Deer Wallow?

I was doing some finishing touches on my hunting land this morning and found what looked a wallow, like an elk would use. It's about a 10' diameter area on the middle of a 2 year old clear cut, with tall grass and fallen beaches surrounding it. There are deer tracks all over it. It's filled with muddy water.

It's in Shelby County. I got cameras up around the area and they've never captured any hogs in the 3 years I've had them up. I didn't see any hog tracks in the mud.

Y'all got any ideas…do deer use wallows? Maybe the dry summer we had made them do it.

I put a camera on it to see what it captures.

If it is dry and they are looking for water, could see it getting wallowed out. Or could be that they are finding some natural minerals there.

If mineral has ever been there it could have been cattle. I have a spot I have put a mineral block every year for over 10 years and somehow the neighbors cows smelled it and I guess fallen trees took out some fence. They finished the block and left then came back next rain and ate the ground

Looks just a hog waller now.

In Marshall County I used to have a high ground wet spot, just a depression about 10 feet around. It held rain water pretty good. Shot some deer there in drought years.

This was mostly flat hilltop, high clay soil with solid rock close to surface (cedar prevalent).

Unfortunately I got greedy and while trying to make it deeper and I cracked the rock bottom and it doesn't hold water anymore.

Salt lick

Could be what RockMcL mentioned, a natural wet spot deer are drinking from, or a natural mineral lick. They definitely exist. That's why you see so many small towns name such-and-such Lick.

Ive witnessed deer wallowing in the heat of summer.

BSK said:

Could be what RockMcL mentioned, a natural wet spot deer are drinking from, or a natural mineral lick. They definitely exist. That's why you see so many small towns name such-and-such Lick.

Click to expand...

French lick? Headed there in the morning for first time ever

recurve60# said:

Ive witnessed deer wallowing in the heat of summer.

Click to expand...

The gnats or what ever the little bitting flies can make them crazy at times.

Sounds like a salt lick that has been active for several years or possibly a natural mineral lick.

BSK said:

Could be what RockMcL mentioned, a natural wet spot deer are drinking from, or a natural mineral lick. They definitely exist. That's why you see so many small towns name such-and-such Lick.

Click to expand...

Never knew such a thing existed. Thanks for all of y'all's input!

I found a wallow way back about 30-40 years ago while on a hunt In bama. I told a local I was with about it and he said it was a buck wallow, he said only big bucks us it. Why I remember this, I don't know. I guess it's one of life's mysteries.

Can't wait to see if the camera gets anything. Been really dry here.