Mineral Licks
 

I have been hearing about mineral licks and would like to get one but i did not know if it is something youbuy or something you make and if it is something you make how do you. Thanks for any help

RE: Mineral Licks
 

probably your cheapest way would be to go to the walmart or home depot and buy a 40lb. bag of salt they sell for water conditioning. should be around 4$.its sometimes called solar salt. dont worry about all the fancy name brand stuff they sell for deer. from what ive read, seen, and talked to people who raise deer they use the licks mostly in the spring and through the summer. the doe-s need it to help with milk production, pest control and shedding coats. the bucks need it for mostly the same but also to help grow those horns. just find an area near your hunting spot near some water if at all possible and throw it on some bare soil. you may have to clear away leaves and debris in like a 5 foot circle. throw out a bag now and refresh it one more time in the summer. my experience is that in september the deer dont use the licks as often. i honestly dont think it will make for monster horns because the genetics have to be there but if it helps the over all health of the local deer hear i think as hunters its the least we could do and its fun to put those trail cameras on them in august. NOW GET TO WORK!

RE: Mineral Licks
 

Check to see if that salt is Sodium Chloride, not Calcium. Also, you can get Salt and even mineral salt, which is even better, at your local Coop or feed store. The price will still be reasonable, about 5 bucks. The sooner you g et it started, the better. With everything greening up, the deer crave salt. And indeed they will taper off as plants start getting tougher and drier. If you put your lick near a food plot, it will also help bring the deer to tha area. There have been some posts that have detailed mixes for salt licks. But the main thing, at least get some salt out there.

Russ

RE: Mineral Licks
 

I know it costs more but I've been using DiCalcium Phosphate for the last five years.
I loosen the ground up with shovel (next to a small pond we have) and mix in a 50 pound bag. The deer have tore it up making a very large hole in the ground.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

Thanks for the post , reminds me that I need to get some salt out there. I just use the salt calcium blocks and the mineral blocks from the co op.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

although i use the red mineral blocks from the feed store i prefer the bags of salt because idiots steal the blocks sometimes. i never have to dig up the ground because the deer do a good job of that after a while. my one lick that is 3 years old looks like a watering hole now. you can also put the mineral bricks in a burlap wrap and tie it of on a tree branch to make it last longer. it will only leech salt when it rains. i dont usually do this because i like replenishing my licks and checking on the deer sign. i also like to use a military type duffle bag or back pack with the arm straps to get my salt out to those far away locations.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

A few guys here take that water softner salt and place it in a burlap sac. Then tie the sac behind their quads and drag it over an area of dirt for 20 minutes or so. I personally have not tried this but some guys swear by it.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

I thought to much salt was bad for deer. I've been told no more than 15% salt in your mineral is good.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

I don't think that a deer will consume too much salt. And besides, how do you ration it out? Is a lick visited by 3 or 50 deer? Just make sure that you get some out, the deer know when to quit.

Russ

RE: Mineral Licks
 

next we will get blamed for the deer getting high blood pressure from too much salt:D

RE: Mineral Licks
 

Liquid, I hear if you crush up asprin and mix it in with the mineral its supposed to lower the viscosity of the blood which will lower that blood pressure. Just thought ya might find that useful lol.............

RE: Mineral Licks
 

check out whitetail institute under f asked ? about salt.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

seriously,

Increased salt intake, will decrease forage intake (bloated belly - too much water requirement due to increased salt intake) and unless forage is top notch the deer will suffer.

Mineral licks might be good for several reasons - but try to keep the salt content down if you can. - it can only help in the long run.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

Is it more affective to use salt or to sit out and do a deer call?

I assume salts better all season, but grunts only working during rutting...?

RE: Mineral Licks
 

we have around 300 heard of cattle and we feed our cattle minerals, it is not uncommon to see deer out in the field using the feeders meant for the cattle. we get our minerals in bulk usually 2 ton at a time so i will take a bag and in my honey holes will pour some of the contents on a oldrotting stunp the wood will soak it up when it rains. i have licks that have 3 or 4 foot holes around the stump. i have a deer cam and get some awsome bucks on film in late july into august using these licks.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

my thoughts exactly. more salt eaten = less forage eaten = less nutrition = poorer herd

RE: Mineral Licks
 

im no expert but i would have to say if deer are smart enough to know not to eat my horse sweet mix after a couple days because it goes moldy on the ground quick compared to corn i would think that they would be smart enough to only use a salt lick for there daily body requirements. ive even seen an article with pictures that deer under poor mineral conditions will eat washed up on the shore- herring (fish) .

RE: Mineral Licks
 

lmao ........i guarentee that we dont have a poor herd of deer. just because the deer cant get all the nutrients that they need from forage, and in turn resort to mineral licks dosent mean that they are poor. we grow huge deer here in southern ohio, and the deer have huge racks and body size. the deer are not goin to gorge themselves on salt, think about it do u use alot of salt on your food, no it starts to take the taste away, you need salt in you diet too. i have licks and the use them 85 to 90% of the time when the does have little ones and the development of antlers, so i think dong dont know dittly.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

I also really don't think there is a big hazard in a deer gourging itself in salt. I have thrown out just plain salt blocks that we use for cattle and the deer seem to use them a bit but not eat them up like candy. A question i have is why don't deer get grain overload and bloat. I know with our cattle you have to be careful that they do not consume too much grain at a time otherwise they will bloat. Deer can feed on a grain pile in the field here all winter and handle it fine. Obviously the deer know when to stop, or maybe they have a better digestive system not quite sure what the deal is.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

Here is what I use and it makes 200 punds for $20 to $25:

2 parts Red trace minerial [unmedicated]

1 Part Stock salt

1 Part Dicalcium Phosphate [ Di-Cal ]

From what I have been told Salt is only used for taste and has no nutritional bennifits for the deer. The deer are getting all of the good stuff from the trace minerials and the the Di-Cal. The di-cal is used for rack development and milk production.

I have had extremely good luck with this mixture. A person has to remember that there are certain times of the year that deer do not use mineral licks very often but ther use them alot right after the rut and and during the summer when bucks are growing racks and does are caring young'ins and when does are nursing young'ins.

This mixture is cheaper than any commercial brand and I would put it up against any commercial brand.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

In my opinion minerals are a difficult question. With all of the other variables how can we tell what the effect is on a free ranging deer herd by putting minerals on the ground. The only way we would know for sure would be in a very controlled environment and I haven't seen any studies that conclusively show the effects of an increase in mineral supplements. With all of that said, as cheap as mineral supplements are I think that it sure doesn't hurt to use them.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

slobbyrobby........I got that same recipe from this website about a year and a half ago. Its way way cheaper and the deer work it over pretty good. Some spots more than others. I haven't figured out why they use one site more than another yet, but I'm working on it! I have 6 mineral licks on our property.

Example of savings: I used to spend about $20 for 25 lb bags of a commercial brand or about $320 a year!

A couple weeks ago I picked up 1000 lbs. bagged in 50 lb bags at my local feed mill. COST $141.00 tax included. Thats $14.10 per 100 lb. bag. Now my 400 pounds of minerals cost $56.40! WOW!

You don't need to get 1000 lbs from your local feed mill, usually they mix batched of 500 lbs and up. I got 1000 lbs because a friend wanted to put some out on his property.

Good Luck!

RE: Mineral Licks
 

I think you should locate mineral licks no further than 100 yards from a water source.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

cloud 9 I live in sauk rapids, and was wondering where you bought your minerals from.. And your mixture for this area. Thank you

RE: Mineral Licks
 

From what I've learned there is really no risk to your deer herd by putting out salt. I'm not an expert or anything but I do have a degree in wildlife management. The red mineral blocks are probably your best bet because they contain other minerals that have been identified as needed micronutrients by some experts. The effectiveness of salt blocks depends on the availability of natural licks in your area.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

You need to decide if you want to improve the health of you animals with mineral vitamin supplements or just get a hole dug on your property.

While salt is required in a deer's diet it is not a antler building mineral and very small amounts are needed. It's similar to ice cream for humans in it produces nothing much used in rack production for deer other than it tastes good and is attractive during the spring and summer months.

If holes are what you want then use salt, it's cheap. If you want to build quality animals by offering them minerals and vitamins possibly missing in their diets you better use something more than salt. I suggest low sodium mineral vitamin supplements. From what I've read, anything over 40% salt is really wasting money. Some of the most popular products are as low as 1.5% salt. To me that sounds more like what you would want.

I have never understood how so-called experts say mineral supplements are of no value to deer. Farmers use mineral vitamin supplements on horses, cows, pigs, chickens, fish and just about every animal in the world that people want to improve in size. Why not deer? It just doesn't make sense. The animals mentioned above are usually fed quality feed and forage on high quality foods and deer are expected to forage the woods and reach their potential...............impossible.

Salt is fine but in very small amounts, just enough to make them eat the good stuff.

I think this forum has too many people trying to see how cheap they can hunt. Not how effectively. They want to save money on the most important things and blow it on the latest camo patterns. Don't get hung up on saving $50 on nutrition when you have a $30,000 4 wheel drive, $6,000 4-wheeler, $1,000 in land cost (understated), $1,000's in clothes and other crap. Feeding the deer the absolute best minerals, food plot forages and practice good deer management. It's cheap based on what you get and it's the only thing you do to improve the animal quality.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

It's not a matter of wheter you use regular salt or a mineral block. Either one will pull in deer and "make a hole" as you put it. However, if you want to actually benefit the local deer population using mineral blocks is the best choice.

Someone who claims mineral supplements are no good to deer was probably misinformed or talking about a certain geographic area only.

It really does vary depending on whether or not the local diet of deer satisfies thier mineral needs. In some places forage is sufficient to supply minerals. In other places it is not.

There is also evidence that preference for salt and mineral licks is influenced by gender. At least in one study (Atwood et al. 2003) found that females preferred mineral licks in fall and spring, but they preferred salt licks in summer. Males prefered salt licks in summer.

This is probably due to the females increased mineral demand from lactation in the spring, and pregnancy in the fall.

Males and females seek salt in the hottest times of the year as common sense would dictate.

The bottom line is if you want to lessen any possible impacts to lactation or antler growth by limited nutrient availability then put out mineral blocks, or both salt and minerals.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

I haven't begun to master how you guys reply to threads, posts and replys but let me say one more thing in response to BrutalAttacks reply to my reply. Mineral blocks just don't get it, I had it explained to me by a animal nutritionalist. He compared a deer's use of trace mineral blocks to a man dying of thirst licking an ice cube. The animal just can't get enough off the block to help. My experiences with granular minerals has been much better. In fact I've got two blocks on my lease that I put out two years ago. It frustrates me every time I see them. But, it reminds me why I use granular.

Use quality, it doesn't cost it pays.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

I really don't care what form the mineral supplement takes. Nor was that the point of my post. Use blocks, use pellets, use freaking liquid it doesn't matter. What matters is that the minerals are available to them.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

You are exactly right. No matter how you get mineral to the deer but.........there are few if any block made that carry a high enough percentage of antler building minerals or vitamins to do much good and there is no liquid mineral made that does much at all. All the liquids are only attractants. If a company claims otherwise they are pulling your leg. Should you doubt me check the tags on either blocks or liquids. I'll bet you'll The only freaking way to get anything accomplished is granular and it needs to be around 40% salt or less............unless you just want a hole dug. (prior reply)

RE: Mineral Licks
 

Sure i'll take your word for it. I was basically joking about the liquid part ;). The point is, natural licks are hardly the most efficient way for deer to get micronutrients, however, it's been proven in research that natural licks make a difference so by default anyway they can get minerals makes a difference. If you want to go buy granular..good for you. All I'm saying is your not wrong if you want to use blocks instead (I do).

RE: Mineral Licks
 

BA, I'll go for that. Some minerals are better than none.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

Are any of you hunters worried about Chronic Wasting Disease? We have been told that deer get CWD from other deer and from the ground. So I was told that if I had had deer in or around my hunting lease that mineral sites would not be a good ideal. Does anyone have anything to add to that? But I have been thinking about using minerals this year, I read that it is better to put the minerls into some sort of coverd trough where you can mix your minerals with food. Please help!!!!

RE: Mineral Licks
 

Anytime you put something (like licks or feeders) out on your property that increases the chance that deer are going to come into contact with one anoter, then obviously disease can spread faster.

Interestingly, high levels of manganese and extremely low levels of copper in deer brain tissue have been found when CWD outbreaks are about to occur. Researchers are exploring any connection between CWD and mineral licks but I'm pretty sure they aren't to the cause...probably a vector but not the cause.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

i read they was getting it from the ground posibaly. and where the buffalo used to rome. mainly midwest. and from pened deer that got loose. i like mineral licks so whatever u want to say. aint goin to change my mind.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

I was answering his question. I wasn't telling you or anyone to not use mineral licks. I've read the research and I'm simply repeating what I've read. I don't think there is any need for your adversarial tone with me.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

The mineral licks I use that I put in an earler post on this thread, I found on another disccusion board. The person who posted this put in his post that the MDC (missouri department of conservation) recommends it. I have a friend who works for the MDC and I had her hookme up with a department biologist. After talking with him what you are posting is correct to some extent.

What the bioligist told me is when a deer get minerial defficiant they will search for minerials in the dirt. they have a natural instinct to find the most mineral efficiant spots on the ground. This is why mineral licks are so popular. I have six licks on one farm and 2 on the other. I have licks that are not used that often and licks that are used on the dailey bases. The bioligst told me that the licks will be used more heavely when bucks are growing there racks, right after the rut (when bucks have depleted there bodies of just about everything), and when does are producing milk. This is why they they use them more heavily certain times of the year over others.

The bioligist also told me that salt has no nutritonal value to a deer what so ever. Salt is used as flavor and to draw the deer in. The trace minerial and di-cal are what is providing the deer nutrition. He also told me that most commercial brands of minerals do not put enough calcium and phosphate in there mixes to affect rack growth. This is why they reccomend so much be put in the ground at once.

Here is how the bioligist broke it down for me:

100 LBS stock salt used for taste only
200 LBS unmedicated trace minerial - to give the deer the minerals they are not getting from food source
100 LBS Di- Cal Dicalcium phosphate - for rack building and milk production. This is also what the biolgist told me was what the commercial stuff did not give enough of.

All of these [for those of you that asked in earler post] can be bought at he local MFA or most feed stores for about $20-$25 I think this beets the commercial prices by a long shot

The bioligst also reccomends that use use all 400 LBS to 1 lick. You will put it in and replace after 6 months the first time and then yearly after that.

My personal opinion is I don't hunt over the mineral licks I have out, these are there strictly for the nutrition of the herd.

Now the newer commercial stuff may have the exact same stuff that I am using Some may be better, but I have good luck with this stuff and am starting to see a difference in the herd after 3 years of use. Whether it is directly realated to the minerals or not this is what I am sticking with.

Sorry for long post guys.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

I'm not sure what this means. It's common knowledge that virtually every animal requires sodium just like we do. They may not need sodium to increase rack size etc but saying it has no value at all is totally false.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

The way I understood it was that the sodium content they get from this lick is coming frome the trace mineral and not the stock salt. They would be getting the same nutritional value with or with out the salt.

RE: Mineral Licks
 

SALT ??? Intersting and informative articles at www.saltinstitute.org