Simply use a bucket with nearby pond or creek water to do this. 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. Researchers at Mississippi State University found a strong correlation between soil mineral content (primarily phosphorus) and body size, although no correlation with adult antler size was found. Well provide the latest updates on CWD spread, research and policy from across North America. Micro-nutrients include: iron (Fe), copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), iodine (I) and selenium (Se). July 1, 2022 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, February 27, 2023 |The Realblog with Stephanie Mallory, February 28, 2023 |Brow Tines and Backstrap. Place the lick in an area that has good soil drainage. The amount of mineral that remained in the feeding pan was 3.6 pounds or 57.75 ounces. Deer prefer mineral sites that are in cover as opposed to out in the open. In the above video, I share a simple recipe for making about 100 pounds of the mix for less than $40. Research on domestic livestock has documented numerous benefits of mineral supplementation including increased forage intake, improved forage digestion, and increased reproductive success. Important macro-nutrients include: calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and sulfur (S). Just be sure to buy and use them in conjunction with an EPA-registered water filter. 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. The Importance of Knowing Intake Lesser amounts of other minerals were found including potassium, barium, iron, aluminum, zinc, strontium and manganese. This will help you determine if the lick is being used, and if it needs to be moved or replenished. Farm A had an average number of 11 adult deer using the site on a daily basis. Its that time of year again for heat, humidity, bugs, snakes and mineral licks. In this edition of "From The Stand," Pat Hogan explains the importance of being aware of proper clearance when using your bow or crossbow out in the field. In this edition of "Big Buck Profile," Gordon Whittington talks with young whitetail hunter Reid Crawford about his trophy buck taken in 2017. The best places for minerals are around a water source ponds, creeks, lakes, etc. for about $23.00 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. If you use it, they will come. Recalibrate. Mineral licks arent going to magically grow trophy racks on a bucks head, but they are a piece of the management puzzle. Salt is the most common attractant used in mineral supplements. Many hunters will find an old rotted stump near trails and use that for their man-made lick. 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. 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. 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. However, several studies have shown that while deer readily use mineral licks high in salt, they rarely, if ever, use pure mineral supplements. 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 two main minerals found in hardened deer antlers are calcium and phosphorous. There also is 5 flavors that are natural to deer. Watering Note: If theres no rain in the forecast, consider watering the mineral site. All Rights Reserved. Have fun with it. EXPLORE OTHER MEDIA 360 PROPERTIES FOR OUTDOORS ENTHUSIASTS, Hot Gear: Protect Your Phone, Docs with Confidence, Ultralight Tactical Tomahawk The Proven Multipurpose Outdoor Tool. The best place to put a deer lick is near your closest water holes, ponds or water sources and near your food plots. If youre looking for a natural way to increase your deers antler growth, homemade deer minerals may be the answer. 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. 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. 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. 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 areas where it is legal to use deer mineral, here is an economic option for you. 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. 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. More Info At www.huntingnet.com Visit site Increased aggression by certain deer (usually adult does) that guard the site will decrease the number of deer utilizing that particular location. If you dont have established mineral sites, then youll need to make some. Inside the trough, place a metal or plastic pan to hold the mineral. They concluded that soil phosphorus levels were the best indicator of body size, probably because phosphorus deficient soils are common throughout the United States. Factors Affecting Mineral Intake Deer, during this time of year, are actively searching for it. They know that deer typically begin using supplemental minerals around spring green-up and continue until early fall. Deer. |
Place the mixture in a shallow container, such as a baking pan or pie plate, and place it in an area frequented by deer. locks tend to be the least effective way for deer to get supplemental minerals. Use a mineral site. Growing antlers are composed mostly of proteins (80 percent by weight); whereas hardened antlers contain roughly equal amounts of proteins and minerals. Theyre classified as either macro- or micro-nutrients. Back in the early 1970s, two men came to visit me at the Institute for White-tailed Deer Management & Research in Texas. However, when antlers are in the velvet stage and growing, they contain about 80 percent protein and 20 percent phosphorous and calcium. This would equate to a .21 ounce-per-head-per-day intake. This study differed from the Penn State study in that both herds were fed a nutritionally complete diet. Mix the minerals and dirt well in the depression, and then add a little molasses for a sweetener. In conclusion, the best deer mineral recipe is one that contains trace minerals, salt, vitamins, and minerals that are beneficial to deer. 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). You can use granular minerals or dicalcium phosphate, which can be found at a feed store. That would certainly work. What is the Most Important Factor in Whitetail Nutrition? This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Once they've found the location, it's the salt that keeps them coming back. Also, slightly burying the pan helped to ensure the mineral would not be spilled. Minerals are important to all living things, serving a host of physiological functions. It won't take long to sink a few hundred bucks into the ground. Mineral sites do exactly that. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Home Recipes The #1 Best Deer Mineral Recipe. Despite the number of products now on the market and the amount of information published, many user questions continue. ). Salt regulates intake. Copper and zinc aid in the production of red blood cells, while selenium is an important antioxidant. As you can imagine, after a deer paws up and eats a bunch of salty dirt, its going to need a drink. However, there must be enough salt in the product for the deer to be attracted to it. Just be sure to dig up some of the existing dirt and mix the trace mineral salt and dicalcium phosphate into the soil. In this study, researchers did detect a difference in yearling buck antler development between supplemented and unsupplemented groups. In todays video we are going to show you guys how to make your own deer mineral and save some money. Antlers are comprised of roughly 20 percent calcium and 10 percent phosphorus. After all, it sure looks that way. In this video I show you the results from my homemade deer minerals. I have used the same product literally 100 yards apart from each other, and the deer heavily used one site but not the other. 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 whole 2-3" deep by about 3 feet across. Honestly, I'm not sure and it really doesn't matter to me that much. 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loos kind without the medications. A lot is made over the power of mineral sites to grow antlers and create a healthier deer population. In addition, one group was provided a commercial mineral supplement. This can help attract deer to feed stations during these stressful periods. Lucky Buck Apple Flavored Deer Attractant 4. They have a bit of a red pepper tint and some of the seeds are green. Gordon Whittington heads north to his personal Missouri farm for some crossbow action. This sheds light on why quality forage high in protein is needed during the spring and summer for deer to reach their antler potential. Making deer mineral licks is not a hassle and you can do it on your own in a few simple steps. Predator Hunting (Coyote, Bobcat, Fox, Wolf, Cougar, etc. Studies show that there are about 11 minerals in deer antlers. TINK'S Doe-in-Rut Buck Lure 2. The first step is have the soils analyzed for the critical macro- and micro-nutrients. Not enough salt and it won't be as weather proof nor will it be as palatable. The higher the numbers the more you are typically getting out of it. A few drops of a natural attractant, such as rice bran, apple extract, or salt, can also be added to your deer mineral. 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. You can also add it to a basic free choice mineral. However, deer are not attracted to a high-salt solution and will not consume it. Research shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as they're able to literally eat (vs. lick) the mixture. Deer are hoofed creatures, but that doesn't mean that any mineral that works for a cattle ranch or horses will do the same for whitetails. Discussion To make a homemade deer mineral lick, gather ingredients for the mix. 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. Realtree is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience to everyone, including those with disabilities.2023 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. That's why mineral licks make excellent trail camera spots in the summer. Once you have tried the deer mineral recipe, you need to think about placement of the mineral block. 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