Using these products is not a guaranteed way to increase antler growth, but they do have several benefits that can make your deers life more enjoyable and successful. Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag. In fact, theres significant scientific evidence to suggest Cu deficiencies are linked to spontaneous occurrences of brain diseases such as mad cow and CWD. Magnesium is perhaps the third most important mineral with sodium being not far behind. | And make sure you locate your mineral site near a water source, because deer will need to drink after theyve eaten minerals. The author dispenses granular mineral into a covered trough. Stan Potts heads to Montana with his rifle in search of a Big Sky buck. To my knowledge, there is little to no research on the subject as it pertains to deer. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Here are some best practices for placing a homemade mineral lick on your property: By following these best practices for placing a homemade deer mineral lick, you can ensure that your deer will have access to important minerals in a safe and comfortable area. Dicalcium phosphate contains around 19 percent phosphorous and 20 to 25 percent calcium. Dig a whole 2-3" deep by about 3 feet across. 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. This is a great way to add to your water table (and your wallet) by using natural minerals to add to water. Now, back to the 18 percent protein. JavaScript is disabled. Once youve thoroughly mixed the minerals with the soil, youre done. Micro-nutrients such as Cu, Zn and Se are particularly important to whitetails, responsible for many metabolic activities and immune development. Weve learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. Even though we used protein in this example, the same is true for nutrients in a mineral supplement. But generally, one per 100 acres will ensure that the majority of the deer will have easy access to a mineral site. 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. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Here are some deer mineral recipe tips and tactics to get your whitetails as healthy as they can be. Mineral licks arent going to magically grow trophy racks on a bucks head, but they are a piece of the management puzzle. 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. July 1, 2022 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, February 27, 2023 |The Realblog with Stephanie Mallory, February 28, 2023 |Brow Tines and Backstrap. If the buck consumes only 3 pounds of the 28 percent protein product but eats 5 pounds of the 22 percent product, he is actually getting more protein from the 22 percent product than the 28 percent product. Research in Tennessee supports this. 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. 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. However, while recent studies have shown that adult bucks indeed do much of the breeding, bucks as young as 1 1/2 also areinvolved in the rut game. Choose an area that is open with plenty of sunlight exposure. You can provide deer these minerals and supplemented nutrition a variety of ways. Maybe, or maybe not. It may not display this or other websites correctly. After all, it sure looks that way. We routinely give our cattle minerals, Larry said, and we wondered if it would be possible to make a mineral for deer?. Honestly, I'm not sure and it really doesn't matter to me that much. 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. Monitor the lick and the deer activity around it regularly. If one mineral supplement has 5 percent calcium and another has 7 percent calcium, but the deer consumes twice the amount of the 5 percent product, then the deer is actually getting more calcium than it would be getting from the 7 percent product. Placing the lick in a spot with tall grasses or shrubs will help the deer feel safe when they are visiting the lick. 2023 Grand View Outdoors All Rights Reserved Do the math. Research has shown that after a site is used, it will often become a part of the feeding and movement pattern. Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. In areas where it is legal to use deer mineral, here is an economic option for you. In the above video, I share a simple recipe for making about 100 pounds of the mix for less than $40. Research shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as they're able to literally eat (vs. lick) the mixture. In reviewing the scientific literature, I quickly discovered there was very little known about critical minerals for deer. 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. Pull up a seat and join us. A homemade deer mineral lick should include minerals that are essential for deer health, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, and selenium. Dig a shallow hole and loosen the soil before adding your minerals. Once they've found the location, it's the salt that keeps them coming back. 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. What Are Arrows Shot From Untuned Bows Likely to Do. 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. 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. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. However, these body sources of calcium and phosphorus provide only a portion needed for optimum antler growth. The white will cause the deer to notice it and start to use it. You can also use this as a trail cam to monitor the growth of your deers antlers. Deer minerals are simple math. 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. As I detailed in the Spring issue, its safe to say that soils determine more about whitetail growth and productivity than any other factor. 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. All Rights Reserved. Any one of a hundred things can influence how often a deer will use a supplemental mineral and how much it will consume. Taking common ingredients found in most homes and mixing them into a viable, attractive combination that deer love is an easy process. Mix it well. As you can imagine, after a deer paws up and eats a bunch of salty dirt, its going to need a drink. Deer. Although many people assume that any mineral will grow trophy bucks, most deer are not that fortunate. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Once you have tried the deer mineral recipe, you need to think about placement of the mineral block. About 40 percent is composed of protein. This makes deer actively seek out concentrated sources of sodium such as natural or manmade licks. A balanced pelleted ration can deliver all the mineral nutrition needed by the herd. Dont expect to see trophy bucks walking around this fall just because you gave them a mineral boost this spring. In so doing, we get fantastic response from the deer herd. #1. Also, slightly burying the pan helped to ensure the mineral would not be spilled. This would equate to a .21 ounce-per-head-per-day intake. Look for the highest amounts of calcium and phosphorus on the label. Salt regulates intake. Deer mineral licks are a great way to attract more deer. 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. These products are used for raising livestock, but are exactly what you need for creating a quality mineral site. 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. Can deer freeze to death when severe cold weather, such as dangerously low temperatures, deep snow and crushing winds, set in? According to research, yes. Michigan Hunter Shoots 200-class Non-typical After Oversleeping That Morning, How to Find Big Buck Sanctuaries in the Spring, Potential Kentucky State Record Crossbow Typical Shot in Hemp Field, Iowa Bowhunter Goes Stealth Mode with a Tree Saddle to Bag 194-inch Non-typical, Saskatchewan Hunter Finds Target Sheds After Looking for Multiple Days, Nebraska Shed Hunter's Wife and Dog Find 6x9 Set One Year After Learning About the Buck, Oklahoma Hunter Sticks Heavy-antlered Non-typical After Gaining Permission on Property. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Here is a recipe one of the MO conservation agents passed on to us hunters. However, in many areas feeding isnt a legal option. However, there must be enough salt in the product for the deer to be attracted to it. 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. Get tips from Steve Bartylla in this Hunt em Big. In addition, one group was provided a commercial mineral supplement. Once you've thoroughly mixed the minerals with the soil, you're done. Every two weeks, remove any remaining mineral and wash or wipe out the pan with 50 percent bleach water to kill bacteria and parasite eggs. They have a bit of a red pepper tint and some of the seeds are green. Sign up for NDAs free e-newsletter now! However, a University of Georgia study detected 11 different minerals in the whitetails antlers. As I previously mentioned, intake is a vital factor when formulating a mineral or protein supplement or complete feed. Whitetail Institute Mineral for Deer 5. For several years now, I have been formulating free choice minerals for wild deer. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Updates are provided, P.O. These are the most potent and effective of the three elements. Also, fawns will learn mineral site areas from their mothers and will return to sites even after they are weaned. A good Deer Mineral Recipe can help lead you to success during hunting season by helping the deer to congregate to a common area. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. Furthermore, when the same deer were examined the following year as 2.5yearolds, no differences were detected between the two groups. Lucky Buck Apple Flavored Deer Attractant 4. However, several studies have shown that while deer readily use mineral licks high in salt, they rarely, if ever, use pure mineral supplements. Salt 5.0 lbs, Salt 12.5 lbs. Homemade deer mineral supplements work best near waterholes and food plots. Email: info@deerassociation.com. 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. Site by Gray Loon. Making your own deer mineral isn't hard, nor is it expensive. Homemade deer mineral licks can provide tasty nutrients to the deer that will make them come back looking for more. Clearly minerals are important in antler development. Deer, during this time of year, are actively searching for it. Replace the lick periodically to ensure that the deer are receiving the minerals they need. At the same time, I reviewed the cameras located at each spot to identify how many deer were using the site each day. That would certainly work. Farm A had an average number of 11 adult deer using the site on a daily basis. We've learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. This study differed from the Penn State study in that both herds were fed a nutritionally complete diet. Originally came off the QDMA website, but I can't find it know. I've used all manner of commercial mineral products over the years, and I've also epxerimented with my own blends. You can use granular minerals or dicalcium phosphate, which can be found at a feed store. Along those same lines, deer will more readily utilize minerals that are ground applied than offered in a man-made feeder. In formulating a plan of attack regarding mineral nutrition, I went to the same folks wed consulted about planting forages: dairymen. Have you ever wondered why deer hammer mineral licks in the warm-weather months more than any other time of year? During the spring and summer, deer operate at a sodium deficiency due to the high potassium and water content of the forage. I group these factors into two categories non-nutritional and nutritional factors. Then use a shovel or pitchfork to turn up the ground. 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). This is especially true of dried molasses, which deer love. In addition to calcium (19 percent) and phosphorus (10 percent), the next most common elements were magnesium (1 percent) and sodium (0.5 percent). Place the lick in an area that has plenty of natural browse available. 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. Bogart, GA 30622 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. To identify how many deer were using the site on a bucks head, but they are visiting the.... Portion needed for optimum antler growth addition, one per 100 acres will ensure that the deer will readily. Source, because deer will use a shovel or pitchfork to turn up the.. Of your deers antlers the minerals they need at a sodium deficiency due to the legendary Buffalo County,,!, fawns will learn mineral site categories non-nutritional and nutritional factors the salt that keeps coming... Severe cold weather, such as dangerously low temperatures, deep snow and crushing winds, set in about! Is true for nutrients in a cookie of calcium and phosphorus on the subject it... 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