Deer arent cows; they dont like to lick blocks the way their bovine cousins do. The higher the numbers the more you are typically getting out of it. Strongly consider buying a bag of rice bran or other attractant like apple extract that may entice deer to eat the minerals. If you notice no deer sign after a few weeks, then mix in more salt to the site. Although this winter has been warmer than average for much of the country, many, Deer warts are one of the most easily visible diseases of whitetails, and every year deer hunters ask us about this health problem. A homemade deer mineral lick should include minerals that are essential for deer health, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, and selenium. Pour your mineral contents all over the turned-up ground and mix it in with the shovel or pitchfork. Interestingly enough, Larry later earned a doctoral degree in Range Management from Texas A&M University, and to this day he remains a recognized authority on range management and animal nutrition. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. calcium, phosphorus, zinc, etc. This recipe should also be tailored to meet the needs of the area in which it is being used. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Minerals are important to all living things, serving a host of physiological functions. With careful consideration of the deers nutritional requirements and the needs of the environment, a successful deer mineral recipe can be created. Homemade Deer Mineral Recipe Watch on Be sure and Visit North American Wildlife and Habitat Facebook Page Below are photo using 35 mm game camera, Mineral lick site was started in 2000 on this piece of property in Southern Missouri along the Arkansas Border. In this video I show you the results from my homemade deer minerals. Research shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as theyre able to literally eat (vs. lick) the mixture. Many hunters will find an old rotted stump near trails and use that for their man-made lick. Of course, we now know the Earth isnt flat, but it wasnt a popular belief until science and ocean navigation proved it. - The Best Explanation. So when I am creating new sites, I try several locations and replenish the ones that receive continued use while abandoning the sites with little or no use. If you dont see any deer activity near the mineral sight, try placing it near water sources and a good tree for trail cameras. As it turned out, the general area has long been known for a cattle disease called grass tetany, which is directly related to a lack of magnesium in the diet. A balanced pelleted ration can deliver all the mineral nutrition needed by the herd. Our deer blog is one of the longest-running and most popular ones out there. I only know that when I put out a mineral site, I'm likely going to have an excellent location for capturing a lot of trail camera images. "I take a 5-gallon bucket and use 1/4 Di-calcium phosphate and divide the rest 50/50. These products are used for raising livestock, but are exactly what you need for creating a quality mineral site. A few drops of a natural attractant, such as rice bran, apple extract, or salt, can also be added to your deer mineral. Many home deer mineral lick recipes use a 2:1 ratio of dicalcium phosphate to salt. When formulating free choice minerals, or any feed product for that matter, the vital elements include the ingredients used along with the percentage of those ingredients and the resulting percentage of actual nutrients (i.e. Have you ever wondered why deer hammer mineral licks in the warm-weather months more than any other time of year? Whether you need to know how to test the soil in your food plot, tighten the groups from your crossbow, or scope out the latest on that big buck you saw online, you've landed around the right campfire. Since deer tend to like salt, placing a mineral lick in a location where there is water is the best way to attract them. Growing antlers are composed mostly of proteins (80 percent by weight); whereas hardened antlers contain roughly equal amounts of proteins and minerals. There are many other examples of popular beliefs being dramatically changed through scientific discovery. This interferes with efficient sodium conversion in the body and increases the need for sodium. Over the years, Ive written on a number of occasions about mineral supplementation for whitetails. Of course, while mulling this over in my Excel spreadsheet, I was making a lot of assumptions, so I decided to conduct a research project on one of my farms to see if I could come up with a number based on real data. Any one of a hundred things can influence how often a deer will use a supplemental mineral and how much it will consume. If youre trying to lure deer, place slow-releasing mineral blocks near bedding areas and water sources in the summer. Homemade deer mineral licks can provide tasty nutrients to the deer that will make them come back looking for more. A homemade deer mineral lick should include minerals that are essential for deer health, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, and selenium. If you were looking for good descriptive words, vast and expansive would come to mind. Well provide the latest updates on CWD spread, research and policy from across North America. In the old days, we simply dug holes and poured granular mineral into them. Once you've thoroughly mixed the minerals with the soil, you're done. So, if you have already addressed the larger concerns of habitat and herd management, mineral supplements can be another part of your overall management plan. Making your own deer mineral isn't hard, nor is it expensive. Box 160 Thats because its long been a topic of widespread interest not only on the part of landowners and other habitat managers, but hunters, as well. These make up about 60 percent of the total weight of the antler. B.Y.O Deer Base also contains, magnesium, sulfur, potassium as well as all the essential trace minerals and vitamins needed by deer. You want to get as much calcium and phosphorous into a deer as possible. These folks should know more than anyone about proper nutrition for ruminants, a group that includes whitetails. You can do more or less depending on the amount of use you get at a site. Can deer freeze to death when severe cold weather, such as dangerously low temperatures, deep snow and crushing winds, set in? Deer need both protein and minerals to grow their antlers. A lot is made over the power of mineral sites to grow antlers and create a healthier deer population. I have found that mineral sites located in sandy areas are utilized less than mineral sites in heavier soils. In conclusion, the best deer mineral recipe is one that contains trace minerals, salt, vitamins, and minerals that are beneficial to deer. No one can say for sure, but its probably because most minerals by themselves are bitter. Part 1, Importance of Soil pH. for about $23.00. Food additive these minerals are combined with a supplemental feed, and deer get them while consuming the feed. Homemade deer mineral supplements work best near waterholes and food plots. The lick should be located in a spot that is easy for the deer to access from all directions. You can also locate these sites near good trees for trail cameras. Wildgame Innovations, for example, has all manner of attractants that have a powerful aroma that should help deer find your mineral site more quickly and may add a flavor component that the deer love. To make a homemade deer mineral lick, gather ingredients for the mix. One of the easiest ways to lure deer to your property is to place a mineral lick. My purpose for running the mineral sites is to inventory the bucks that are in the area and to provide me with top-notch camera locations. These two ingredients are bitter, so you may want to add some salt to the lick. EXPLORE OTHER MEDIA 360 PROPERTIES FOR OUTDOORS ENTHUSIASTS, Hot Gear: Protect Your Phone, Docs with Confidence, Ultralight Tactical Tomahawk The Proven Multipurpose Outdoor Tool. That's why mineral licks make excellent trail camera spots in the summer. One final deer mineral site consideration for non-nutritional factors is soil type. A much better approach is to use a covered trough with a roof high enough for a buck to easily get his head inside (and be able to see all around as he does so). I have also found that unless there are major changes in the vicinity of the site (i.e. Its best to get started as soon as spring green-up starts taking place, but keeping minerals out year-round is better. Now that we have an idea of the role minerals play in your management plan, lets look at the recipe. To my knowledge, there is little to no research on the subject as it pertains to deer. Weve learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. Do I believe that? Calcium and phosphorous are the two biggest components of antler growth after protein. Granular - these minerals are added to the soil, and deer get them by consuming the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture. So why not just pour salt out for the deer if thats what they're after? | Taking common ingredients found in most homes and mixing them into a viable, attractive combination that deer love is an easy process. Dig a whole 2-3" deep by about 3 feet across. Along those same lines, deer will more readily utilize minerals that are ground applied than offered in a man-made feeder. Now, consider two different protein supplements, one with a level of 28 percent protein and one at 22 percent protein. The best place to put a deer lick is near your closest water holes, ponds or water sources and near your food plots. This is in contrast to animals with horns that are made of keratin (like fingernails), that do not shed, and need only protein to increase the growth their horns. However, these body sources of calcium and phosphorus provide only a portion needed for optimum antler growth. Here's how to create your own. In a similar study conducted at Auburn University, researchers tried to detect differences in body and antler size between an unsupplemented and supplemented group. The test was conducted in July. This mineral will be for sale in the next 2 weeks!! This makes deer actively seek out concentrated sources of sodium such as natural or manmade licks. 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. This is especially true of dried molasses, which deer love. Attraction to salt is caused by the balance of potassium and sodium in the deers body. After all, it sure looks that way. Ingredients: Makes 200 lbs. Mar 18, 2010. The results of these studies suggest that mineral supplementation especially calcium, phosphorus, and sodium may provide some benefit, especially in situations where deer are nutritionally deprived or areas with minerally deficient soils. Dicalcium Phosphate - #50 - $20.10. Not enough salt and it won't be as weather proof nor will it be as palatable. And, honestly, the only difference I can tell is in the price. In fact, theres significant scientific evidence to suggest Cu deficiencies are linked to spontaneous occurrences of brain diseases such as mad cow and CWD. WATCH: 3 Things Youre Doing Wrong with Your Mineral Sites. In areas where it is legal to use deer mineral, here is an economic option for you. Granular these minerals are added to the soil, and deer get them by consuming the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture. Every two weeks, remove any remaining mineral and wash or wipe out the pan with 50 percent bleach water to kill bacteria and parasite eggs. Notice the pond in the background. Magnesium is perhaps the third most important mineral with sodium being not far behind. Bucks must live long enough to reach physical maturity while having access to high quality nutrition to achieve maximum antler growth. Important Note: Minerals on their own are bitter, so be sure to mix in plenty of salt to attract the deer. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Creating a lick is certainly fun, inexpensive, and watching deer respond to these licks is satisfying. B.Y.O Deer Base. You can use granular minerals or dicalcium phosphate, which can be found at a feed store. Using a mineral mixture that has less than 50 percent salt will not attract deer. Matt Harper is a deer nutrition specialist from Iowa. All Rights Reserved. While I could identify many of the deer that used the sight daily, some did not use the site each day, and some could not be definitely identified as a daily user. Mineral rocks are often called a deer mineral lick, since deer have to actually lick it to get the mineral content. logging, flooding), a mineral site will receive increased usage with each progressive year. There are several different ways to supplement a deers diet with vitamins, minerals, and chelated trace elements. A good rule of thumb is about one site per 100 acres of property. Although many people assume that any mineral will grow trophy bucks, most deer are not that fortunate. Mix it well. Make sure the lick is near a water source. In its own way, western Kansas is quite beautiful, that is, of course, unless you like a lot of trees. Research in Tennessee supports this. ). It also has a lower taste, so deer will return for more. Also, the use of a foreign object, the plastic feeding pan, could have decreased usage even though I did not start the test until the deer were regularly using the site with the feeding pan in place. Here are some best practices for placing a homemade mineral lick on your property: By following these best practices for placing a homemade deer mineral lick, you can ensure that your deer will have access to important minerals in a safe and comfortable area. Watering Note: If there's no rain in the forecast, consider watering the mineral site. This is also why mineral licks make excellent trail camera spots in the summer. During the spring and summer, deer operate at a sodium deficiency due to the high potassium and water content of the forage. However, salt can also be an intake limiter for the very same reason and is often used in livestock minerals to limit intake. However, a University of Georgia study detected 11 different minerals in the whitetails antlers. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. I struggled with that, because many cattle minerals have a known intake consumption of 2 to 4 ounces per head per day. Find an area located in some cover close to the water source. Its simple: they need the salt because the forage they are eating in summer is high in water and potassium, thus creating a salt deficiency. The other ingredients for homemade deer minerals are a little bit of a variation on the classic white earth minerals found in the Indian spice-infused spices. Thats all there is to it. I replicated the test on three different farms to help alleviate variables, at least to a certain degree. Because intake is typically relative to body weight, one would think that if a cow weighing 1,400 pounds was eating 2 to 4 ounces of mineral, then a deer weighing 200 pounds should eat only between 0.28 to 0.57 ounces, not 1 to 2 ounces. That would certainly work. Deer will consume anywhere between 1 to 5 percent of their body weight each day, depending on the time of year, with winter consumption being on the low end of the scale and summer consumption being on the higher end. Sodium helps to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. As fall approaches, vegetation begins to mature and drop in potassium. If youre looking for a natural way to increase your deers antler growth, homemade deer minerals may be the answer. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. In this edition of "Big Buck Profile," Gordon Whittington talks with young whitetail hunter Reid Crawford about his trophy buck taken in 2017. Email: info@deerassociation.com. Regardless of the intensity of mineral supplementation, a yearling buck will still be a yearling buck. A good wrinkle to add here is to mix up the recipe used in the video -- that'll give you about 100 pounds of mix -- and then blend in some sort of dry attractant to help the deer find the location quickly and to add some additional flavor value that might keep them coming back for more. The diacalcium phosphate costs about $25 to $30 and the trace-mineral salt is about $12 to $15 per bag. So here, during a time of year when mineral interest and use are high, Id like to recap which minerals deer need and how to address those needs. Deer's antlers are made up of over 22% calcium and 11% phosphorous. We've learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. The white will cause the deer to notice it and start to use it. The water is so powerful and so easily drained in your hands that you should definitely be buying water from a natural resource like a stream to get a better picture of what the water is going to be like . This past summer, I was developing a new deer mineral product and was constantly frustrated by the fact that I really didnt know what expected intake would be. For instance, did the cameras trigger each time a deer was using the site? A solid habitat/nutrition plan should involve manipulating preferred plants to keep them within what we call the deer zone (within four feet of the ground), on a sustained basis. You might go to your mineral site and see that it has been pawed at or dug out and little mineral is visible, but it is hard to tell how much was eaten and how much leached into the soil. So why not just use straight salt? Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. All Rights Reserved. Crappy Weather/ Days off just not lining up for Coyotes. So a product that is very high in salt will likely have less total consumption than a product lower in salt. Get tips from Steve Bartylla in this Hunt em Big. Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag. Heavy deer rub activity along this interior path The two main minerals found in hardened deer antlers are calcium and phosphorous. Dicalcium phosphate contains around 19 percent phosphorous and 20 to 25 percent calcium. Use a mineral site. If the mineral soil is buried in the ground, you may need to add more salt to it. Plain Stock Salt - #50 - $4.30. If you stand in the middle of Highway 400 just west of Dodge City and look out at the horizon, you can get a good understanding of why people once thought the Earth was flat. Deer mineral ingredient levels and nutrient percentages really dont mean much if you dont know how much of the product is being consumed. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. The author dispenses granular mineral into a covered trough. For most whitetail managers, one of the best ways to supplement mineral nutrition is (where legal) through supplemental feeding. Simply use a bucket with nearby pond or creek water to do this. Once you have your supplies its time to start making mineral sites. This should be followed by developing a food-plot or native-plant fertilization program to ameliorate any deficiencies. I buried them partially in the ground in an attempt to minimize the negative effect of using a container versus the normal method of direct ground application. If one mineral supplement has 5 percent calcium and another has 7 percent calcium, but the deer consumes twice the amount of the 5 percent product, then the deer is actually getting more calcium than it would be getting from the 7 percent product. Mix the minerals and dirt well in the depression, and then add a little molasses for a sweetener. For one, as long as you have an idea of how many deer are on your property, knowing expected intake can help you figure out how much mineral you can expect to use each year. 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