I had about 5 deer licking the concrete cover for my lift pump the other day. I picked up a salt block with trace minerals on my way home. I live on very sandy soil, so the ground doesn't hold much for minerals. What does everyone use for minerals that they put out for deer?
Minerals for Deer
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85Hokie
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Wife uses the same thing ......... she likes the all white salt lick - deer lick it all the time, shoot even the squirrels get a taste now and again.
North Idaho Wolfman
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I've been licking on one of those for years, keeps me feeling young and frisky!
The only issue is I freeze when some flashes their hi beams at me...
Hummm... Wait maybe that's not related....
The only issue is I freeze when some flashes their hi beams at me...
Hummm... Wait maybe that's not related....
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North Idaho Wolfman
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L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
This is the first year I ever put a salt block or a mineral block out, more to see what happened then anything. So far they haven't touched the salt however I caught them on camera (trail camera) at the mineral block. I have video's of them at it but can't seem to post them. The mineral block is behind the salt block in the pictures.
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PHPaul
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B2650, Pronovost snow blower, Landpride rotary mower, Howard tiller, box blade
What's your address? I will GLADLY send every #)$(*ing deer in the state to check out your mineral lick if that will keep them the h3!! out of my garden and flowers!
Lol, yes my neighbours want them all gone as well. I'll probably take 1 or maybe 2 at the most but no more than I can eat before the next season. Like they say a deer burger a day keeps the doctor away or something like that.
I get a kick out of all the "food plot gurus" that buy a tractor and a no-till drill to plant food for the deer. They could save a lot of time, work, and money by simply planting hostas, upright junipers, and flowers of all kinds. The deer love 'em.
My cedars and long needled pines have been browsed as high as the deer can reach. I figure that if I can get some legumes growing in the lawn they'll help me with the mowing.
My sister started with deer-resistant plants, advanced to deer-proof plants, then a 7 foot picket fence so she could have flowers in the back yard.
They browse on her hollies and red cedars outside the fence.
Lil Foot
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I always put out water softener salt for the critters, and they loved it.
I picked up a new in the wrapper & a slightly used mineral block from a guy who had horses.
I put the used one out and the deer & elk would not touch it. I thought maybe they could smell the horses, so I gave it away to a guy with cows.
I then put out the brand new one, and they would not touch it.
I gave that to the cow guy, and now I'm back to water softener salt, and they love it.
Who can figure critters?
I picked up a new in the wrapper & a slightly used mineral block from a guy who had horses.
I put the used one out and the deer & elk would not touch it. I thought maybe they could smell the horses, so I gave it away to a guy with cows.
I then put out the brand new one, and they would not touch it.
I gave that to the cow guy, and now I'm back to water softener salt, and they love it.
Who can figure critters?
Biker1mike
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B6200, Kubota 2030 Front Blade, King Cutter 60" finishing deck
If there is a salt lick in my back field it means the father-in-law plans on hunting from the deck this fall.
I don't know anything about trace mineral requirements for deer, but sheep are very sensitive to the amount of copper in the salt mix. Too much copper and it will kill them. Horses on the other hand need it. If sheep get into the horse blocks they eventually get toxicosis and sudden exercise will cause them to collapse.
Other mineral requirements are regional, like selenium, which can also be toxic if too high. The blocks or mixes sometimes have molasses added, which makes animals consume too much. Plain salt is probably the safest.
I thought I was the only one that put salt in tree stumps,, after a bit the deer will chew lick kick and after about a year or so the stump is pretty much gone. A fellow I use to know hunted out west for mule deer and elk, he said some would use rock salt , they would dig a hole maybe a spade deep and then fill the hole with salt and then cove it up. According to him it acted like a salt lick and would last several years.