However, when antlers are in the velvet stage and growing, they contain about 80 percent protein and 20 percent phosphorous and calcium. | And, honestly, the only difference I can tell is in the price. These categories indicate the amount used by the animal. As I was at the time formulating a 20-year research plan for our institute, I decided it was a natural fit to include mineral supplementation in the plan. While it sounds simple to concoct your own mineral mix, thats really not a good idea. Deer need a source of water to drink when they are visiting the lick. Research shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as theyre able to literally eat (vs. lick) the mixture. Therefore, mineral supplementation prior to and during antler growth may be beneficial. Weve put together one of the best deer mineral recipe articles for you to try at home. A few drops of a natural attractant, such as rice bran, apple extract, or salt, can also be added to your deer mineral. Research on domestic livestock has documented numerous benefits of mineral supplementation including increased forage intake, improved forage digestion, and increased reproductive success. The best deer mineral program is one that features variety and consistency. The best place to put a deer lick is near your closest water holes, ponds or water sources and near your food plots. Comes in 50lb Bags, you need one bag. 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. For example, research has shown that a buck needs about an 18 percent protein diet during the antler-growing cycle to maximize antler growth. This final and vital piece of the puzzle is daily intake. TINK'S Doe-in-Rut Buck Lure 2. This is where we cover all things deer hunting, from experts and whitetail trivia to news, gear, and hardcore hunting advice. I replicated the test on three different farms to help alleviate variables, at least to a certain degree. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Allow the deer to lick the mineral lick for about two weeks. Weve learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. Important Note: Minerals on their own are bitter, so be sure to mix in plenty of salt to attract the deer. 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. When spring rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging the mineral sites on their hunting properties. Making deer mineral licks is not a hassle and you can do it on your own in a few simple steps. Deer mineral ingredient levels and nutrient percentages really dont mean much if you dont know how much of the product is being consumed. Obvious dietary differences dictated that this information might only be elementary when it came to whitetails. Although deer obviously arent cows, we realized there were three things we needed to learn in regard to mineral supplementation: (1) Which minerals deer need; (2) How do deer obtain these minerals in the wild; and (3) Whats the best way to provide such supplements? #1. If youre looking for a natural way to increase your deers antler growth, homemade deer minerals may be the answer. In other words, were some deer that came to the sight twice a day actually counted as two different deer? Dig a shallow hole and loosen the soil before adding your minerals. 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. In a large bowl, mix together the plain salt, white sugar, trace mineral salt, ground limestone, dolomite lime, and Epsom salt. 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. ! Comments on this site are submitted by users and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views or opinions of COLE Publishing, Inc. Discussion Maybe, or maybe not. Back in the early 1970s, two men came to visit me at the Institute for White-tailed Deer Management & Research in Texas. Most professionals relied on information generated primarily for small ruminants, including sheep and goats. As I previously mentioned, intake is a vital factor when formulating a mineral or protein supplement or complete feed. Also, fawns will learn mineral site areas from their mothers and will return to sites even after they are weaned. Compared to sheep and goats, whitetails are copper hogs that need a lot of the mineral. Dr. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton explain why it's important to know your neighbors when operating a smaller deer property. Also, the use of a foreign object, the plastic feeding pan, could have decreased usage even though I did not start the test until the deer were regularly using the site with the feeding pan in place. The key is to have realistic expectations. The Importance of Knowing Intake Granular these minerals are added to the soil, and deer get them by consuming the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture. It won't take long to sink a few hundred bucks into the ground. Many hunters will find an old rotted stump near trails and use that for their man-made lick. Subscriber Services. There are many other examples of popular beliefs being dramatically changed through scientific discovery. Deer mineral licks are a great way to attract more deer. Calcium and phosphorous are the two biggest components of antler growth after protein. Box 160 locks tend to be the least effective way for deer to get supplemental minerals. While the advantages of mineral supplementation have not been clearly documented, neither have any disadvantages. 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. 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. As it turned out, the general area has long been known for a cattle disease called grass tetany, which is directly related to a lack of magnesium in the diet. Studies show that there are about 11 minerals in deer antlers. Believe it or not, in those early days little of the whitetail information we now commonly take for granted was known. Mineral licks arent going to magically grow trophy racks on a bucks head, but they are a piece of the management puzzle. Stan Potts heads to Montana with his rifle in search of a Big Sky buck. This study differed from the Penn State study in that both herds were fed a nutritionally complete diet. My best advice here is to use an attractant with an aroma or flavor that's natural to your area. This is especially true of dried molasses, which deer love. A lot is made over the power of mineral sites to grow antlers and create a healthier deer population. 2023 National Deer Association, All Rights Reserved. WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE. Along those same lines, deer will more readily utilize minerals that are ground applied than offered in a man-made feeder. Bucks must live long enough to reach physical maturity while having access to high quality nutrition to achieve maximum antler growth. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. 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. Predator Hunting (Coyote, Bobcat, Fox, Wolf, Cougar, etc. Sodium helps to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. A homemade deer mineral lick should include minerals that are essential for deer health, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, and selenium. You can also locate these sites near good trees for trail cameras. This interferes with efficient sodium conversion in the body and increases the need for sodium. So why not just use straight salt? 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. 2001 Mineral Lick A good rule of thumb is about one site per 100 acres of property. 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. Of course, we now know the Earth isnt flat, but it wasnt a popular belief until science and ocean navigation proved it. In the above video, I share a simple recipe for making about 100 pounds of the mix for less than $40. I've done more research on this that I care to disclose, but from . Copyright Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors L.L.C. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. I have also found that unless there are major changes in the vicinity of the site (i.e. 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. Stockpiled Forages, The Key to Growing Big Bucks. Dicalcium phosphate contains around 19 percent phosphorous and 20 to 25 percent calcium. Place the lick in an area that has good soil drainage. Although many people assume that any mineral will grow trophy bucks, most deer are not that fortunate. for about $23.00. 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. They concluded that soil phosphorus levels were the best indicator of body size, probably because phosphorus deficient soils are common throughout the United States. Theyre classified as either macro- or micro-nutrients. If you dont see any deer activity near the mineral sight, try placing it near water sources and a good tree for trail cameras. The author dispenses granular mineral into a covered trough. Watering Note: If there's no rain in the forecast, consider watering the mineral site. What Minerals Should Be Included in a Homemade Deer Mineral Lick? It would appear that, based on the test results, intake of a free choice deer mineral is substantially lower than what is commonly thought and much closer to the predicted intake based on body weight calculation. To my knowledge, there is little to no research on the subject as it pertains to deer. Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens Deer Food Buying Guide Easy to use Effectiveness Affordability Portability Frequently Asked Questions There are several different ways to supplement a deers diet with vitamins, minerals, and chelated trace elements. You can also add it to a basic free choice mineral. 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. When soil is either too low or high in pH, utilization of P is inhibited, greatly affecting body growth and antler production. Simply use a bucket with nearby pond or creek water to do this. If you notice no deer sign after a few weeks, then mix in more salt to the site. Then use a shovel or pitchfork to turn up the ground. Been clearly documented, neither have any disadvantages from the Penn State study in both! When soil is either too low or high in pH, utilization of P inhibited... 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