The obvious benefit is the improvement of the deer's diet and health and therefore rack growth. I am by no means a horn hunter so shooting a 200 class deer isfar from my mainconcern. My question is if I place salt blocksduring spring and summer do you guys think that it will alter their movement patterns so that they will visit that area more often in the fall? Essentially getting them into a routine for the fall months. For the few dollars it cost for the blocks I can't see where it would hurt, but I was curious if you think I'll see any benefits.

Deer like the taste of salt and it aids in digestion but NO, I wouldn't count on a salt lick having any effect on deer movement come Fall. They will have no use for the salt once the summer ends.

I realize they have no need for it after the summer ends, what I was hoping for was to get them into a pattern of visiting that area. I've seen deer paths that were wore down to the dirt and then a tree fell overit and they changed their path by as much as 50-60 yards.I was just curious as to if anyone else had done this and seen any changes in their deer patterns.

isometimes hunt deer and hogs on ahuge place that has no cattle: No cattle=no salt for the game. i do have a salt lick there.Deer frequentthat salt lickall year long. It is used the most in the summer and fall. Great place to shoot hogs.

Have not noticed any changes in the traffic pattern of the deer. There is a pond 20 yards away from the salt lick.

In 2005, I had a camera at one of my salt licks. In July I was getting 2-3 vists per day. In Sept. about one per week.

As you said it's just a few bucks. Add minerals and it will improve the racks you see.

I have to agree that it does not hep with patterns come fall. I thought the same thing you did, and kept careful track with my Cuddeback - and I cannot say that the deer that frequented the lick the most in the summer - were around any more or less than other deer come fall.

I do think that there might be some benefit of a Lickfor does establishing a "home range" - but I've not proved it to myself yet.

FH

alot of times they visit them at night

Just remember that the salt blocks sold for cattle aren't the same as the mineral mixes used for antler growth. The salt will attract but other materials such as calcium and phosphate are required for antler growth.

Dan O.

Is there any way to mix the salt blocks for cattle with minerals used for antlers??

Try to do a search on this forum for "mineral". Several mix recipeshave been offered over the past few years.

Dan O.