All Rights Reserved. Inside the trough, place a metal or plastic pan to hold the mineral. All of these minerals are necessary for deer to maintain their health and help to keep their coats shiny and strong. ). Theyre classified as either macro- or micro-nutrients. Look for the highest amounts of calcium and phosphorus on the label. Or maybe you have an established mineral site that you need to freshen up. You could also create your own homemade mineral licks for deer, by combining various bulk minerals (e.g., stock salt, trace minerals, dicalcium phosphate for deer) from your local coop. Lucky Buck Apple Flavored Deer Attractant 4. According to research, yes. Matt Harper is a deer nutrition specialist from Iowa. As you can see, getting the right salt level in a mineral can be tricky. Despite the number of products now on the market and the amount of information published, many user questions continue. 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. 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. Farm B had a total of eight adult deer using the deer mineral site, five of which used the site on a daily basis. When I felt that the deer were using the site normally again, I removed all content from each pan and replaced it with exactly 5 pounds of mineral at each site. Dig a whole 2-3" deep by about 3 feet across. The key is to have realistic expectations. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. I have found that mineral sites located in sandy areas are utilized less than mineral sites in heavier soils. 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. In areas where it is legal to use deer mineral, here is an economic option for you. A 1:1 or 2:1 Ca:P ratio is optimum. By using 1-2.5 lb bag of B.Y.O Deer Base to create 25 lbs of deer mineral, you will have the most bio available deer mineral in the market place. Im talking smashed with a giant skillet flat. 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. Sodium helps to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. Farm A had an average number of 11 adult deer using the site on a daily basis. Since deer tend to like salt, placing a mineral lick in a location where there is water is the best way to attract them. Interestingly, the immense prehistoric deer called the Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus) went extinct during the last global warmup shortly after the Ice Age, apparently due to the loss of tundra plants high in Ca and P. Fossil evidence supports these deer were victims of spontaneous cervical fractures caused by osteoporosis. How to Make the World's Best Homemade Deer Attractant Feed Mineral - YouTube Skip navigation Sign in 0:00 / 18:02 Intro How to Make the World's Best Homemade Deer Attractant Feed. A classic study on the mineral needs of deer was conducted at Penn State University in the 1950s. I have also found that unless there are major changes in the vicinity of the site (i.e. Increased aggression by certain deer (usually adult does) that guard the site will decrease the number of deer utilizing that particular location. This would equate to a .21 ounce-per-head-per-day intake. But there is another important factor thats nearly always overlooked by both people using free choice minerals and those putting these products together. Whether the addition of supplemental minerals is truly benefitting the deer, or if the deer are simply using the site because of the salt, isn't really a primary concern of mine. They know that deer typically begin using supplemental minerals around spring green-up and continue until early fall. This final and vital piece of the puzzle is daily intake. In this edition of "Big Buck Profile," Gordon Whittington talks with young whitetail hunter Reid Crawford about his trophy buck taken in 2017. In todays video we are going to show you guys how to make your own deer mineral and save some money. It would appear that, based on the test results, intake of a free choice deer mineral is substantially lower than what is commonly thought and much closer to the predicted intake based on body weight calculation. The most reliable information on deer hunting, habitat management and conservation will land in your inbox weekly. When spring rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging the mineral sites on their hunting properties. They know that deer typically begin using supplemental minerals around spring green-up and continue until early fall. 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). However, soil limitations often dictate using supplements to fill in the blanks created by scarcity of critical minerals in the native environment. Factors Affecting Mineral Intake These folks should know more than anyone about proper nutrition for ruminants, a group that includes whitetails. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Using a mineral mixture that has less than 50 percent salt will not attract deer. ! Pull up a seat and join us. Simply use a bucket with nearby pond or creek water to do this. So mineral supplementation wont show any antler effect for at least a year. In its own way, western Kansas is quite beautiful, that is, of course, unless you like a lot of trees. 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. To my knowledge, there is little to no research on the subject as it pertains to deer. You can also locate these sites near good trees for trail cameras. There also is 5 flavors that are natural to deer. 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. In this edition of "From The Stand," Pat Hogan explains the importance of being aware of proper clearance when using your bow or crossbow out in the field. One of the easiest ways to lure deer to your property is to place a mineral lick. Copyright Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors L.L.C. But this does not guarantee that deer will use the site. Place the lick in a location that has a lot of natural cover. The 2 most important elements on a tag are the calcium levels and phosphorous levels. for about $23.00. Therefore, in these areas, salt may be just as necessary as calcium and phosphorus to whitetails during the spring and summer. People have used corn, apples, cherries, and salt in a variety of ways to bring deer into an area near a hunting blind or deer stand. 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. Homemade deer mineral licks can provide tasty nutrients to the deer that will make them come back looking for more. Most commercially-made products are going to run about $20 a bag and each bag will service one site for a couple of months. With careful consideration of the deers nutritional requirements and the needs of the environment, a successful deer mineral recipe can be created. I began the project by placing black plastic feeding pans at my oldest and most frequented deer mineral sites. During the spring and summer, deer operate at a sodium deficiency due to the high potassium and water content of the forage. Weve learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. But I think the aroma of the added products -- the general purpose mineral in the blend above -- helps deer find the location faster and may add some level of taste value as well. Thats all there is to it. After all, it sure looks that way. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Deer need a source of water to drink when they are visiting the lick. Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag. This should be followed by developing a food-plot or native-plant fertilization program to ameliorate any deficiencies. I have used the same product literally 100 yards apart from each other, and the deer heavily used one site but not the other. The best places for minerals are around a water source ponds, creeks, lakes, etc. Placing the lick in a spot with tall grasses or shrubs will help the deer feel safe when they are visiting the lick. While this will help them find you more quickly, it will also add flavor. Gordon Whittington talks with Steven Sprout about the trophy buck he took back in 1998 while bowhunting public land in Illinois. Attraction to salt is caused by the balance of potassium and sodium in the deers body. logging, flooding), a mineral site will receive increased usage with each progressive year. However, there must be enough salt in the product for the deer to be attracted to it. Once you have tried the deer mineral recipe, you need to think about placement of the mineral block. Researchers at Mississippi State University found a strong correlation between soil mineral content (primarily phosphorus) and body size, although no correlation with adult antler size was found. By delivering mineral in this way, youre exposing deer to greater risk of parasites and diseases. Here's how to create your own. Dicalcium Phosphate - #50 - $20.10. Sodium helps to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. You should place a mineral site close to a source of water, as deer will need water after ingesting the minerals. Email: info@deerassociation.com. Regardless of the intensity of mineral supplementation, a yearling buck will still be a yearling buck. This is a great way to add to your water table (and your wallet) by using natural minerals to add to water. These are the most potent and effective of the three elements. Not enough salt and it won't be as weather proof nor will it be as palatable. 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. One site for a couple of months and phosphorous levels dig a whole 2-3 '' deep by about 3 across! On the market and the amount of information published, many user questions continue in 50lb Bags around... Areas, salt may be just as necessary as calcium and phosphorus to whitetails during the spring and,. 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