But I think the aroma of the added products -- the general purpose mineral in the blend above -- helps deer find the location faster and may add some level of taste value as well. At the same time, I reviewed the cameras located at each spot to identify how many deer were using the site each day. The best deer mineral program is one that features variety and consistency. 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. This should be followed by developing a food-plot or native-plant fertilization program to ameliorate any deficiencies. Deer's antlers are made up of over 22% calcium and 11% phosphorous. Tink's Estrous Gel Stream 3. Dig a whole 2-3" deep by about 3 feet across. All Rights Reserved. The third site on Farm C was discarded due to a camera failure. Crappy Weather/ Days off just not lining up for Coyotes. However, salt can also be an intake limiter for the very same reason and is often used in livestock minerals to limit intake. 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. Also, fawns will learn mineral site areas from their mothers and will return to sites even after they are weaned. There are many other examples of popular beliefs being dramatically changed through scientific discovery. Over the years, Ive written on a number of occasions about mineral supplementation for whitetails. 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. logging, flooding), a mineral site will receive increased usage with each progressive year. 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. 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). Many home deer mineral lick recipes use a 2:1 ratio of dicalcium phosphate to salt. Deer, during this time of year, are actively searching for it. But theyre bitter on their own, so you need to add more salt to the mix. Farm A had an average number of 11 adult deer using the site on a daily basis. Western Kansas is also flat, and when I say flat, I dont mean kind of flat. Regardless of the intensity of mineral supplementation, a yearling buck will still be a yearling buck. Deer prefer mineral sites that are in cover as opposed to out in the open. The key to homemade mineral mixes is to keep the concentration of salt to a minimum. Furthermore, when the same deer were examined the following year as 2.5yearolds, no differences were detected between the two groups. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. All of these minerals are necessary for deer to maintain their health and help to keep their coats shiny and strong. 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. 2023 National Deer Association, All Rights Reserved. Nutritional consumption factors revolve around the attractant agent used in the product. 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. But if you want to spice it up, you can add a dash of any general-purpose mineral. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. These make up about 60 percent of the total weight of the antler. Your Complete Wildlife Nutrition and Property Management, difference between coated and non coated seeds. JavaScript is disabled. 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. Homemade Mineral Lick Go to your local feed store and buy (1) 50lb bag of granulized dicalcium phosphate, (2) 50lb bags of trace mineral salt, and (1) 50lb bag of rock salt. There are commercial and "homemade" granular mixes available. I've mentioned this before, but here is the recipe I use with prices. 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. Whether you need to know how to test the soil in your food plot, tighten the groups from your crossbow, or scope out the latest on that big buck you saw online, you've landed around the right campfire. Growing antlers are composed mostly of proteins (80 percent by weight); whereas hardened antlers contain roughly equal amounts of proteins and minerals. But generally, one per 100 acres will ensure that the majority of the deer will have easy access to a mineral site. 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. But there is another important factor thats nearly always overlooked by both people using free choice minerals and those putting these products together. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. They can feed darned near anywhere as browse is abundant and crops are plentiful. For about $50 or less, you can buy all the ingredients you need to make several productive and quality mineral sites for deer. Deer minerals are simple math. Micro-nutrients such as Cu, Zn and Se are particularly important to whitetails, responsible for many metabolic activities and immune development. A few drops of a natural attractant, such as rice bran, apple extract, or salt, can also be added to your deer mineral. I believe that when properly provided, minerals can increase the productivity and quality of a deer herd. You can use a 1:1 or 2:1 (two parts salt and one part dicalcium phosphate) ratio for your mineral site. I have also found that unless there are major changes in the vicinity of the site (i.e. The 2 most important elements on a tag are the calcium levels and phosphorous levels. Interestingly enough, Larry later earned a doctoral degree in Range Management from Texas A&M University, and to this day he remains a recognized authority on range management and animal nutrition. Whether the addition of supplemental minerals is truly benefitting the deer, or if the deer are simply using the site because of the salt, isn't really a primary concern of mine. Creating a lick is certainly fun, inexpensive, and watching deer respond to these licks is satisfying. I replicated the test on three different farms to help alleviate variables, at least to a certain degree. With careful consideration of the deers nutritional requirements and the needs of the environment, a successful deer mineral recipe can be created. What Minerals Should Be Included in a Homemade Deer Mineral Lick? 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. Stan Potts heads to Montana with his rifle in search of a Big Sky buck. Whitetail Institute Mineral for Deer 5. To make a homemade deer mineral lick, gather ingredients for the mix. What Are Arrows Shot From Untuned Bows Likely to Do. The white earth minerals work well if you want to add . 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. Gordon Whittington talks with Steven Sprout about the trophy buck he took back in 1998 while bowhunting public land in Illinois. The higher the numbers the more you are typically getting out of it. 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. Yes, whitetails will eat dirt, but the vast majority of minerals they consume enter the system through the plants they eat. If a buck consumes 8 pounds of total food per day, then in order to hit an 18 percent protein level in his diet, he would need to consume 1.44 pounds of protein. I've done more research on this that I care to disclose, but from . They have a bit of a red pepper tint and some of the seeds are green. Subscriber Services. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. By delivering mineral in this way, youre exposing deer to greater risk of parasites and diseases. Surely, the knee-deep depressions in the soil caused by repeated years of mineral supplementation are evidence of deer need. This sheds light on why quality forage high in protein is needed during the spring and summer for deer to reach their antler potential. For several years now, I have been formulating free choice minerals for wild deer. It also has a lower taste, so deer will return for more. A homemade deer mineral lick should include minerals that are essential for deer health, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, and selenium. 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. Weve learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. Those actually were wonderful days to do research, as my colleagues and I picked the low-hanging fruit of knowledge. 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. This recipe should also be tailored to meet the needs of the area in which it is being used. Here's the finished mineral site with dicalcium phosphate and trace mineral salt thoroughly mixed together with the soil. During the spring and summer, deer operate at a sodium deficiency due to the high potassium and water content of the forage. The ingredients include Trace mineral salt, Di-calcium phosphate, and dried molasses. Bogart, GA 30622 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. 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. I then placed cameras at each one of the sites to monitor usage. So why not just pour salt out for the deer if thats what they're after? Simply use a bucket with nearby pond or creek water to do this. 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. Mix it well. Have fun with it. Mix the minerals and dirt well in the depression, and then add a little molasses for a sweetener. In the above video, I share a simple recipe for making about 100 pounds of the mix for less than $40. This interferes with efficient sodium conversion in the body and increases the need for sodium. 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. There are several different ways to supplement a deers diet with vitamins, minerals, and chelated trace elements. Here's a new mineral lick being established with trace mineral salt and dicalcium phosphate. A solid habitat/nutrition plan should involve manipulating preferred plants to keep them within what we call the deer zone (within four feet of the ground), on a sustained basis. If you don't want to bring your iPad into the bathroom, we can send you a magazine subscription for free! In the old days, we simply dug holes and poured granular mineral into them. In a large bowl, mix together the plain salt, white sugar, trace mineral salt, ground limestone, dolomite lime, and Epsom salt. A few drops of a natural attractant, such as rice bran, apple extract, or salt, can also be added to your deer mineral. After all, it sure looks that way. Result Obvious dietary differences dictated that this information might only be elementary when it came to whitetails. Important macro-nutrients include: calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and sulfur (S). The most common intake claim by deer products on the market is 1 to 2 ounces per head per day or 1/16 to 1/8 of a pound. 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. I have used the same product literally 100 yards apart from each other, and the deer heavily used one site but not the other. 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. In contrast, most studies on whitetails have focused on the impacts on body weight and antler development. Staying undetected by deer while hunting in a ground blind takes a few easy steps. Besides calcium and phosphorus, little is known about the role of other minerals in antler growth. Ingredients: Makes 200 lbs. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. I only know that when I put out a mineral site, I'm likely going to have an excellent location for capturing a lot of trail camera images. 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. Mineral licks also provide a great place to survey deer with game cameras. However, these herds were fed a nutritionally deficient diet below what most whitetails would have access to in the wild. 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. Email: info@deerassociation.com. Part 1, Importance of Soil pH. Since deer tend to like salt, placing a mineral lick in a location where there is water is the best way to attract them. Most commercially-made products are going to run about $20 a bag and each bag will service one site for a couple of months. That would certainly work. In reviewing the scientific literature, I quickly discovered there was very little known about critical minerals for deer. In formulating a plan of attack regarding mineral nutrition, I went to the same folks wed consulted about planting forages: dairymen. When spring rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging the mineral sites on their hunting properties. 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. 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If deer were lacking minerals, why wouldnt they use the pure mineral supplement even if salt wasnt present? In this study, researchers did detect a difference in yearling buck antler development between supplemented and unsupplemented groups. Too much salt and you will limit total intake of mineral. Heavy deer rub activity along this interior path This will help you determine if the lick is being used, and if it needs to be moved or replenished. The two main minerals found in hardened deer antlers are calcium and phosphorous. My best advice here is to use an attractant with an aroma or flavor that's natural to your area. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. You are using an out of date browser. Now, consider two different protein supplements, one with a level of 28 percent protein and one at 22 percent protein. Lesser amounts of other minerals were found including potassium, barium, iron, aluminum, zinc, strontium and manganese. 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. 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. In the above video, I share a simple recipe for making about 100 pounds of the mix for less than $40. All Rights Reserved. WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE. These categories indicate the amount used by the animal. 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. There also is 5 flavors that are natural to deer. Be sure its in close proximity to a good tree for a trail camera, too. According to research, yes. Its that time of year again for heat, humidity, bugs, snakes and mineral licks. The rest must come directly from their diet while their antlers are actively growing. Over a four year period the researchers were unable to detect any differences between the two deer herds. They know that deer typically begin using supplemental minerals around spring green-up and continue until early fall.