I have found that mineral sites located in sandy areas are utilized less than mineral sites in heavier soils. It won't take long to sink a few hundred bucks into the ground. Next, choose a central location near cover and dig a shallow, 6-inch deep hole a few feet in diameter. Salt becomes less of an attractant, which means that in order to get continued mineral consumption, a different type of attractant must be used. I've mentioned this before, but here is the recipe I use with prices. Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag. Join other outdoor enthusiasts who already get great content delivered right to their inbox. Spread evenly the remainder of the bag of salt. By delivering mineral in this way, youre exposing deer to greater risk of parasites and diseases. This would equate to a .21 ounce-per-head-per-day intake. That means their expected consumption should be 0.21 to 0.42 ounces per head, per day. Calcium and phosphorus are important for bone growth, while magnesium helps to regulate muscle and nerve function. With careful consideration of the deers nutritional requirements and the needs of the environment, a successful deer mineral recipe can be created. WATCH: 3 Things Youre Doing Wrong with Your Mineral Sites. I group these factors into two categories non-nutritional and nutritional factors. Basically, the deer will tell you where they like to eat. In fact, theres significant scientific evidence to suggest Cu deficiencies are linked to spontaneous occurrences of brain diseases such as mad cow and CWD. Type of mineral formulation affected total deer use of baited sites, with a high salt formulation receiving over four times the number of daily visits from deer as other formulations. 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. Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. 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. The National Deer Association is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. In areas where it is legal to use deer mineral, here is an economic option for you. Place the lick in a location that has a lot of natural cover. Build your own deer base is designed to make your own deer mineral using individual ingredients or you can add it to either your current mineral to make it more fortified. Minerals are also important for does. We've learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. for about $23.00. I replicated the test on three different farms to help alleviate variables, at least to a certain degree. Increased aggression by certain deer (usually adult does) that guard the site will decrease the number of deer utilizing that particular location. Although deer obviously arent cows, we realized there were three things we needed to learn in regard to mineral supplementation: (1) Which minerals deer need; (2) How do deer obtain these minerals in the wild; and (3) Whats the best way to provide such supplements? This particularly is true for sandy soils, as well as highly acidic (low pH) or basic (high pH) soils. These make up about 60 percent of the total weight of the antler. Nutrient levels mean virtually nothing if you do not at least have an approximate idea of how much of a product the deer are consuming. Phone: 1-800-209-DEER (3337) Even though we used protein in this example, the same is true for nutrients in a mineral supplement. At the same time, I reviewed the cameras located at each spot to identify how many deer were using the site each day. Creating a lick is certainly fun, inexpensive, and watching deer respond to these licks is satisfying. While there are a number of commercial products available to create mineral licks, a more affordable and perhaps better option is to drive down to your local feed and seed or farmers co-op and buy a 50-pound bag of dicalcium phosphate and one or two 50-pound bag of trace-mineral salt. Sodium helps to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. Also, slightly burying the pan helped to ensure the mineral would not be spilled. 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 began the project by placing black plastic feeding pans at my oldest and most frequented deer mineral sites. Factors Affecting Mineral Intake Any one of a hundred things can influence how often a deer will use a supplemental mineral and how much it will consume. Deer prefer mineral sites that are in cover as opposed to out in the open. That would certainly work. Farm B had a total of eight adult deer using the deer mineral site, five of which used the site on a daily basis. Those actually were wonderful days to do research, as my colleagues and I picked the low-hanging fruit of knowledge. The best time to put out these mineral blocks is in February/March/April. However, when antlers are in the velvet stage and growing, they contain about 80 percent protein and 20 percent phosphorous and calcium. There are commercial and homemade granular mixes available. Next, clear the ground to bare dirt, about 3 feet in diameter. Of course, the other macro- and micro-nutrients should be included in lesser amounts. We also identified magnesium deficiencies in some Michigan deer when we discovered dozens of them eating mud rich in this mineral. February 24, 2023 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, February 22, 2023 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes. 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. Box 160 However, several studies have shown that while deer readily use mineral licks high in salt, they rarely, if ever, use pure mineral supplements. Before beginning the test, I allowed 30 days to let the deer get used to the feeding pan and then began the test after I started seeing consistent usage on my trail cameras. In a large bowl, mix together the plain salt, white sugar, trace mineral salt, ground limestone, dolomite lime, and Epsom salt. This is where we cover all things deer hunting, from experts and whitetail trivia to news, gear, and hardcore hunting advice. You want to get as much calcium and phosphorous into a deer as possible. Making your own deer mineral isn't hard, nor is it expensive. Pour your mineral contents all over the turned-up ground and mix it in with the shovel or pitchfork. A 1:1 or 2:1 Ca:P ratio is optimum. 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loos kind without the medications. In other words, were some deer that came to the sight twice a day actually counted as two different deer? 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. Compared to sheep and goats, whitetails are copper hogs that need a lot of the mineral. However, there must be enough salt in the product for the deer to be attracted to it. Once youve thoroughly mixed the minerals with the soil, youre done. The ingredients include Trace mineral salt, Di-calcium phosphate, and dried molasses. Bucks must live long enough to reach physical maturity while having access to high quality nutrition to achieve maximum antler growth. However, the formula I used for this mineral is a fairly standard formula used in many deer mineral products. Place the mixture in a shallow container, such as a baking pan or pie plate, and place it in an area frequented by deer. Part 1, Importance of Soil pH. Honestly, I'm not sure and it really doesn't matter to me that much. I've done more research on this that I care to disclose, but from . To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Deer need a source of water to drink when they are visiting the lick. Sign up for NDAs free e-newsletter now! EXPLORE OTHER MEDIA 360 PROPERTIES FOR OUTDOORS ENTHUSIASTS, Hot Gear: Protect Your Phone, Docs with Confidence, Ultralight Tactical Tomahawk The Proven Multipurpose Outdoor Tool. Can deer freeze to death when severe cold weather, such as dangerously low temperatures, deep snow and crushing winds, set in? While all these minerals are important, we quickly learned that Ca and P in particular had a lot to do with the size of deer and their antlers. When soil is either too low or high in pH, utilization of P is inhibited, greatly affecting body growth and antler production. Once you have tried the deer mineral recipe, you need to think about placement of the mineral block. Since deer tend to like salt, placing a mineral lick in a location where there is water is the best way to attract them. In contrast, most studies on whitetails have focused on the impacts on body weight and antler development. Because of the large quantities of minerals required for antler growth, whitetails have developed the ability to bank calcium and phosphorus in their skeletons and then transfer these minerals during antler growth. About 40 percent is composed of protein. Photo at mineral lick start in 2001 and end in 2003. Farm A had an average number of 11 adult deer using the site on a daily basis. Arguably, the test might only be representative for the particular deer mineral I was using, and a different mineral with different salt levels or other attractants might have shown a different result. 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. Research on domestic livestock has documented numerous benefits of mineral supplementation including increased forage intake, improved forage digestion, and increased reproductive success. Most professionals relied on information generated primarily for small ruminants, including sheep and goats. Important Note: Minerals on their own are bitter, so be sure to mix in plenty of salt to attract the deer. Deer warts are hairless black or gray tumors caused by a type, CWD Roundup is the National Deer Associations (NDA) bi-monthly update on all things chronic wasting disease (CWD). 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. What does all this mean to the average deer hunter and manager? The white will cause the deer to notice it and start to use it. Get tips from Steve Bartylla in this Hunt em Big. Research shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as theyre able to literally eat (vs. lick) the mixture. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Home Recipes The #1 Best Deer Mineral Recipe. The amount of mineral soil used for antler growth will depend on how many deer will visit the site. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. To make a homemade deer mineral lick, gather ingredients for the mix. ! Magnesium is perhaps the third most important mineral with sodium being not far behind. Important macro-nutrients include: calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and sulfur (S). These categories indicate the amount used by the animal. I have also found that unless there are major changes in the vicinity of the site (i.e. 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. 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. 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. WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE. Granular these minerals are added to the soil, and deer get them by consuming the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture. In conclusion, the best deer mineral recipe is one that contains trace minerals, salt, vitamins, and minerals that are beneficial to deer. Then use a shovel or pitchfork to turn up the ground. Theyre classified as either macro- or micro-nutrients. 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. While this will help them find you more quickly, it will also add flavor. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Western Kansas is also flat, and when I say flat, I dont mean kind of flat. Obvious dietary differences dictated that this information might only be elementary when it came to whitetails. Homemade Mineral Lick Go to your local feed store and buy (1) 50lb bag of granulized dicalcium phosphate, (2) 50lb bags of trace mineral salt, and (1) 50lb bag of rock salt. Getting your food plots back on track. Look for the highest amounts of calcium and phosphorus on the label. Deer will be less likely to visit the lick if there is too much human presence. I struggled with that, because many cattle minerals have a known intake consumption of 2 to 4 ounces per head per day. Deer mineral ingredient levels and nutrient percentages really dont mean much if you dont know how much of the product is being consumed. Look for when choosing the magnification range when it came to the average hunter! Most professionals relied on information generated primarily for small ruminants, including sheep and goats look... 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