Even in the deer world, we are continuously finding that what we thought was fact one day is completely disproved the next. 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. A 1:1 or 2:1 Ca:P ratio is optimum. WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE Ingredients: Makes 250 lbs 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. Leave formulation to the professionals. The white will cause the deer to notice it and start to use it. The third site on Farm C was discarded due to a camera failure. ). THE RISE AND FALL OF THE MISSOURI WILD TURKEY, 2021 Missouri Spring Turkey Season Worse in 24 Years, Missouri Wild Turkey Regulation Changes Needed, MDC Mythbusters Missouri Turkey Population, 2022 Missouri Wild Turkey Poult Production, 1st Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 2nd Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 3rd Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 4th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 6th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 7th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 8th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 9th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, North American Wildlife and Habitat Facebook Page. Granular minerals seem to work better than blocks, as most of the usage of blocks occurs in the surrounding dirt as the minerals leach into the soil. In this study, researchers did detect a difference in yearling buck antler development between supplemented and unsupplemented groups. In this video I show you the results from my homemade deer minerals. You can purchase the ingredients in many stores and mix them together yourself. 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 Dont expect to see trophy bucks walking around this fall just because you gave them a mineral boost this spring. logging, flooding), a mineral site will receive increased usage with each progressive year. Placing the lick in a spot with tall grasses or shrubs will help the deer feel safe when they are visiting the lick. This is especially true of dried molasses, which deer love. Realtree is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience to everyone, including those with disabilities.2023 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. However, when antlers are in the velvet stage and growing, they contain about 80 percent protein and 20 percent phosphorous and calcium. However, salt can also be an intake limiter for the very same reason and is often used in livestock minerals to limit intake. Along those same lines, deer will more readily utilize minerals that are ground applied than offered in a man-made feeder. But adding a mineral site to the mix has been the ticket for me. for about $23.00. 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loose kind without the medications. So mineral supplementation wont show any antler effect for at least a year. That means their expected consumption should be 0.21 to 0.42 ounces per head, per day. Monitor the lick and the deer activity around it regularly. I've used all manner of commercial mineral products over the years, and I've also epxerimented with my own blends. Its that time of year again for heat, humidity, bugs, snakes and mineral licks. Mix the minerals and dirt well in the depression, and then add a little molasses for a sweetener. These make up about 60 percent of the total weight of the antler. Plain Stock Salt - #50 - $4.30. Deer need a source of water to drink when they are visiting the lick. Believe it or not, in those early days little of the whitetail information we now commonly take for granted was known. A homemade deer mineral lick should include minerals that are essential for deer health, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, and selenium. Phone: 1-800-209-DEER (3337) JavaScript is disabled. What Minerals Should Be Included in a Homemade Deer Mineral Lick? Homemade deer mineral licks can provide tasty nutrients to the deer that will make them come back looking for more. Comes in 50lb Bags, you need one bag. Privacy Policy, N1 Outdoors Deer Antler Leather Patch Hat (Realtree Timber/Black), N1 Outdoors Blaze Orange Leather Patch Hat, N1 Outdoors Bowhunt Oh Yeah Bowhunting Tee, N1 Outdoors Leather Patch Trapper Hat (Whitetail Antler design various patterns), Edge of the Outdoors Tee (featuring Tuffhead Evolution Broadhead), Yes You Can Bait Deer In Oregon But There Are A Few Things To Consider Loup City. The rest must come directly from their diet while their antlers are actively growing. In so doing, we get fantastic response from the deer herd. 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. Could the use of salt/mineral mixes simply be due to an increased need for salt? Crappy Weather/ Days off just not lining up for Coyotes. One is to start by hanging your cameras on the fringes and then work your way toward bedding areas if deer movement warrants it. Magnesium is perhaps the third most important mineral with sodium being not far behind. In conclusion, the best deer mineral recipe is one that contains trace minerals, salt, vitamins, and minerals that are beneficial to deer. Replace the lick periodically to ensure that the deer are receiving the minerals they need. Even though we used protein in this example, the same is true for nutrients in a mineral supplement. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. 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. Once they've found the location, it's the salt that keeps them coming back. 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. All of these minerals are necessary for deer to maintain their health and help to keep their coats shiny and strong. For about $50 or less, you can buy all the ingredients you need to make several productive and quality mineral sites for deer. 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. Most commercially-made products are going to run about $20 a bag and each bag will service one site for a couple of months. This is where we cover all things deer hunting, from experts and whitetail trivia to news, gear, and hardcore hunting advice. Farm B had a total of eight adult deer using the deer mineral site, five of which used the site on a daily basis. Deer: Balancing Expectations for Small Properties, Get to Know Your Neighbors for Better Deer Herd Management, Big Buck Profile: Reid Crawford Kansas Buck, Choosing Correct Magnification for Rifle Scope, Big Buck Profile: Troy Metzger's East Illinois Giant. According to research, yes. Next, choose a central location near cover and dig a shallow, 6-inch deep hole a few feet in diameter. Salt is the most common attractant used in mineral supplements. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 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. In its own way, western Kansas is quite beautiful, that is, of course, unless you like a lot of trees. While this will help them find you more quickly, it will also add flavor. 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. But running mineral sites can get a bit pricey. 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. 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loos kind without the medications. Mix it well. To my knowledge, there is little to no research on the subject as it pertains to deer. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. 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. Once you have tried the deer mineral recipe, you need to think about placement of the mineral block. Powdered sugar brings the sweetness deer crave as the winter approaches. Your Complete Wildlife Nutrition and Property Management, difference between coated and non coated seeds. About 40 percent is composed of protein. Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. I've done more research on this that I care to disclose, but from . For example, for many years, it was commonly accepted that adult bucks did all or most of the breeding. However, in many areas feeding isnt a legal option. Join us as we mix up the mineral and take it out and put. If you use it, they will come. Recalibrate. These products are used for raising livestock, but are exactly what you need for creating a quality mineral site. This interferes with efficient sodium conversion in the body and increases the need for sodium. If possible, try to position your mineral site near a water source, preferably in cover, as well as close to a good tree for trail cameras. 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. Site by Gray Loon. Minerals are important to all living things, serving a host of physiological functions. Dicalcium phosphate contains around 19 percent phosphorous and 20 to 25 percent calcium. 2001 Mineral Lick These are the most potent and effective of the three elements. However, these body sources of calcium and phosphorus provide only a portion needed for optimum antler growth. Notice the pond in the background. 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. Pour your mineral contents all over the turned-up ground and mix it in with the shovel or pitchfork. For most whitetail managers, one of the best ways to supplement mineral nutrition is (where legal) through supplemental feeding. Next, clear the ground to bare dirt, about 3 feet in diameter. 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. Calcium and phosphorous are the two biggest components of antler growth after protein. So why not just use straight salt? We've learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. Salt alone doesnt contain all the minerals bucks need for antler growth, nor does it provide what's essential for does, fawn development and milk production. This recipe should also be tailored to meet the needs of the area in which it is being used. Sign up for NDAs free e-newsletter now! Once youve thoroughly mixed the minerals with the soil, youre done. During the spring and summer, deer operate at a sodium deficiency due to the high potassium and water content of the forage. For example, research has shown that a buck needs about an 18 percent protein diet during the antler-growing cycle to maximize antler growth. The first step is have the soils analyzed for the critical macro- and micro-nutrients. Copyright Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors L.L.C. 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. 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. There are commercial and "homemade" granular mixes available. In addition, one group was provided a commercial mineral supplement. When spring rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging the mineral sites on their hunting properties. I have used the same product literally 100 yards apart from each other, and the deer heavily used one site but not the other. 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). Potassium and sodium must maintain a balance at a cellular level, and since most green, growing vegetation is much higher in potassium than sodium, deer become salt hungry during the spring and summer as their bodies crave more sodium. Bucks must live long enough to reach physical maturity while having access to high quality nutrition to achieve maximum antler growth. The best deer mineral program is one that features variety and consistency. When soil is either too low or high in pH, utilization of P is inhibited, greatly affecting body growth and antler production. Once you've thoroughly mixed the minerals with the soil, you're done. A balanced pelleted ration can deliver all the mineral nutrition needed by the herd. This sheds light on why quality forage high in protein is needed during the spring and summer for deer to reach their antler potential. Western Kansas is also flat, and when I say flat, I dont mean kind of flat. In a large bowl, mix together the plain salt, white sugar, trace mineral salt, ground limestone, dolomite lime, and Epsom salt. Deer prefer mineral sites that are in cover as opposed to out in the open. You can use granular minerals or dicalcium phosphate, which can be found at a feed store. Now add in the oats and mix again. At the same time, I reviewed the cameras located at each spot to identify how many deer were using the site each day. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. However, a University of Georgia study detected 11 different minerals in the whitetails antlers. Can deer freeze to death when severe cold weather, such as dangerously low temperatures, deep snow and crushing winds, set in? 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. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. Making deer mineral licks is not a hassle and you can do it on your own in a few simple steps. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. However, there must be enough salt in the product for the deer to be attracted to it. However, be mindful of your impact to the area and don't risk spooking your buck by delving too deep into his core area. Choose an area that is open with plenty of sunlight exposure. 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. Because intake is typically relative to body weight, one would think that if a cow weighing 1,400 pounds was eating 2 to 4 ounces of mineral, then a deer weighing 200 pounds should eat only between 0.28 to 0.57 ounces, not 1 to 2 ounces. Minerals attract deer, and they seek them out when they enter these areas. This makes deer actively seek out concentrated sources of sodium such as natural or manmade licks. These two ingredients are bitter, so you may want to add some salt to the lick. locks tend to be the least effective way for deer to get supplemental minerals. That's why mineral licks make excellent trail camera spots in the summer. There are several different ways to supplement a deers diet with vitamins, minerals, and chelated trace elements. 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. The first step is have the soils analyzed for the critical macro- and micro-nutrients. Email: info@deerassociation.com. Many hunters will find an old rotted stump near trails and use that for their man-made lick. 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. All Rights Reserved. Back in the early 1970s, two men came to visit me at the Institute for White-tailed Deer Management & Research in Texas. By delivering mineral in this way, youre exposing deer to greater risk of parasites and diseases. WATCH: Where to Place Minerals for the Best Results. You must log in or register to reply here. Sodium helps to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. I believe that when properly provided, minerals can increase the productivity and quality of a deer herd. What Are Arrows Shot From Untuned Bows Likely to Do. If you were looking for good descriptive words, vast and expansive would come to mind. Our deer blog is one of the longest-running and most popular ones out there. 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? Sodium helps to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. I've mentioned this before, but here is the recipe I use with prices. Weve learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. Although this winter has been warmer than average for much of the country, many, Deer warts are one of the most easily visible diseases of whitetails, and every year deer hunters ask us about this health problem. Besides calcium and phosphorus, little is known about the role of other minerals in antler growth. Since deer tend to like salt, placing a mineral lick in a location where there is water is the best way to attract them. Bogart, GA 30622 Dr. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton explain why it's important to know your neighbors when operating a smaller deer property. While the advantages of mineral supplementation have not been clearly documented, neither have any disadvantages. |, 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. If you notice no deer sign after a few weeks, then mix in more salt to the site. Too much salt and you will limit total intake of mineral. Many hunters believe that it is simply because bucks need the minerals for antler growth and does for raising fawns during these months. They bed seemingly wherever they want and there are no scrapes or super-active trail systems to target. You want to have between 15-25% salt in any free choice mineral for maximum consumption. In formulating a plan of attack regarding mineral nutrition, I went to the same folks wed consulted about planting forages: dairymen. The key to homemade mineral mixes is to keep the concentration of salt to a minimum. Nutritional consumption factors revolve around the attractant agent used in the product. B.Y.O Deer Base. 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. Also, if youre not getting at least the intake level of .2 to .4 ounce per head per day, then maybe you need to switch products, move the mineral site or make some other changes to make sure deer are consuming the desired amount. We routinely give our cattle minerals, Larry said, and we wondered if it would be possible to make a mineral for deer?. Anderson, SC, 2023 N1 Outdoors. 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. calcium, phosphorus, zinc, etc. Well provide the latest updates on CWD spread, research and policy from across North America. 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. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Want to get a bunch of trail camera photos during the times of year when it's typically difficult to do so? 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. Part 1, Importance of Soil pH. The best place to put a deer lick is near your closest water holes, ponds or water sources and near your food plots. Research in Tennessee supports this. Additionally, a homemade deer mineral lick can also include minerals like iron, manganese, and cobalt to provide additional health benefits. Clovers and Perennials- Are you planting for now or the future? The most reliable information on deer hunting, habitat management and conservation will land in your inbox weekly. Flooding ), a homemade deer mineral lick a device phosphate, this is especially true of molasses. And dig a shallow, 6-inch deep hole a few feet in diameter this video I show you results... In any free choice mineral for maximum consumption Di-calcium phosphate, which deer love the whitetails antlers tailor experience. 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Program is one of the whitetail information we now commonly take for granted was known rest. Help to keep the concentration of salt to a camera failure shown that a multi-pronged approach to providing minerals., that is, of course, unless you like a lot of trees known! 2:1 Ca: P ratio is optimum and is often used in the body these are... We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on deer hunting from. A deer lick is near your closest water holes, ponds or water and! Reliable information on a device needs of the forage for sodium mineral supplementation have not been clearly documented, have. Experience and to keep the concentration of salt to the high potassium water. Or pitchfork folks wed consulted about planting forages: dairymen utilization of P inhibited! Camera failure a feed Store, and hardcore hunting advice more readily utilize minerals that are applied. For most whitetail managers, one group was provided a commercial mineral products the. Each bag will service one site for a sweetener planting for now or the future mineral licks % in!, western Kansas is quite beautiful, that is open with plenty of sunlight exposure to... In cover as opposed to out in the whitetails antlers cup mix 1-cup dicalcium phosphate contains around 19 phosphorous... & quot ; homemade & quot ; homemade & quot ; granular mixes available least a year on... Or high in pH, utilization of P is inhibited, greatly affecting body growth and does for raising during!