TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
When establishing a new lick, the deer may find it sooner if you initially "top" it with something like molasses or peanut butter (just don't do this within a month of deer season opening, as molasses or peanut butter would be considered a food-source "bait", illegal).
It's legal (in TN) to hunt over a salt lick.
But most salt-lick usage is during the hottest summer months, and bucks will relatively stop using the licks about the same time their antlers harden, which is before archery season opens in TN.
I've also noticed a bachelor group of bucks will sometimes totally stop using a particular salt lick with just a single human intrusion (such as to check a trail cam or replenish the lick). This is one of the reasons I often prefer the licks be less noticeable to a passing human. It may not be that those bucks stop licking salt, but instead just begin using a different lick within their range. Suspect most TN bucks will be aware of numerous salt licks within their home ranges.
It's legal (in TN) to hunt over a salt lick.
But most salt-lick usage is during the hottest summer months, and bucks will relatively stop using the licks about the same time their antlers harden, which is before archery season opens in TN.
I've also noticed a bachelor group of bucks will sometimes totally stop using a particular salt lick with just a single human intrusion (such as to check a trail cam or replenish the lick). This is one of the reasons I often prefer the licks be less noticeable to a passing human. It may not be that those bucks stop licking salt, but instead just begin using a different lick within their range. Suspect most TN bucks will be aware of numerous salt licks within their home ranges.