What does all this mean to the average deer hunter and manager? Dig a shallow hole and loosen the soil before adding your minerals. Lucky Buck Apple Flavored Deer Attractant 4. And, honestly, the only difference I can tell is in the price. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. Want to get a bunch of trail camera photos during the times of year when it's typically difficult to do so? Deer prefer mineral sites that are in cover as opposed to out in the open. Dicalcium phosphate contains around 19 percent phosphorous and 20 to 25 percent calcium. After all, it sure looks that way. The best mineral sites are located near water sources. During the spring and summer, deer operate at a sodium deficiency due to the high potassium and water content of the forage. A lot is made over the power of mineral sites to grow antlers and create a healthier deer population. Join us as we mix up the mineral and take it out and put. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. More Info At www.huntingnet.com 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've thoroughly mixed the minerals with the soil, you're done. Anderson, SC, 2023 N1 Outdoors. About 40 percent is composed of protein. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. Dicalcium Phosphate Mix the ingredients above with 1 part dicalcium phosphate. 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. Since deer tend to like salt, placing a mineral lick in a location where there is water is the best way to attract them. 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. Granular these minerals are added to the soil, and deer get them by consuming the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. You can use a 1:1 or 2:1 (two parts salt and one part dicalcium phosphate) ratio for your mineral site. Research on domestic livestock has documented numerous benefits of mineral supplementation including increased forage intake, improved forage digestion, and increased reproductive success. Research in Tennessee supports this. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments. Rain will dissolve the mixture. While this will help them find you more quickly, it will also add flavor. 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. Make sure the lick is near a water source. In a large bowl, mix together the plain salt, white sugar, trace mineral salt, ground limestone, dolomite lime, and Epsom salt. 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. Find an area located in some cover close to the water source. Here's how to create your own. Watering Note: If theres no rain in the forecast, consider watering the mineral site. I replicated the test on three different farms to help alleviate variables, at least to a certain degree. 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. 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. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. However, these body sources of calcium and phosphorus provide only a portion needed for optimum antler growth. You can also use this as a trail cam to monitor the growth of your deers antlers. WATCH: 3 Things Youre Doing Wrong with Your Mineral Sites. It also has a lower taste, so deer will return for more. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. However, in many areas feeding isnt a legal option. 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. Well provide the latest updates on CWD spread, research and policy from across North America. The results of these studies suggest that mineral supplementation especially calcium, phosphorus, and sodium may provide some benefit, especially in situations where deer are nutritionally deprived or areas with minerally deficient soils. Lesser amounts of other minerals were found including potassium, barium, iron, aluminum, zinc, strontium and manganese. Once you have tried the deer mineral recipe, you need to think about placement of the mineral block. A homemade deer mineral lick should include minerals that are essential for deer health, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, and selenium. Discussion Deer arent cows; they dont like to lick blocks the way their bovine cousins do. Attraction to salt is caused by the balance of potassium and sodium in the deers body. We routinely give our cattle minerals, Larry said, and we wondered if it would be possible to make a mineral for deer?. 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. Next, choose a central location near cover and dig a shallow, 6-inch deep hole a few feet in diameter. The feeding pan had a total of 4.27 pounds, or 68.24 ounces, of mineral remaining. This is especially true of dried molasses, which deer love. | There are commercial and "homemade" granular mixes available. Experiment and see what works best for you. The rest must come directly from their diet while their antlers are actively growing. Place the lick in an area that has plenty of natural browse available. However, the formula I used for this mineral is a fairly standard formula used in many deer mineral products. Place the lick in an area that has good soil drainage. The other ingredients for homemade deer minerals are a little bit of a variation on the classic white earth minerals found in the Indian spice-infused spices. ). The minerals are not as attractive to deer, but they are a necessity for their body. Of course, we now know the Earth isnt flat, but it wasnt a popular belief until science and ocean navigation proved it. In conclusion, the best deer mineral recipe is one that contains trace minerals, salt, vitamins, and minerals that are beneficial to deer. Too much salt and you will limit total intake of mineral. The best place to put a deer lick is near your closest water holes, ponds or water sources and near your food plots. "I take a 5-gallon bucket and use 1/4 Di-calcium phosphate and divide the rest 50/50. Weve put together one of the best deer mineral recipe articles for you to try at home. I cannot definitely answer why this is, but I would theorize that it has to do with excessive leaching in sandy soils or possibly even the gritty nature of sand. Stockpiled Forages, The Key to Growing Big Bucks. A 1:1 or 2:1 Ca:P ratio is optimum. Do I believe that? 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. WATCH: Where to Place Minerals for the Best Results. Manage Settings 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. Leave formulation to the professionals. Just be sure to buy and use them in conjunction with an EPA-registered water filter. The test was conducted in July. Making your own deer mineral isn't hard, nor is it expensive. This is where we cover all things deer hunting, from experts and whitetail trivia to news, gear, and hardcore hunting advice. 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. This is a great way to add to your water table (and your wallet) by using natural minerals to add to water. Have fun with it. All of these minerals are necessary for deer to maintain their health and help to keep their coats shiny and strong. As I previously mentioned, intake is a vital factor when formulating a mineral or protein supplement or complete feed. Studies show that there are about 11 minerals in deer antlers. However, age and nutrition are the two most important ingredients for producing large antlered bucks. Once they've found the location, it's the salt that keeps them coming back. Sign up for NDAs free e-newsletter now! Rice bran is around $10 for a 40-pound bag. The key is to have realistic expectations. logging, flooding), a mineral site will receive increased usage with each progressive year. Farm B had a total of eight adult deer using the deer mineral site, five of which used the site on a daily basis. Updates are provided, P.O. Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. The first and most beneficial is to pour the GYT90 crude soybean oil and mineral mixture over supplemental feed. 12/12 Trace Mineral - #100 - $35.20. In so doing, we get fantastic response from the deer herd. That means their expected consumption should be 0.21 to 0.42 ounces per head, per day. Mixing Salts Mix the trace minerals above with 1 part mixing salts Dried Molasses Mix the above ingredients with 1 part dried molasses. Next, clear the ground to bare dirt, about 3 feet in diameter. In addition, one group was provided a commercial mineral supplement. Site by Gray Loon. Many hunters believe that it is simply because bucks need the minerals for antler growth and does for raising fawns during these months. These categories indicate the amount used by the animal. I began the project by placing black plastic feeding pans at my oldest and most frequented deer mineral sites. But why do they use these licks and why is their use restricted primarily to the spring and summer? Without question deer need minerals, and they will readily use mineral licks. You can use granular minerals or dicalcium phosphate, which can be found at a feed store. Many of these minerals only make up a fraction of a percent of the antler. Join other outdoor enthusiasts who already get great content delivered right to their inbox. Powdered sugar brings the sweetness deer crave as the winter approaches. 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. Research has shown that after a site is used, it will often become a part of the feeding and movement pattern. Choose an area that is open with plenty of sunlight exposure. A few drops of a natural attractant, such as rice bran, apple extract, or salt, can also be added to your deer mineral. In the old days, we simply dug holes and poured granular mineral into them. If you use it, they will come. Recalibrate. I believe that when properly provided, minerals can increase the productivity and quality of a deer herd. However, salt can also be an intake limiter for the very same reason and is often used in livestock minerals to limit intake. To make a homemade deer mineral lick, gather ingredients for the mix. TOTAL - #200 - $59.60. Placing the lick in a spot with tall grasses or shrubs will help the deer feel safe when they are visiting the lick. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. A homemade deer mineral lick should include minerals that are essential for deer health, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, and selenium. in Food Plots, A different approach, Research is learning what is wrong about a forage. If the mineral soil is buried in the ground, you may need to add more salt to it. 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. You can also add it to a basic free choice mineral. But adding a mineral site to the mix has been the ticket for me. Creating a lick is certainly fun, inexpensive, and watching deer respond to these licks is satisfying. Before beginning the test, I allowed 30 days to let the deer get used to the feeding pan and then began the test after I started seeing consistent usage on my trail cameras. This final and vital piece of the puzzle is daily intake. 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. You can use granular minerals or dicalcium phosphate, which can be found at a feed store. Taking common ingredients found in most homes and mixing them into a viable, attractive combination that deer love is an easy process. During the spring and summer, deer operate at a sodium deficiency due to the high potassium and water content of the forage. 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. 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. Dig a whole 2-3" deep by about 3 feet across. Research shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as theyre able to literally eat (vs. lick) the mixture. The lick should be located in a spot that is easy for the deer to access from all directions. Deer need both protein and minerals to grow their antlers. Add the molasses and mix until all of the ingredients are evenly distributed. for about $23.00 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. Give a Gift 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. Homemade deer mineral supplements work best near waterholes and food plots. Along those same lines, deer will more readily utilize minerals that are ground applied than offered in a man-made feeder. Additionally, a homemade deer mineral lick can also include minerals like iron, manganese, and cobalt to provide additional health benefits. Theyre classified as either macro- or micro-nutrients. I have used the same product literally 100 yards apart from each other, and the deer heavily used one site but not the other. 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. But we now know that was a really bad idea. Growing antlers are composed mostly of proteins (80 percent by weight); whereas hardened antlers contain roughly equal amounts of proteins and minerals. Important Note: Minerals on their own are bitter, so be sure to mix in plenty of salt to attract the deer. Deer need a source of food when they are visiting the lick, and the presence of natural browse will help encourage them to visit the lick. Phone: 1-800-209-DEER (3337) There are many other examples of popular beliefs being dramatically changed through scientific discovery. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. What Minerals Should Be Included in a Homemade Deer Mineral Lick? Food additive these minerals are combined with a supplemental feed, and deer get them while consuming the feed. Originally came off the QDMA website, but I can't find it know. Staying undetected by deer while hunting in a ground blind takes a few easy steps. Here is a recipe one of the MO conservation agents passed on to us hunters. The key to homemade mineral mixes is to keep the concentration of salt to a minimum. Salt is the most common attractant used in mineral supplements. Hole a few easy steps grow their antlers a site is used, it 's difficult! 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