Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. Strongly consider buying a bag of rice bran or other attractant like apple extract that may entice deer to eat the minerals. Micro-nutrients such as Cu, Zn and Se are particularly important to whitetails, responsible for many metabolic activities and immune development. Studies show that there are about 11 minerals in deer antlers. Updates are provided, P.O. Sodium helps to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. We also identified magnesium deficiencies in some Michigan deer when we discovered dozens of them eating mud rich in this mineral. 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. Crappy Weather/ Days off just not lining up for Coyotes. 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. If you use it, they will come. Recalibrate. Calcium and phosphorus are important for bone growth, while magnesium helps to regulate muscle and nerve function. This would equate to a .21 ounce-per-head-per-day intake. 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. But generally, one per 100 acres will ensure that the majority of the deer will have easy access to a mineral site. These two ingredients are bitter, so you may want to add some salt to the lick. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. 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. Arguably, the test might only be representative for the particular deer mineral I was using, and a different mineral with different salt levels or other attractants might have shown a different result. ). Discussion While the advantages of mineral supplementation have not been clearly documented, neither have any disadvantages. The best place to put a deer lick is near your closest water holes, ponds or water sources and near your food plots. 12/12 Trace Mineral - #100 - $35.20. |
The amount of mineral that remained in the feeding pan was 3.6 pounds or 57.75 ounces. For most whitetail managers, one of the best ways to supplement mineral nutrition is (where legal) through supplemental feeding. The water is so powerful and so easily drained in your hands that you should definitely be buying water from a natural resource like a stream to get a better picture of what the water is going to be like . They have just about every option available to them. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The sites attract deer and pose them for short periods in the right spot -- which happens to be right in front of the camera. Regardless of the intensity of mineral supplementation, a yearling buck will still be a yearling buck. 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. I believe that when properly provided, minerals can increase the productivity and quality of a deer herd. Research shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as they're able to literally eat (vs. lick) the mixture. The best mineral sites are located near water sources. However, in many areas feeding isnt a legal option. for about $23.00 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. Creating a lick is certainly fun, inexpensive, and watching deer respond to these licks is satisfying. 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. Deer's antlers are made up of over 22% calcium and 11% phosphorous. It also has a lower taste, so deer will return for more. In formulating a plan of attack regarding mineral nutrition, I went to the same folks wed consulted about planting forages: dairymen. Even though we used protein in this example, the same is true for nutrients in a mineral supplement. However, soil limitations often dictate using supplements to fill in the blanks created by scarcity of critical minerals in the native environment. Pour in the mineral and the rice bran at a ratio of 2:1. Over a four year period the researchers were unable to detect any differences between the two deer herds. Its best to get started as soon as spring green-up starts taking place, but keeping minerals out year-round is better. 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. 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. 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. And make sure you locate your mineral site near a water source, because deer will need to drink after theyve eaten minerals. Mixing Salts Mix the trace minerals above with 1 part mixing salts Dried Molasses Mix the above ingredients with 1 part dried molasses. 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. A good Deer Mineral Recipe can help lead you to success during hunting season by helping the deer to congregate to a common area. This particularly is true for sandy soils, as well as highly acidic (low pH) or basic (high pH) soils. However, there must be enough salt in the product for the deer to be attracted to it. Farm B had a total of eight adult deer using the deer mineral site, five of which used the site on a daily basis. They concluded that soil phosphorus levels were the best indicator of body size, probably because phosphorus deficient soils are common throughout the United States. Top 5 Best Homemade Deer Attractants Reviewed 1. Obvious dietary differences dictated that this information might only be elementary when it came to whitetails. Spread evenly the remainder of the bag of salt. Research in Tennessee supports this. Weve learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. 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. Deer, during this time of year, are actively searching for it. Therefore, mineral supplementation prior to and during antler growth may be beneficial. Thats all there is to it. These categories indicate the amount used by the animal. The first step is have the soils analyzed for the critical macro- and micro-nutrients. To be clear, most of the Ca and P used by a buck to grow antlers come from the flat bones of his body: where they were deposited the previous year. There are three main types of mineral supplements. calcium, phosphorus, zinc, etc.). These are the most potent and effective of the three elements. This being said, there are many variables at play and these results certainly do not provide a definite answer. Minerals attract deer, and they seek them out when they enter these areas. For instance, did the cameras trigger each time a deer was using the site? You can do more or less depending on the amount of use you get at a site. Place the mixture in a shallow container, such as a baking pan or pie plate, and place it in an area frequented by deer. 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. If you notice no deer sign after a few weeks, then mix in more salt to the site. This can be beneficial for several reasons. I group these factors into two categories non-nutritional and nutritional factors. Surely, the knee-deep depressions in the soil caused by repeated years of mineral supplementation are evidence of deer need. Of course, we now know the Earth isnt flat, but it wasnt a popular belief until science and ocean navigation proved it. If youre trying to lure deer, place slow-releasing mineral blocks near bedding areas and water sources in the summer. Deer need both protein and minerals to grow their antlers. Surely, the knee-deep depressions in the soil caused by repeated years of mineral supplementation are evidence of deer need, correct? As fall approaches, vegetation begins to mature and drop in potassium. Simply use a bucket with nearby pond or creek water to do this. Too much salt and you will limit total intake of mineral. Any one of a hundred things can influence how often a deer will use a supplemental mineral and how much it will consume. However, age and nutrition are the two most important ingredients for producing large antlered bucks. Subscriber Services. The two main minerals found in hardened deer antlers are calcium and phosphorous. Can deer freeze to death when severe cold weather, such as dangerously low temperatures, deep snow and crushing winds, set in? Mike Clerkin heads to Buffalo County, Wisconsin to bowhunt whitetails. Once youve thoroughly mixed the minerals with the soil, youre done. 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. Honestly, I'm not sure and it really doesn't matter to me that much. The white will cause the deer to notice it and start to use it. Have you ever traveled through western Kansas? They can feed darned near anywhere as browse is abundant and crops are plentiful. These products are used for raising livestock, but are exactly what you need for creating a quality mineral site. If you dont see any deer activity near the mineral sight, try placing it near water sources and a good tree for trail cameras. These folks should know more than anyone about proper nutrition for ruminants, a group that includes whitetails. A 1:1 or 2:1 Ca:P ratio is optimum. 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