Speaking of salt.......? here

[AlabamaSwamper]

I've read BSK mention several times (I'm pretty sure it was and apologize if I'm wrong) that studies have shown very little if any benefit that salt provides whitetails. Or maybe it was antlers, I can't remember.

I was just wondering and trying to understand why they utilize it so much "if" there is no benefits for them.

Perhaps the does get more benefit while nursing but I don't know. Just trying to understand I guess.

 

[bigtex]

Not sure if they get any "benefit" from just plain salt, but they sure as heck love it.
I have noticed that the dryer it is the more they utilize it.

 

[Andy S.]

.....Or maybe it was antlers, I can't remember.

I think this is what you are remembering. These two articles may be of interest to you.

http://www.qdma.com/articles/minerals-for-whitetails

http://www.qdma.com/study-materials/min ... never-mind

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Although there are minerals and other supplements in trophy rocks and other salt substances, there has been no proof that there is a difference from a "salt-licker" and a "non salt-licker". I believe the salt is what drives deer to find water and triggers them to hydrate themselves.

 

[AlabamaSwamper]

They sure seem to glue to it in the spring/summer. I just wonder why they do. Surely there is some sort of benefit.

My does hoard my licks so my bucks don't use them much. I can't hardly buy pics of bucks over mine. Put corn out in August 100 yards from them and I'll get 75% bucks. That is why I figure the does get the most out of them but I'm not sure.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

They sure seem to glue to it in the spring/summer. I just wonder why they do. Surely there is some sort of benefit.

You would think so. I'm sure the natural ones would not have any negative effects to them. Surely it benefits them by some means. Seems if there is something found, whether it be a positive or a negative, that it would be a positive.

 

[Andy S.]

My does hoard my licks so my bucks don't use them much. I can't hardly buy pics of bucks over mine.

My personal opinion is this has more to do with the exact location of the salt lick at this time of year than the bucks not wanting to use them. The does demand the best habitat for fawn rearing, thus it is likely your salt licks are in areas that are mostly frequented by does May-Aug (best habitat for the area), while bucks are in bachelor groups in a totally different area, possibly off of your property all together at the moment. My experience in the past is I typically have some salt sites that get hammered by does (mostly all does/fawns all the time) and a few that get used by bucks, and these are rarely ever the same sight while the does are raising their newborns. Typically the sites (doe salt licks, buck salt licks) are in two totally different areas as the bucks and does are not overlapping areas for the most part throughout the summer months.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I dont need scientific evidence for this, its just common sense that they would benefit in some way. We just cant expect to actually see this benefit with the naked eye. Alot more money and time has been pumped into researching this with livestock because theres alot more money involved in agriculture, and the benefits were shown there. If deer research was actually worth the expenditure then we would have our scientific evidence. But lets think how much deer pale in comparison economically to the livestock market...

 

[Andy S.]

Alot more money and time has been pumped into researching this with livestock because theres alot more money involved in agriculture, and the benefits were shown there.

What were the benefits?

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Andy,
I have seen that first hand in the last couple of years at salt. Up until 2 years ago, in the summer, all we ever got were bucks of all ages. Some real whoppers for my area and quite a few of them. Due to the logging we have had done the last 2 years, it has transitioned to mostly does during the summer at the salt. I dont like the lack of the bucks during the summer. Though the buck sightings in the fall has really picked up. Last year was one of our best years at our place due to the bucks being dominant in te fall and taking over. All the cover is really making them move through, as they didnt used to nearly as much.

 

[tellico4x4]

We have noticed that certain salt licks on our place attracts does, while others primarily attract bucks. Have no clue as to why, but is consistant year to year...

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Alot more money and time has been pumped into researching this with livestock because theres alot more money involved in agriculture, and the benefits were shown there.

What were the benefits?

Straight from the QDMA articles..."Research on several species of domestic livestock has documented numerous benefits of mineral supplementation including increased forage intake, improved forage digestion, and increased reproductive success."

I had to look up alot of research material for this during the last animal science class I had. There were more benefits shown that what the QDMA listed there, alot of those can be found online. Wildlife folks dont like to compare to livestock though so Im sure that debate will start lol

 

[Andy S.]

Gotcha, I was mainly wondering if there were others that were not mentioned in the articles. Thanks.

 

[BSK]

Salt is a critical component of mammal biology. Salts are necessary for many biological processes. However, I wouldn't say salt licks are critical to deer performance. I've seen no research indicating that access to salt licks measureably improves deer performance. I use salt licks because deer love them and they provide a safer way to conduct a baited photo census.

As for mineral supplementation, first remember cattle are not deer, and research on cattle says little about deer. Second, again, I've seen no research indicating mineral supplementation produces any measureable benefits to free-ranging deer.

 

[Boone 58]

I know they hammer it for some reason, and that is good enough for me to place it out there for them.

 

[BowGuy84]

I know they hammer it for some reason, and that is good enough for me to place it out there for them.

Ditto. I add some dical and trace minerals to mine in hopes that it is good, but mostly to guage how deer are using the area and have places to set cameras over in the summer without dropping money on corn.