Minerals?

[10_Points or better]

Is it too early yet to put something out? What all do you use? I am trying the deer co-cain black jack, I am putting it out tonight.

[Swens]

Now is the time to get started on putting mineral out, especially if you are starting new mineral locations. I use a lot of the Purina Deer Chow Mineral that I buy from my local Farmers Elevator. Good luck!

http://www.farmersco-opelevator.com/...show=10&mid=23

[Slugger]

IM gonna try some trophy rock this year, I have bought it for 2 years now at my sons school fundraiser and never put it out yet so I have 2 of them I am going to try

[cornfedkiller]

You can put minerals out as soon as you want..It really doesnt matter when you put them out, the deer are going to begin using them whenever they want (need), and the idea is to have them out already whenever that is. I have never really thought of putting them out this early, but now that you mention it, I might...

I make a blend myself..got the recipe off another site, and this stuff works magic! I have used the deer-caine black magic with decent success, but you dont get much for what you pay for, and I have had very limited success with the trophy rocks.

I buy all the stuff at a local feed store, and it usually costs me about $30 for 200 lbs.

100 Lbs Trace Mineral (loose, should be red)
50 Lbs DiCalcium Phosphate
50 Lbs Stock Salt (Ice cream Salt)

Do not mix them until you are ready to put them out. When you are ready, get a coffee can or ice cream bucket or something that you can measure equal proportions with, and mix two parts trace mineral, one part dical, and one part stock salt into a 5 gallon bucket, and mix. Then dig out a spot on the ground about 3 feet across and 6 inches deep...pour the mixture in as you rake the dirt back in, so it all mixes up real well. Try to put it in a spot that will be shaded, as deer dont want to stand in the sun for extended periods of time in July. Replenish in 6 months, and every year after that. The 200 lbs will make about 6-8 mineral stations. There are a few pics below of some does at the stations....

[south40]

I have tried the trophy rocks and they seem to be ok - nothing too crazy. I have heard that the 30-06 mineral is awesome but I can't remember who it is made by. I have also heard that there is a mineral called Lucky Buck that supposedly is great also. They sell Lucky Buck in the Sportsmans guide and we are going to try it this year. I am also going to try a recipe for home made mineral that I read in one of stump's posts from a while ago. Sounds similar to cfk's mix. In addition to the lucky buck and home made mix, we bought some mineral from an elk farm that is supposed to be great for deer.

[10_Points or better]

Based on the pics of bucks I have stopping by for free food I am going to offer every mineral based food possible, and food plots.

[tmoore]

Does that recipe help the deers antler growth to? Can you pour it over an old stump or does it have to be on the ground?

[cornfedkiller]

Does that recipe help the deers antler growth to? Can you pour it over an old stump or does it have to be on the ground?

That was always my thought, considering antler is made of calcium and other minerals, but just this past week, this discussion was brought of up another site, and someone posted a couple links to a couple different university studies showing no improved antler growth with supplemented deer vs non-supplemented. It was stated that of all the minerals in the mix, sodium is the only mineral deer crave and need, because their sodium/potassium balance gets out of whack from eating greens all summer/early fall, and thats really the only reason they visit mineral sites/salt blocks. Basically what the studies were saying is that the only thing you need to give the deer is a source of sodium (ie regular white salt) and it will do just as much for them than the mineral mixtures.

It also said that the other minerals have a bitter taste to them, so I would assume that deer would prefer just plain salt over one of the brown mineral blocks, so it might be worth a try to get one of each and set them a few feet apart with a cam on it and see what happens.

Anyways, after reading the studies, I think this year I am just going to go with 200 lbs of stock (dairy) salt instead of the whole mixture. Apparently it does the same thing for the deer, and it will save me about 30 bucks...

As for pouring it over a stump, I have no idea..I would say it wouldnt have to be on the ground, but I have heard that deer like pawing at the ground and digging it up to get the minerals (???) and thats why people mix them in with the soil, but I dont have any scientific proof of that. I have always had good luck with it, so I figured why change anything..

[Deer-Addict]

I know this is an old post but thought I'd add my 2 cents and bump it back to the top so guys start thinking about mineral and salt again. What I've heard and read about mineral licks is that for the deer to get the full benefit of mineral licks they should be be started by sometime in February. Even if the deer haven't shed yet the bucks are starting to pull the calcium and minerals form their bones in preperation for spring antler growth also the does are putting minerals into the fawns and getting read for milk production in a few months. Most people wait until mid to late summer to get started. That's fine for getting pictures and such but if there is any benifit to antler growth by putting mineral out it would be to late in the year to help. I know last year in January the deer were trying to paw through the snow to get to the mineral (or maybe it was the salt they wanted). I put a bucket of mineral out on the snow and it was gone in a week. The second pail was hit consistantly but lasted until spring. Just the other week I checked my mineral spot and see they are pawing again this year so I'll have to get some mineral and get it out soon. Has anyone else had similar situations?