During the summer, finding locations that deer frequent often can be tough. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. Pour in one of the bags of salt and one box of the A & H. Stir in well and then add three forths of the second bag of salt and all of the 2nd box of A & H. Mix in well and smooth over the top. Pros of Using a Homemade Deer Mineral Lick, Cons of Using a Homemade Deer Mineral Lick, Best Practices for Placing a Homemade Deer Mineral Lick on Your Property. To make a homemade deer mineral lick, gather ingredients for the mix. These categories indicate the amount used by the animal. The rest must come directly from their diet while their antlers are actively growing. I then placed cameras at each one of the sites to monitor usage. Even though we used protein in this example, the same is true for nutrients in a mineral supplement. However, soil limitations often dictate using supplements to fill in the blanks created by scarcity of critical minerals in the native environment. Because of this, I normally recommend at least one site per 40 acres to minimize site competition, with more sites needed in areas with higher deer density. Phone: 1-800-209-DEER (3337) Taking common ingredients found in most homes and mixing them into a viable, attractive combination that deer love is an easy process. But there is another important factor thats nearly always overlooked by both people using free choice minerals and those putting these products together. This should be followed by developing a food-plot or native-plant fertilization program to ameliorate any deficiencies. These make up about 60 percent of the total weight of the antler. The best places for minerals are around a water source ponds, creeks, lakes, etc. Trace mineral salt contains mostly salt, which is what the deer are actually looking for, and various other trace amounts of minerals such as zinc, manganese, iron all of which are found in hardened deer antler. Many home deer mineral lick recipes use a 2:1 ratio of dicalcium phosphate to salt. This final and vital piece of the puzzle is daily intake. TOTAL - #200 - $59.60. Do I believe that? When soil is either too low or high in pH, utilization of P is inhibited, greatly affecting body growth and antler production. "I take a 5-gallon bucket and use 1/4 Di-calcium phosphate and divide the rest 50/50. There are many other examples of popular beliefs being dramatically changed through scientific discovery. 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. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The minerals are not as attractive to deer, but they are a necessity for their body. The product you choose needs to have calcium and phosphorus, in as large of quantity as possible. - The Best Explanation. The amount of mineral soil used for antler growth will depend on how many deer will visit the site. Obvious dietary differences dictated that this information might only be elementary when it came to whitetails. Your Complete Wildlife Nutrition and Property Management, difference between coated and non coated seeds. Now, back to the 18 percent protein. If you were looking for good descriptive words, vast and expansive would come to mind. Deer's antlers are made up of over 22% calcium and 11% phosphorous. The first step is have the soils analyzed for the critical macro- and micro-nutrients. 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. calcium, phosphorus, zinc, etc. However, these herds were fed a nutritionally deficient diet below what most whitetails would have access to in the wild. 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. Have you ever traveled through western Kansas? Crappy Weather/ Days off just not lining up for Coyotes. While this will help them find you more quickly, it will also add flavor. Attraction to salt is caused by the balance of potassium and sodium in the deers body. Manage Settings This being said, there are many variables at play and these results certainly do not provide a definite answer. 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. The Importance of Knowing Intake In fact, theres significant scientific evidence to suggest Cu deficiencies are linked to spontaneous occurrences of brain diseases such as mad cow and CWD. In a similar study conducted at Auburn University, researchers tried to detect differences in body and antler size between an unsupplemented and supplemented group. for about $23.00 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. As you can see, getting the right salt level in a mineral can be tricky. For example, research has shown that a buck needs about an 18 percent protein diet during the antler-growing cycle to maximize antler growth. This particularly is true for sandy soils, as well as highly acidic (low pH) or basic (high pH) soils. The best place to put a deer lick is near your closest water holes, ponds or water sources and near your food plots. In a large bowl, mix together the plain salt, white sugar, trace mineral salt, ground limestone, dolomite lime, and Epsom salt. There is little question that increased mineral nutrition can improve your deer herd, and now that you know what to expect for intake, you can use this information to make sure your mineral product is performing as it should. If the mineral soil is buried in the ground, you may need to add more salt to it. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 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. ). Here is a recipe one of the MO conservation agents passed on to us hunters. Pour your mineral contents all over the turned-up ground and mix it in with the shovel or pitchfork. Have you ever wondered why deer hammer mineral licks in the warm-weather months more than any other time of year? 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. Mineral licks also provide a great place to survey deer with game cameras. Whitetail Institute Mineral for Deer 5. 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. Using a 32oz cup mix 1-cup dicalcium phosphate 2-cups trace mineral salt and 1-cup rock salt (ice cream salt) into 5-gallon bucket. There are three main types of mineral supplements. Mar 18, 2010. The test was conducted in July. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Home Recipes The #1 Best Deer Mineral Recipe. 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. Could the use of salt/mineral mixes simply be due to an increased need for salt? If deer were lacking minerals, why wouldnt they use the pure mineral supplement even if salt wasnt present? In addition to calcium (19 percent) and phosphorus (10 percent), the next most common elements were magnesium (1 percent) and sodium (0.5 percent). Deer, during this time of year, are actively searching for it. However, if you are using mineral supplements or considering using them to improve the nutritional plan of the deer herd on your property, I think having at least an idea of what expected intake is is important. Ingredients 2 cups = Oats 2 cups = Cornmeal 1 cup = Brown sugar 1 cup = Molasses 1/2 cup = Vegetable oil Directions In a large bowl, pour in molasses, brown sugar, and vegetable oil. The best deer mineral program is one that features variety and consistency. You can use granular minerals or dicalcium phosphate, which can be found at a feed store. Basically, the deer will tell you where they like to eat. This makes deer actively seek out concentrated sources of sodium such as natural or manmade licks. And make sure you locate your mineral site near a water source, because deer will need to drink after theyve eaten minerals. Place the lick in a location that has a lot of natural cover. WATCH: Where to Place Minerals for the Best Results. Lesser amounts of other minerals were found including potassium, barium, iron, aluminum, zinc, strontium and manganese. Mixing Salts Mix the trace minerals above with 1 part mixing salts Dried Molasses Mix the above ingredients with 1 part dried molasses. The feeding pan had a total of 4.27 pounds, or 68.24 ounces, of mineral remaining. Deer are very finicky when it comes to eating, especially when it is supplemental products offered to wild deer. 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. As fall approaches, vegetation begins to mature and drop in potassium. Sign up for NDAs free e-newsletter now! Gordon Whittington talks with 13-year-old Troy Metzger about the 2016 hunt that landed the young man a monster non-typical buck on this edition of Big Buck Profile. Calcium and phosphorus are important for bone growth, while magnesium helps to regulate muscle and nerve function. You should place a mineral site close to a source of water, as deer will need water after ingesting the minerals. What is the Most Important Factor in Whitetail Nutrition? Stockpiled Forages, The Key to Growing Big Bucks. Monitor the lick and the deer activity around it regularly. 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. Research on domestic livestock has documented numerous benefits of mineral supplementation including increased forage intake, improved forage digestion, and increased reproductive success. Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. According to research, yes. in Food Plots, A different approach, Research is learning what is wrong about a forage. Over the years, Ive written on a number of occasions about mineral supplementation for whitetails. Homemade deer mineral supplements work best near waterholes and food plots. Mineral sites do exactly that. Also, fawns will learn mineral site areas from their mothers and will return to sites even after they are weaned. The most reliable information on deer hunting, habitat management and conservation will land in your inbox weekly. 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loos kind without the medications. Just be sure to buy and use them in conjunction with an EPA-registered water filter. If you use it, they will come. Recalibrate. One is to start by hanging your cameras on the fringes and then work your way toward bedding areas if deer movement warrants it. Pour your mineral contents all over the turned-up ground and mix it in with the shovel or pitchfork. In addition, one group was provided a commercial mineral supplement. Of course, the other macro- and micro-nutrients should be included in lesser amounts. Once you have tried the deer mineral recipe, you need to think about placement of the mineral block. Regardless of the intensity of mineral supplementation, a yearling buck will still be a yearling buck. Therefore, in these areas, salt may be just as necessary as calcium and phosphorus to whitetails during the spring and summer. Gordon Whittington talks with Steven Sprout about the trophy buck he took back in 1998 while bowhunting public land in Illinois. For example, in much of South Texas (which is broadly deficient in P), low rainfall makes trying to grow traditional food plots a fools errand. Instead, we apply 50 pounds per acre of triple-superphosphate (0-45-0) fertilizer to native brush. More Info At www.huntingnet.com Visit site You can use a 1:1 or 2:1 (two parts salt and one part dicalcium phosphate) ratio for your mineral site. Once you begin your mineral-lick program, keep in mind that youll want to refreshen them throughout the year to keep them attracting deer and providing the minerals they need. A balanced pelleted ration can deliver all the mineral nutrition needed by the herd. 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. Food additive these minerals are combined with a supplemental feed, and deer get them while consuming the feed. You must log in or register to reply here. All soils are made up of minerals, and there are clear deficiencies in many areas. In the above video, I share a simple recipe for making about 100 pounds of the mix for less than $40. That would certainly work. Believe it or not, in those early days little of the whitetail information we now commonly take for granted was known. locks tend to be the least effective way for deer to get supplemental minerals. However, when antlers are in the velvet stage and growing, they contain about 80 percent protein and 20 percent phosphorous and calcium. 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. Many of these minerals only make up a fraction of a percent of the antler. Many hunters will find an old rotted stump near trails and use that for their man-made lick. If you dont see any deer activity near the mineral sight, try placing it near water sources and a good tree for trail cameras. 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. A classic study on the mineral needs of deer was conducted at Penn State University in the 1950s. You can also locate these sites near good trees for trail cameras. Micro-nutrients such as Cu, Zn and Se are particularly important to whitetails, responsible for many metabolic activities and immune development. The amount of mineral that remained in the feeding pan was 3.6 pounds or 57.75 ounces. Gordon Whittington heads north to his personal Missouri farm for some crossbow action. 12/12 Trace Mineral - #100 - $35.20. The form it is in (block versus granular), location of the mineral site, soil type, salt content, competition, aggression of other deer, how long the site has been established and a host of other factors all affect how much a mineral site will be used. 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loose kind without the medications. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments. Most folks would simply look at the tag and see that one product is 28 percent and the other 22 percent and just assume that the deer is getting more protein from the 28 percent protein product. Box 160 This recipe should also be tailored to meet the needs of the area in which it is being used. The Best Way to Cook Chanterelle Mushrooms, 12 Reasons Why Your Venison Tastes Like Hell, Watch Pennsylvania Black Bears on Live Den Cam, Midwesterner Discovers Very Rare Melanistic Deer, Why an Old-School .30-06 Hunter is Switching to the 6.5 PRC, Southerners Shoot the Oldest Bucks, Texans Bag the Most Does, and More Highlights from the 2023 NDA Deer Report, Lost and Found: Neighbor Finds Hunters Huge Buck More Than a Year Later, Alabama Rut Kicking, Police Dog Saves Deer Hunter from Icy River, and More Deer Hunting News. Just be sure to dig up some of the existing dirt and mix the trace mineral salt and dicalcium phosphate into the soil.
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