Deer using salt

[Gone Hunting]

Just wondering what everyone's take is on why deer haven't been on salt much this year.

 

[REM7]

They wore it out summer and early bow season at my places.

 

[Luckybuck16]

Hammered it on my leases as well early on

 

[Omega]

Yup, my licks had been real active, at night for the bucks though.

 

[Gone Hunting]

Interesting I'm up on plateau and most people I've talked to around here have had the same experience I've had unless they were feeding corn also. I even had cameras on salt licks around bean fields and had to move to to where they were entering fields to get pictures

 

[catman529]

Different areas see different usage from my experience. My best salt licks are near creek banks and get hit year-round. Some others get the most use in the summer, and only the occasional visit in the late fall and winter.

 

[redblood]

Its more about the salt and temperature than it is the deer. White salt will always have the strongest draw as long as deer are not deficient in a specific element. Many minerals, magnesium to name one, are very bitter. We conducted an experiment in a graduate animal science test where 38 angus cross heifers (weaned) were given access to identical 10x10 corals that each contained an identical trough filled with salt. They were side by side and neither had an advantage as far as access. One was mineralized and one was white mixing salt. They had to cross a mat that had sensor under it (late 90s technology lol). The mat simply recorded traffic into the trough. It was something like 8 or 9 to 1 preference to the white salt. Consumption in pounds was also much higher but that wasnt really measured other than us noticing it was harder to keep the white salt trough full. I cant inagine deer would be much different since they have a similar digestive system.

 

[Shanman]

Its more about the salt and temperature than it is the deer. White salt will always have the strongest draw as long as deer are not deficient in a specific element. Many minerals, magnesium to name one, are very bitter. We conducted an experiment in a graduate animal science test where 38 angus cross heifers (weaned) were given access to identical 10x10 corals that each contained an identical trough filled with salt. They were side by side and neither had an advantage as far as access. One was mineralized and one was white mixing salt. They had to cross a mat that had sensor under it (late 90s technology lol). The mat simply recorded traffic into the trough. It was something like 8 or 9 to 1 preference to the white salt. Consumption in pounds was also much higher but that wasnt really measured other than us noticing it was harder to keep the white salt trough full. I cant inagine deer would be much different since they have a similar digestive system.

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

 

[PossumSlayer]

Early December and deer are still tearing up the minerals at Bear hollow

 

[redblood]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

I know im not paying for mineral if my goal is simply to draw deer to a location

 

[redblood]

Early December and deer are still tearing up the minerals at Bear hollow

Neat how the rock opens up there

 

[Shanman]

Different areas see different usage from my experience. My best salt licks are near creek banks and get hit year-round. Some others get the most use in the summer, and only the occasional visit in the late fall and winter.

Could it be that water is closer and more readily accessible after they use the mineral/salt?

 

[PossumSlayer]

Neat how the rock opens up there

Where I was today, it's probably a good 75 foot drop 20 yard behind me.
As I watched chip and dale fight and play in front of me I noticed a 1' wide grove in the ground that touched the cliff to my left and right.... not using that tree again.
Here's a video from about 500 yards from where I was... the peeing tree,,
Damn, can't do a video, here is a crappy screen shot.

 

[Gone Hunting]

I should've said that the salt licks have been active for many many years and just this year a sudden decline in activity and not just on one farm but 4 farms. I was thinking in the summer maybe because of such a wet year. Who knows 2020 has been a crazy one.

 

[Bone Collector]

I had deer licking trophy rocks this afternoon

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I have never paid much attention to our salt licks after I pull cameras off of them in late September. Our cameras are on scrapes, pinch points and food this time of year. I definitely wouldn't hunt over salt in hopes deer would be coming to it this time of year, atleast in the area I hunt

 

[Gone Hunting]

I don't hunt salt licks any time of the season I just use them till mid October to see what bucks are in the area. I move cameras to funnels and scrapes mid to late October. I just didn't get many pictures this year throughout the summer, I was just trying to see if it was a local change this season or what

 

[Knothead]

I should've said that the salt licks have been active for many many years and just this year a sudden decline in activity and not just on one farm but 4 farms. I was thinking in the summer maybe because of such a wet year. Who knows 2020 has been a crazy one.

They wore mine out in spring, summer and early bow season. I've found spring and summer is typically when they are most active. They never hit them hard during the fall/winter.

 

[DoubleRidge]

I had deer licking trophy rocks this afternoon

This has been my experience....I have five different trophy rock set up on two different farms and I leave cameras on them.....other cameras are used on scrapes.....but I'll get pics year around on trophy rock.....no doubt spring and summer the picture count is higher than fall and winter.

 

[Billbagdaddy]

Just wondering what everyone's take is on why deer haven't been on salt much this year.

 

[rsimms]

I put out a commercial "Trophy Rock" in a field in front of my house. I saw deer on it some when I put it out back in the summer. But since Fall arrived it has gone virtually untouched. However, I have always been told (by biologists) that salt/minerals are much more sought-after in the late winter and early spring... in part because bucks instinctively know they need minerals to aid antler development. And all deer need an extra "boost" when they're coming out of a lean winter. I'll definitely be beefing up my salt/mineral spot in February to see what happens.

 

[chart1300]

They will use mineral again after the second rut. That's probably the the most important time to keep mineral out. They are run down and need to rebuild. I put a lot of mineral to them from January - September.

 

[Hookem]

I have tried a variety of mineral licks. You might try to do three or four different minerals in one close area and see what the deer are wanting most in different seasons of the year. A well place trail camera or two will also provide you with some great feedback. You can also do this with the mineral blocks out of season that have grains in them. Seems a little foolish that they can't be used year round but hey, that's Tennessee and TWRA's call.

 

[1baddeer]

I thought that most of my mineral licks seen heavy action this summer and fall. I manage and own 1700 acres and have 19 mineral licks on my property . Salt has 2 basic uses for deer and livestock water retention and a means to deliver the minerals they need. I few hints I can share as some of my mineral licks have been with me for over 20 years. What I have learned is they will not come and just eat a pile of salt or lick the blocks they will wait for them to melt and leach into the soil and will eat right in the spot a block or mineral is in. I have had some pet young deer /bucks and mix minerals into there feed but add salt,. molasses, high Mag cattle, goat, and dicalcium phosphate. they are extremely bitter, the salt is your cover for the minerals. I broadcast the same ingredient's into the mineral lick in smaller amounts 5-10 lbs each then cover with 50 lbs of white , brown mineral salt and dry molasses. Once done I use a mini rototiller and mix into the mineral lick mud or dirt. Feb or early March is my preferred time. Years of success and have been able to experience the difference in horn size it is truly amazing. My herd is very healthy and large, both does and bucks. Be carful with the goat minerals can be toxic if given directly the copper for one is much higher then other livestock. The goat mineral helps kill internal parasites, worms and I have seen a large reduction in ticks on my deer. Remember we cant change genetics but a well fed healthy deer lives longer and grows bigger. I have been a whitetail outfitter in TN for years and my farm has been set up for this purpose only over the last 25 years.. Hope this helps some of you out.
www.horsecreekfarmstn.com

 

[LA man]

Deer use my trophy rock year round

 

[BSK]

It's all about resource need. Animals (including humans) are driven to consume the resources they need most. Salt and mineral needs are highest in summer, especially late summer for bucks. Salt/mineral needs are lowest in winter.

 

[Monk74]

My experience is with warm temperatures and spring growth mineral consumption goes up. Doe's need minerals for developing fawns and milk production. Bucks, obviously for antler growth. Research says increased moisture content in browse basically causes deer to pee out many minerals. Same ole mixture for me. Absolutely no doubt in the results. 1/3 loose white salt,1/3 trace mineral salt,1/3 di-calcium phosphate. Throw in a crushed up selenium block if ya like. Deer farmers swear by it. When ya see chalky 1 inch spikes on fawns with spots, something is working. Good luck.

 

[tickweed]

They heard its illegal in cwd zones.

 

[JeepKuntry]

They heard its illegal in cwd zones.

Corrrect. Salt licks, corn piles, etc. are illegal in unit CWD. They are trying to reduce deer grouping up in smaller areas. It is legal to grow a food plot though.

 

[BSK]

I've stopped making salt licks. Although CWD isn't in my area yet, it will be eventually. Salt licks are definitely a prime location for spreading saliva-vector disease.