Strongly consider buying a bag of rice bran or other attractant like apple extract that may entice deer to eat the minerals. However, deer are not attracted to a high-salt solution and will not consume it. Do I believe that? 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. 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. The Trace Mineral salt has all the different minerals which deer need after a long winter. Or maybe you have an established mineral site that you need to freshen up. In order to hit the 1.44 pounds of protein, the buck would need to consume 5.1 pounds of the 28 percent product or 6.5 pounds of the 22 percent product. Once you've thoroughly mixed the minerals with the soil, you're done. So a product that is very high in salt will likely have less total consumption than a product lower in salt. According to research, yes. Bogart, GA 30622 They concluded that soil phosphorus levels were the best indicator of body size, probably because phosphorus deficient soils are common throughout the United States. 2023 National Deer Association, All Rights Reserved. However, these body sources of calcium and phosphorus provide only a portion needed for optimum antler growth. Micro-nutrients include: iron (Fe), copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), iodine (I) and selenium (Se). 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. Place the lick in an area that has good soil drainage. You might go to your mineral site and see that it has been pawed at or dug out and little mineral is visible, but it is hard to tell how much was eaten and how much leached into the soil. A lot is made over the power of mineral sites to grow antlers and create a healthier deer population. Making your own deer mineral lick can be a simple and cost-effective way to help increase the odds that your hunt will be successful. If you plan to use a mineral mix for deer, you may need to increase the concentration of salt over time. A homemade deer mineral lick should include minerals that are essential for deer health, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, and selenium. 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. Add the molasses and mix until all of the ingredients are evenly distributed. Just be sure to buy and use them in conjunction with an EPA-registered water filter. You can purchase the ingredients in many stores and mix them together yourself. 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). If deer were lacking minerals, why wouldnt they use the pure mineral supplement even if salt wasnt present? Almost all soils more than 2550 miles from a seacoast are low in sodium. Research in Tennessee supports this. Making your own deer mineral isn't hard, nor is it expensive. Your Complete Wildlife Nutrition and Property Management, difference between coated and non coated seeds. As fall approaches, vegetation begins to mature and drop in potassium. These two ingredients are bitter, so you may want to add some salt to the lick. The best places for minerals are around a water source ponds, creeks, lakes, etc. There are commercial and "homemade" granular mixes available. Not enough salt and it won't be as weather proof nor will it be as palatable. Honestly, I'm not sure and it really doesn't matter to me that much. WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE Printable version Ingredients: Makes 200 lbs. The author dispenses granular mineral into a covered trough. Use a mineral site. Its a bountiful area that produces wheat, corn and beef cattle that feed thousands of people around the world. Studies show that there are about 11 minerals in deer antlers. Pull up a seat and join us. Sodium helps to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. The feeding pan had a total of 4.27 pounds, or 68.24 ounces, of mineral remaining. Most professionals relied on information generated primarily for small ruminants, including sheep and goats. 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. Of course, we now know the Earth isnt flat, but it wasnt a popular belief until science and ocean navigation proved it. All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Can deer freeze to death when severe cold weather, such as dangerously low temperatures, deep snow and crushing winds, set in? During the spring and summer, deer operate at a sodium deficiency due to the high potassium and water content of the forage. Along those same lines, deer will more readily utilize minerals that are ground applied than offered in a man-made feeder. Updates are provided, P.O. Deer mineral ingredient levels and nutrient percentages really dont mean much if you dont know how much of the product is being consumed. ! They bed seemingly wherever they want and there are no scrapes or super-active trail systems to target. Predator Hunting (Coyote, Bobcat, Fox, Wolf, Cougar, etc. Too much salt and you will limit total intake of mineral. We've learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. Rice bran is around $10 for a 40-pound bag. When spring rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging the mineral sites on their hunting properties. When spring rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging the mineral sites on their hunting properties. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Minerals attract deer, and they seek them out when they enter these areas. Using a mineral mixture that has less than 50 percent salt will not attract deer. Lesser amounts of other minerals were found including potassium, barium, iron, aluminum, zinc, strontium and manganese. The best place to put a deer lick is near your closest water holes, ponds or water sources and near your food plots. In so doing, we get fantastic response from the deer herd. Site by Gray Loon. The rest must come directly from their diet while their antlers are actively growing. After all, it sure looks that way. However, in many areas feeding isnt a legal option. 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. I group these factors into two categories non-nutritional and nutritional factors. Important macro-nutrients include: calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and sulfur (S). The white will cause the deer to notice it and start to use it. 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. Leave formulation to the professionals. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. Larry Redmon and Richard Reed (the latter now deceased) were local cattlemen and avid deer hunters, and they had a question Id never heard. 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. In todays video we are going to show you guys how to make your own deer mineral and save some money. However, age and nutrition are the two most important ingredients for producing large antlered bucks. Mineral licks arent going to magically grow trophy racks on a bucks head, but they are a piece of the management puzzle. Compared to sheep and goats, whitetails are copper hogs that need a lot of the mineral. 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. However, several studies have shown that while deer readily use mineral licks high in salt, they rarely, if ever, use pure mineral supplements. Free choice minerals are probably one of the most difficult products where you can get a good sense of intake. It also has a lower taste, so deer will return for more. However, when antlers are in the velvet stage and growing, they contain about 80 percent protein and 20 percent phosphorous and calcium. But running mineral sites can get a bit pricey. Copyright Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors L.L.C. They know that deer typically begin using supplemental minerals around spring green-up and continue until early fall. Watering Note: If theres no rain in the forecast, consider watering the mineral site. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Therefore, I took the total number of deer that used the site over a seven-day period and divided it by seven days to reach an approximate number of deer using the site each day. 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. Realtree is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience to everyone, including those with disabilities.2023 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. These are the most potent and effective of the three elements. If you dont see any deer activity near the mineral sight, try placing it near water sources and a good tree for trail cameras. July 1, 2022 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, February 27, 2023 |The Realblog with Stephanie Mallory, February 28, 2023 |Brow Tines and Backstrap. We also identified magnesium deficiencies in some Michigan deer when we discovered dozens of them eating mud rich in this mineral. 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 cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Then use a shovel or pitchfork to turn up the ground. Over the past five years or so, I've really started to fine-tune the system that I use for running trail cameras in the spring and summer months, and it's a system that revolves entirely around mineral sites. 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. 2001 Mineral Lick Could the use of salt/mineral mixes simply be due to an increased need for salt? In the above video, I share a simple recipe for making about 100 pounds of the mix for less than $40. In contrast, most studies on whitetails have focused on the impacts on body weight and antler development. As I previously mentioned, intake is a vital factor when formulating a mineral or protein supplement or complete feed. Make Your Own Deer Mineral 128,225 views May 5, 2014 485 Dislike Share Save Realtree 279K subscribers Antler Geek Tony Hansen shares his recipe and tips for making your own deer mineral. Next, choose a central location near cover and dig a shallow, 6-inch deep hole a few feet in diameter. 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