Early Season Attractants

[PaintRocker]

What are you doing this month to get deer on a pattern in your area during bow season? (Say October)Where I hunt is more of a travel corridor from possible bedding to food. 25 acres of it is so thick I can't get through it but the other 25 are a hardwood ridge going off to a neighboring field. What steps can I take to get consistent movement in the hardwood area of the property? previous years of trail cam pics show a lot of inconsistency

 

[Rakkin6]

Maybe think about putting out some mineral licks. I have tied the homemade ones and they work pretty good. Just need to go to the co-op for the ingredients.

WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE
Ingredients: Makes 200 lbs. for about $23.00
1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores.
Comes in 50lb. Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag.
2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loose kind without the medications.
Comes in 50lb bags at around $5.00 you need 2 bags.
1 part stalk salt, ice cream salt
Comes in 50 lb. bags at around $2.00 you need 1 bag.
Directions:
-use a 3 pound or similar size coffee can to use as your measure for each part of the mix.
-mix altogether well but not until ready to use keep ingredients separate until ready to put to use.
-dig or tear up a circle in the soil about 36 inches wide and about 6 inches deep.
-mix your mineral mixture with the soil.
maintenance:
-replenish in 6 months with fresh supply of mineral and then each year there after.

 

[ImThere]

Finding Chinquapin oak trees

 

[Ski]

Where I hunt is more of a travel corridor from possible bedding to food. 25 acres of it is so thick I can't get through it but the other 25 are a hardwood ridge going off to a neighboring field. What steps can I take to get consistent movement in the hardwood area of the property?

Sounds like a perfect type situation for burying one of these. Far and above my favorite habitat enhancement for several reasons. Mine all have a mineral site & mock scrape within feet of it and all right next to a trail. It's amazing how many deer I see hitting the water year round, especially during rut when bucks are cruising and deer are eating dry, acidic acorns and all the moist green is gone.

A couple pics of one of mine below. I have a stand just 20yds off the right side of the frame. For a one time couple hours of shovel work & $150 there's really no other habitat enhancement that compares.