??? about deer / mineral licks...
 

After reading the post on here about mineral licks, I finally set one up a couple of weeks ago...mostly out of curiosity. I used the di-cal, trace mineral, and stock salt mixture as was suggested and sofar, I've been a little disappointedbecause the deer haven't seemed to be using it very much. I checked it today and saw afew good-sized, frestracks in it but that's it so far.This might indicate that its been being used a little bit...butthere's a trail that comes out into the alfalfa field at this spot so maybe the deer could have just walked through it too. Also, I crisscrossed a few loosestrands of hay across the site when I made it so I could tell if its been used or not and all of the hay is still in place. When the deer hit the licks do they literally dig and tear the site up? Maybe they haven't discovered it yet? I mixed all of the minerals in with the soil...should I have left a pile of it exposed on top of the ground as well? I think that my main problem here is that the alfalfa was cut the dayafter I put the minerals out. While the field was still standing there was 5-7 bucks and several does feeding out there every evening and since its been cut I haven't seen anything. We finally got some rain and the alfalfa is starting to growback prettygoodnow, so I'm hoping that this new growth will bring the deer back in and they'll find my minerals. I'm gettinkinda ticked off...I've beenwatching a really nice buck and few other decent ones since the beginning of June and was really enjoying watching theirantler developement. I haven't seen them now in almost two weeks and I am really wondering what their racks are lookin' likenow:D.

RE: ??? about deer / mineral licks...
 

If you have old forest cuttings ie stumps, hollow logs, just pour a 20# bag of rocksalt into it. About this time the the year. You'll have a hole about 3ft in dia and 1ft into the ground by this fall.

RE: ??? about deer / mineral licks...
 

We set our licks up on old stumps - I don't know how the deer find them, but they do.

RE: ??? about deer / mineral licks...
 

Don't worry about it, a mineral lick is not a instant magic deer lure. The deer will know it is there and will use it as needed .... especially next spring.

RE: ??? about deer / mineral licks...
 

I used the same mix. I placed it areas where the bucks leave scrapes year after year and along some travel corridors.In the areas where the 'annual' scrapes are,I noticed substantially more activity than the travel areas. If you have some mix left over, try puuting it areas where you find scrapes every year. There isno doubt that the recent fieldcutting has altered the deer pattern. Let it green up in a few weeks, they'll be back.

RE: ??? about deer / mineral licks...
 

I use a trace mineral/dical mix(no stock salt), and have been for 10yrs. I pour (2) 5gal buckets full on top of old stumps, about 3-4 times a year. They tear it up. Chances are they haven't found it yet. Even if you mixed it into the ground, they will find it eventually. Like I said, I've always just poured it on top of an old stump and it's worked great. They actually rooted one stump completely out of the ground in a couple years. I think it depends on deer density and travel patterns as to how much use it will get. Some of our licks get hit real hard, others not so much. Good luck :)

RE: ??? about deer / mineral licks...
 

I like the stump idea. Had my property logged about 5 years ago so the stumps are starting to soften up. I'll give it a try!

RE: ??? about deer / mineral licks...
 

Sean
We have always put it on fairly solid stumps...not a REAL soft one. It seems to work better that way, at least for us. They will actually dig on the stump and eat it also. If you logged your property 5 yrs ago, probably any hardwood stump would be just about right.

RE: ??? about deer / mineral licks...
 

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll have to try the stump method next time. The alfalfa's coming up great and the bucks are using the field again. I checked the mineral site today and saw a few tracks in it but no digging so far. Maybe I'll have to throw some apples out near the site to lure the deer into the minerals.

RE: ??? about deer / mineral licks...
 

It will take them a couple of weeks to find it, but when they do, trust me, youll know. It also depends alot on what time of year it is...springtime is where I get most of my succes. Good luck

RE: ??? about deer / mineral licks...
 

I just started using the "homemade" mineral mixes this winter/spring. I use 2 parts Di-Cal, 2 parts Trace Mineral Salt & 1 part Vitamin A-B-D. In MN I usually buy at Fleet Farm. 125 lbs for about $30. The one thing I tried that seemed to really work well was to buy 1 bag of "name brand" mix and put some on top of my "home-brew". The "name brands" use an attractant and the deer seem to find it faster. Once they find it the first time, they seem to keep coming back. Also, it has been working better on stumps as compared to just mixing it with the soil.

RE: ??? about deer / mineral licks...
 

this year i only used home depot solar salt and di-cal from agway. the di cal is 12$ for 50 lbs. i ask the sales guy to give me a good deal on open bag solar salt. usually 2$ for 40lbs. i wouldnt worry about not seeing deer. its hot out and the deer arent moving enough to find it.

RE: ??? about deer / mineral licks...
 

They have not hit my lick in a while either. But before this hot weather came in they were tearing it up. I replenished it after only a couple weeks in the ground. Now I have a 3' by 10" deep hole were we placed it. I refill it after the season this year and again in early spring.

RE: ??? about deer / mineral licks...
 

WNY Bowhunter -

Sometimes when establishing a lick - its a good Idea to put the lick (like you made i the dirt) right on a well used trail - and mix right on top 1-2 lbs of straight salt. It gets them used to the site - and eventually they get used to the Mineral Mix - not just salt.

Even with the best lick - usage really stops in late August - as the antlers start to harden - and fawns start eating browse.

FH

RE: ??? about deer / mineral licks...
 

WNY just leave the minerals go and the deer will find it. 1sagittariushit the nail on the head.These mineral licks are not attractents. They may especially this time a year only be used spardiclly. Remberthis time of year deer are getting the best out of crops, so they are getting good minerals from the food they are eating, ie... corn, beans, and different grasses. My mineral licks get hit the best Right after the rut when the bucks have lost weight from breeding and during the spring ealry Spring through early summer when does are carrying young ins and right after when they are still producing milk. This is why after the first year the lick is established you only need to replenish it once a year.

One other thing you might try is staying away from them for a month or so. You may be saturating the area with sent and they may be skiddish. Also rember that anything offered to deer by man they are not going to tear up or maybe not even use it for awhile until they know it is safe for them to do so.