One is to start by hanging your cameras on the fringes and then work your way toward bedding areas if deer movement warrants it. 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. The key is to have realistic expectations. Therefore, mineral supplementation prior to and during antler growth may be beneficial. A lot is made over the power of mineral sites to grow antlers and create a healthier deer population. 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. Make sure the lick is near a water source. When creating sites, I try to find heavily used trails or trail crossings somewhere in cover (brush or timber) and create the site just off that trail or trail crossing. Those actually were wonderful days to do research, as my colleagues and I picked the low-hanging fruit of knowledge. In addition to calcium (19 percent) and phosphorus (10 percent), the next most common elements were magnesium (1 percent) and sodium (0.5 percent). 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 terms of trying to identify the total number of different deer using each sight, how much did human error play into the results? About 40 percent is composed of protein. Now that we have an idea of the role minerals play in your management plan, lets look at the recipe. Find an area located in some cover close to the water source. 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. Comes in 50lb Bags, you need one bag. Place the lick in an area that has good soil drainage. Place the lick in a location that has a lot of natural cover. Of course, the other macro- and micro-nutrients should be included in lesser amounts. During the summer, finding locations that deer frequent often can be tough. 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. In other words, were some deer that came to the sight twice a day actually counted as two different deer? Also, fawns will learn mineral site areas from their mothers and will return to sites even after they are weaned. Magnesium is perhaps the third most important mineral with sodium being not far behind. They know that deer typically begin using supplemental minerals around spring green-up and continue until early fall. If the mineral soil is buried in the ground, you may need to add more salt to it. All of these minerals are necessary for deer to maintain their health and help to keep their coats shiny and strong. This should be followed by developing a food-plot or native-plant fertilization program to ameliorate any deficiencies. At the same time, I reviewed the cameras located at each spot to identify how many deer were using the site each day. 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. A lot is made over the power of mineral sites to grow antlers and create a healthier deer population. Free choice minerals are probably one of the most difficult products where you can get a good sense of intake. It won't take long to sink a few hundred bucks into the ground. Back in the early 1970s, two men came to visit me at the Institute for White-tailed Deer Management & Research in Texas. The white earth minerals work well if you want to add . Phone: 1-800-209-DEER (3337) These products are used for raising livestock, but are exactly what you need for creating a quality mineral site. This would equate to an average ounce-per-head-per-day intake of .29 ounces. My best advice here is to use an attractant with an aroma or flavor that's natural to your area. Dig a whole 2-3" deep by about 3 feet across. 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). Clearly minerals are important in antler development. Furthermore, when the same deer were examined the following year as 2.5yearolds, no differences were detected between the two groups. The best way to provide supplemental minerals is by using a granular mineral that contains less than 30 percent salt and has Ca and P at the rate of 12 percent each. Have you ever traveled through western Kansas? To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Get tips from Steve Bartylla in this Hunt em Big. TINK'S Doe-in-Rut Buck Lure 2. Predator Hunting (Coyote, Bobcat, Fox, Wolf, Cougar, etc. I have found that mineral sites located in sandy areas are utilized less than mineral sites in heavier soils. Just be sure to dig up some of the existing dirt and mix the trace mineral salt and dicalcium phosphate into the soil. Blocks these are commercial mineral blocks placed on the ground or on a stump, and deer get the minerals by licking the block or consuming the soil below it. In todays video we are going to show you guys how to make your own deer mineral and save some money. Many home deer mineral lick recipes use a 2:1 ratio of dicalcium phosphate to salt. This will help you determine if the lick is being used, and if it needs to be moved or replenished. Attraction to salt is caused by the balance of potassium and sodium in the deers body. Over the years, Ive written on a number of occasions about mineral supplementation for whitetails. The best places for minerals are around a water source ponds, creeks, lakes, etc. All Rights Reserved. Leave formulation to the professionals. Email: info@deerassociation.com. #1. Copper and zinc aid in the production of red blood cells, while selenium is an important antioxidant. Over a four year period the researchers were unable to detect any differences between the two deer herds. The white will cause the deer to notice it and start to use it. Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag. To make a homemade deer mineral lick, gather ingredients for the mix. In a similar study conducted at Auburn University, researchers tried to detect differences in body and antler size between an unsupplemented and supplemented group. We also identified magnesium deficiencies in some Michigan deer when we discovered dozens of them eating mud rich in this mineral. Research shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as they're able to literally eat (vs. lick) the mixture. Your Complete Wildlife Nutrition and Property Management, difference between coated and non coated seeds. The best time to put out these mineral blocks is in February/March/April. However, in many areas feeding isnt a legal option. One final deer mineral site consideration for non-nutritional factors is soil type. The best place to put a deer lick is near your closest water holes, ponds or water sources and near your food plots. An easy and beneficial mineral recipe for whitetail deer and an aid in antler. Here's a recipe that's simple and easy to attract deer to your stand or camera. Again, this isnt a magic trick that will ensure you have trophy bucks running around your property, but youll at least have peace of mind that your deer have access to all the minerals they will need to stay healthy and to develop antlers and healthy fawns. Dicalcium Phosphate Mix the ingredients above with 1 part dicalcium phosphate. Mineral sites do exactly that. However, there must be enough salt in the product for the deer to be attracted to it. The author dispenses granular mineral into a covered trough. Factors Affecting Mineral Intake Rice bran is around $10 for a 40-pound bag. Creating a lick is certainly fun, inexpensive, and watching deer respond to these licks is satisfying. Just be sure to buy and use them in conjunction with an EPA-registered water filter. All Rights Reserved. Simply use a bucket with nearby pond or creek water to do this. Even in the deer world, we are continuously finding that what we thought was fact one day is completely disproved the next. The placement of a homemade deer mineral lick on your property is an important factor in encouraging deer to visit and use the lick. As I was at the time formulating a 20-year research plan for our institute, I decided it was a natural fit to include mineral supplementation in the plan. 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. "I take a 5-gallon bucket and use 1/4 Di-calcium phosphate and divide the rest 50/50. This being said, there are many variables at play and these results certainly do not provide a definite answer. To be clear, most of the Ca and P used by a buck to grow antlers come from the flat bones of his body: where they were deposited the previous year. Studies show that there are about 11 minerals in deer antlers. Compared to sheep and goats, whitetails are copper hogs that need a lot of the mineral. This interferes with efficient sodium conversion in the body and increases the need for sodium. Dump no more than 25 lbs per deer lick per application, Lightly kick a little dirt on top of the mineral to make it apear as natural as possible. Bogart, GA 30622 At least eight were using the site each day, including three yearling does, two adult does, two yearling bucks and one 3-year-old buck. Along those same lines, deer will more readily utilize minerals that are ground applied than offered in a man-made feeder. Almost all soils more than 2550 miles from a seacoast are low in sodium. Research shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as theyre able to literally eat (vs. lick) the mixture. WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE Printable version Ingredients: Makes 200 lbs. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I then allowed the deer to use the sites for seven days, at which time I removed the remaining contents from the pan and weighed it in order to get a total usage. 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. The diacalcium phosphate costs about $25 to $30 and the trace-mineral salt is about $12 to $15 per bag. Antlers are comprised of roughly 20 percent calcium and 10 percent phosphorus. The most reliable information on deer hunting, habitat management and conservation will land in your inbox weekly. Salt 5.0 lbs, Salt 12.5 lbs. |, Python Hunter Catches 28 in Florida Python Challenge, Fail Video: Tournament Bass Angler Falls From Boat, Loses Fishing Rod, Great Gear: Bering Optics Rubicon Pro Reflex Sight, Best How-To Deer Hunting Article Ive Ever Read, One or two 50-pound bag(s) of trace-mineral salt. In contrast, most studies on whitetails have focused on the impacts on body weight and antler development. The test was conducted in July. 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. 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. There are commercial and homemade granular mixes available. Now consider that a 200-pound deer is a pretty big deer in many parts of the country, and that does might average 150 pounds. For several years now, I have been formulating free choice minerals for wild deer. This sheds light on why quality forage high in protein is needed during the spring and summer for deer to reach their antler potential. Strongly consider buying a bag of rice bran or other attractant like apple extract that may entice deer to eat the minerals. This makes deer actively seek out concentrated sources of sodium such as natural or manmade licks. Use a mineral site. Additionally, a homemade deer mineral lick can also include minerals like iron, manganese, and cobalt to provide additional health benefits. There are several different ways to supplement a deers diet with vitamins, minerals, and chelated trace elements. What Minerals Should Be Included in a Homemade Deer Mineral Lick? We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. These products can be mixed with water or placed in a tree stump. Maybe I'm overly paranoid but I don't like adding persimmon-scented products in an area where persimmons don't grow. Allow the deer to lick the mineral lick for about two weeks. Many hunters will find an old rotted stump near trails and use that for their man-made lick. Micro-nutrients such as Cu, Zn and Se are particularly important to whitetails, responsible for many metabolic activities and immune development. When spring rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging the mineral sites on their hunting properties. Heavy deer rub activity along this interior path The Trace Mineral salt has all the different minerals which deer need after a long winter. 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. Site by Gray Loon. 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. Its a bountiful area that produces wheat, corn and beef cattle that feed thousands of people around the world. If a buck consumes 8 pounds of total food per day, then in order to hit an 18 percent protein level in his diet, he would need to consume 1.44 pounds of protein. Minerals attract deer, and they seek them out when they enter these areas. No one can say for sure, but its probably because most minerals by themselves are bitter. Watering Note: If theres no rain in the forecast, consider watering the mineral site. Or maybe you have an established mineral site that you need to freshen up. Food additive these minerals are combined with a supplemental feed, and deer get them while consuming the feed. 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. The minerals are not as attractive to deer, but they are a necessity for their body. All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. These make up about 60 percent of the total weight of the antler. If you don't want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription for free! Pour in the mineral and the rice bran at a ratio of 2:1. A few drops of a natural attractant, such as rice bran, apple extract, or salt, can also be added to your deer mineral. The sites attract deer and pose them for short periods in the right spot -- which happens to be right in front of the camera. Join us as we mix up the mineral and take it out and put. So a product that is very high in salt will likely have less total consumption than a product lower in salt. This mineral will be for sale in the next 2 weeks!! 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loos kind without the medications. During the spring and summer, deer operate at a sodium deficiency due to the high potassium and water content of the forage. 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. For example, for many years, it was commonly accepted that adult bucks did all or most of the breeding. But running mineral sites can get a bit pricey. Our deer blog is one of the longest-running and most popular ones out there. Box 160 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. While the advantages of mineral supplementation have not been clearly documented, neither have any disadvantages. Mar 18, 2010. Once you have tried the deer mineral recipe, you need to think about placement of the mineral block. Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens Deer Food Buying Guide Easy to use Effectiveness Affordability Portability Frequently Asked Questions | Deer are very finicky when it comes to eating, especially when it is supplemental products offered to wild deer. Sodium helps to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. The feed a device, inexpensive, and they seek them out when they enter areas. This should be included in a tree stump join us as we mix up the mineral block that! In your inbox weekly needed during the spring and summer for deer to the. 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