to jump the gun and wash my hands of the spot. Im hoping they are still in the area or will come back during the rut. Could they possibly know they dont need the minerals anymore this late in the year and just bypass the site??

Land info: About 200 acres of land with about 50 acres of corn and 5o acres of beans all surrounding the funnell I am in. Also have some acorns in the woods where I am located.

These bucks have pretty much are done growing.
And are on the brink of stripping off the velvet.
So yeah if the right food source isn't there for them
they just may have moved on.And to answer the question yeah
they know they don't need minerals this late in the season.

It won't be much longer and they will be making rubs and scrapes...don't give up on them this soon in the game.If You have plenty of Doe's around the Bucks will show up,plus they are probably out eating the corn,soybeans and looking for water to be hitting the minerals any more!

Bucks range over several miles. Changes in preferred foods, rut, pressure and other variables will affect their movements.

Ever heard the sayin if you want to kill a buck you need to hunt where the does are

Sounds like you have the perfect spot for the rut. Funnels are awesome. In the North, circle Halloween and hunt hard the following week. Good luck and be patient.

Yes they are basically done with mineral. Don't worry about it. I've got three good bucks in my area. They haven't been to the mineral site for a couple weeks. I have a camera on a clover plot that I've caught two of them on. They are likely still around and will probably be back at some point during the rut. Good luck.

Agreed...they've moved on to a different food source. They're more than likely still in the area, but just not coming to that location. Heck they could be munching on hickory nuts right behind the camera now for all you know. Don't give up on'em.

.....of hunters who hunted within 100 yards of their feeder and trail cam.

They may come to a conclusion that those SD cards are contaminated and sending the deer to parts unknown.

Thanks for the info guys!! I appreciate it. The more I read about minerals, the more confident I become. Seems as if they hit the minerals early in the antler growing season and probably moved on to other foods. I have does in the area and Im gonna count on them for bringing in the bucks. October 2nd cant come soon enough!!! Let alone the first week in November.
Thanks again