Mineral Station Question

[Rob-HC Hunter]

Refreshed my mineral stations today.

What minerals do you all use on your farms to supplement your heard? When do you usually put them out?

Twice a year on our farm - January and June.

 

[knightrider]

We dont , its not necessary

 

[Crappieaddict]

Every three months

 

[megalomaniac]

I'm not really sure it makes a difference in antler quality, so I just use the cheap 50lb trace mineral blocks. My salt licks are maintained year round, but primarily used for herd census in summer.

 

[Rob-HC Hunter]

We dont , its not necessary

Why do you think that?

 

[Rob-HC Hunter]

I'm not really sure it makes a difference in antler quality, so I just use the cheap 50lb trace mineral blocks. My salt licks are maintained year round, but primarily used for herd census in summer.

Why do you think it doesn't help with antler quality? They don't get enough to make a difference?

 

[diamond hunter]

The biologists will say there is no evidence that it makes a hill of beans difference. In my case BSK is my friend and I trust him. However,there are tracks all around my sites and if deer spend 5 more minutes a day on my land instead of the redneck neighbors,its worth it to me.

 

[Rob-HC Hunter]

The biologists will say there is no evidence that it makes a hill of beans difference. In my case BSK is my friend and I trust him. However,there are tracks all around my sites and if deer spend 5 more minutes a day on my land instead of the redneck neighbors,its worth it to me.

Then there is that. .

Not being rude but what biologist or references say the all mineral supplements make no difference?

 

[backyardtndeer]

Can't use them here anymore due to cwd crap. In the past I have mixed my own, used trace mineral blocks, trophy rocks, deer cain, and they all attract deer. I think deer cain and trophy rocks seemed to bring in deer more regularly, but everything I used worked. I just replenished as needed.

 

[deerhunter10]

2 or 3 times a year. Just for picture inventory for us. I don't think it really helps them at all.

 

[huvrman]

March, June, August. After bucks have dropped their horns and does are preparing to fawn. 50# Stock salt, 100# trace mineral salt, 50# dical Phosphate takes care of 3 licks for a season.

 

[megalomaniac]

Why do you think it doesn't help with antler quality? They don't get enough to make a difference?

Nope, just that deer are incredibly efficient at getting what they really need from their environment. If they are lacking a certain nutrient, their craving will allow them to seek out from the natural environment what they need.

Now don't get me wrong... they LOVE salt. just like my wife loves chocolate. She doesn't really need it, but she has a hard time passing it up. She wouldn't be any less healthy if she didn't eat chocolate though.

I've run salt licks for 15 years... some are so wallowed out, it will take a full 7 yards of dirt to fill them back up. They are GREAT for getting pictures on, but I don't think they make a difference in antler quality

 

[Rob-HC Hunter]

Nope, just that deer are incredibly efficient at getting what they really need from their environment. If they are lacking a certain nutrient, their craving will allow them to seek out from the natural environment what they need.

Now don't get me wrong... they LOVE salt. just like my wife loves chocolate. She doesn't really need it, but she has a hard time passing it up. She wouldn't be any less healthy if she didn't eat chocolate though.

I've run salt licks for 15 years... some are so wallowed out, it will take a full 7 yards of dirt to fill them back up. They are GREAT for getting pictures on, but I don't think they make a difference in antler quality

Like my wife likes chocolate!! Statement of the year! Lol

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

I personally think minerals make a world of difference, I could be wrong but that's my opinion.I am seeing way to many big deer coming from areas where they say it's impossible for big deer to grow. Something right is happening.

 

[rem270]

I freshen up twice a year with the trace mineral (red stuff). While they hammer it in the summer and fall plus some during the winter months I know it doesn't have any kind of quality in it to grow bigger antlers.

If someone could prove to me something that 100 percent works on antler quality I would possibly use it. But I don't fall for the stuff the pro staffers and #hashtaggers post pics with saying no way they would've killed Demetrius had it not been for the stuff pictured all around the deer.

 

[Rob-HC Hunter]

I personally think minerals make a world of difference, I could be wrong but that's my opinion.I am seeing way to many big deer coming from areas where they say it's impossible for big deer to grow. Something right is happening.

I'm with you!! We have been using selenium as a part of our mineral program for several years and have seen a lot of difference in mass. I always stress that minerals are just one part, age, genetics, nutrition, pressure are also critical.

 

[tn24]

50lb. trace mineral block. I keep it out all year just to see what's there. I have no idea if it helps anything besides getting pictures.

 

[MUP]

Nope, just that deer are incredibly efficient at getting what they really need from their environment. If they are lacking a certain nutrient, their craving will allow them to seek out from the natural environment what they need.

Now don't get me wrong... they LOVE salt. just like my wife loves chocolate. She doesn't really need it, but she has a hard time passing it up. She wouldn't be any less healthy if she didn't eat chocolate though.

I've run salt licks for 15 years... some are so wallowed out, it will take a full 7 yards of dirt to fill them back up. They are GREAT for getting pictures on, but I don't think they make a difference in antler quality

Then there's a lot of folks wasting good money and time cultivating food gardens for them then.

 

[megalomaniac]

Then there's a lot of folks wasting good money and time cultivating food gardens for them then.

no doubt!

But that's why I primarily farm native browse and the food plots are just a supplement. I will say this however... Been running salt for 15 years and only agressively food plotting for about 6 years. And have really seen an improvement in body weights esp the does since food plotting. But have not really seen any difference in antler quality since food plotting since they were already getting everything they needed from the native browse. Antlers are all about genetics of the individual deer and age of that particular deer on my farms.

 

[MUP]

no doubt!

But that's why I primarily farm native browse and the food plots are just a supplement. I will say this however... Been running salt for 15 years and only agressively food plotting for about 6 years. And have really seen an improvement in body weights esp the does since food plotting. But have not really seen any difference in antler quality since food plotting since they were already getting everything they needed from the native browse. Antlers are all about genetics of the individual deer and age of that particular deer on my farms.

That's why I hunt the natural mountain mast and browse on my place. There are good 10 pt genes running thru the area of my property for whatever reason, and I've kilt more 10 pts now than any other size.