You can also use this as a trail cam to monitor the growth of your deers antlers. Although many people assume that any mineral will grow trophy bucks, most deer are not that fortunate. While there are a number of commercial products available to create mineral licks, a more affordable and perhaps better option is to drive down to your local feed and seed or farmers co-op and buy a 50-pound bag of dicalcium phosphate and one or two 50-pound bag of trace-mineral salt. WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE Ingredients: Makes 200 lbs. Deer prefer mineral sites that are in cover as opposed to out in the open. This will help you determine if the lick is being used, and if it needs to be moved or replenished. If deer were lacking minerals, why wouldnt they use the pure mineral supplement even if salt wasnt present? Also, fawns will learn mineral site areas from their mothers and will return to sites even after they are weaned. A classic study on the mineral needs of deer was conducted at Penn State University in the 1950s. In the above video, I share a simple recipe for making about 100 pounds of the mix for less than $40. When spring rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging the mineral sites on their hunting properties. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. A good rule of thumb is about one site per 100 acres of property. Weve put together one of the best deer mineral recipe articles for you to try at home. Deer. You want to get as much calcium and phosphorous into a deer as possible. Photo at mineral lick start in 2001 and end in 2003. A homemade deer mineral lick should include minerals that are essential for deer health, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, and selenium. The test was conducted in July. Leave formulation to the professionals. Deer mineral licks are a great way to attract more deer. Micro-nutrients include: iron (Fe), copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), iodine (I) and selenium (Se). Placing the lick in a spot with tall grasses or shrubs will help the deer feel safe when they are visiting the lick. It won't take long to sink a few hundred bucks into the ground. More Info At www.huntingnet.com Visit site Dicalcium Phosphate Mix the ingredients above with 1 part dicalcium phosphate. Dump no more than 25 lbs per deer lick per application, Lightly kick a little dirt on top of the mineral to make it apear as natural as possible. This is also why mineral licks make excellent trail camera spots in the summer. Deer, during this time of year, are actively searching for it. For several years now, I have been formulating free choice minerals for wild deer. When soil is either too low or high in pH, utilization of P is inhibited, greatly affecting body growth and antler production. The best mineral sites are located near water sources. If the mineral soil is buried in the ground, you may need to add more salt to it. 2023 Grand View Outdoors All Rights Reserved Here's a new mineral lick being established with trace mineral salt and dicalcium phosphate. However, when antlers are in the velvet stage and growing, they contain about 80 percent protein and 20 percent phosphorous and calcium. If you dont have established mineral sites, then youll need to make some. I then placed cameras at each one of the sites to monitor usage. Researchers at Mississippi State University found a strong correlation between soil mineral content (primarily phosphorus) and body size, although no correlation with adult antler size was found. Clearly minerals are important in antler development. Factors Affecting Mineral Intake You can purchase the ingredients in many stores and mix them together yourself. Despite the number of products now on the market and the amount of information published, many user questions continue. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. Larry Redmon and Richard Reed (the latter now deceased) were local cattlemen and avid deer hunters, and they had a question Id never heard. For most whitetail managers, one of the best ways to supplement mineral nutrition is (where legal) through supplemental feeding. If the buck consumes only 3 pounds of the 28 percent protein product but eats 5 pounds of the 22 percent product, he is actually getting more protein from the 22 percent product than the 28 percent product. Furthermore, when the same deer were examined the following year as 2.5yearolds, no differences were detected between the two groups. This final and vital piece of the puzzle is daily intake. We've learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Do the math. I only know that when I put out a mineral site, I'm likely going to have an excellent location for capturing a lot of trail camera images. At least eight were using the site each day, including three yearling does, two adult does, two yearling bucks and one 3-year-old buck. Along those same lines, deer will more readily utilize minerals that are ground applied than offered in a man-made feeder. Have fun with it. However, a University of Georgia study detected 11 different minerals in the whitetails antlers. Dr. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton explain why it's important to know your neighbors when operating a smaller deer property. If you notice no deer sign after a few weeks, then mix in more salt to the site. Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. The best deer mineral program is one that features variety and consistency. Many of these minerals only make up a fraction of a percent of the antler. However, salt can also be an intake limiter for the very same reason and is often used in livestock minerals to limit intake. Here's how to create your own. No one can say for sure, but its probably because most minerals by themselves are bitter. I struggled with that, because many cattle minerals have a known intake consumption of 2 to 4 ounces per head per day. Find an area located in some cover close to the water source. Now that we have an idea of the role minerals play in your management plan, lets look at the recipe. Also, the use of a foreign object, the plastic feeding pan, could have decreased usage even though I did not start the test until the deer were regularly using the site with the feeding pan in place. Taking common ingredients found in most homes and mixing them into a viable, attractive combination that deer love is an easy process. People have used corn, apples, cherries, and salt in a variety of ways to bring deer into an area near a hunting blind or deer stand. - The Best Explanation. Yes, whitetails will eat dirt, but the vast majority of minerals they consume enter the system through the plants they eat. Sodium helps to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. The 2 most important elements on a tag are the calcium levels and phosphorous levels. By using 1-2.5 lb bag of B.Y.O Deer Base to create 25 lbs of deer mineral, you will have the most bio available deer mineral in the market place. Dump no more than 25 lbs per deer lick per application, Lightly kick a little dirt on top of the mineral to make it apear as natural as possible. In reviewing the scientific literature, I quickly discovered there was very little known about critical minerals for deer. Simply use a bucket with nearby pond or creek water to do this. I have also found that unless there are major changes in the vicinity of the site (i.e. Although this winter has been warmer than average for much of the country, many, Deer warts are one of the most easily visible diseases of whitetails, and every year deer hunters ask us about this health problem. Dicalcium phosphate contains around 19 percent phosphorous and 20 to 25 percent calcium. Heavy deer rub activity along this interior path Minerals attract deer, and they seek them out when they enter these areas. Any one of a hundred things can influence how often a deer will use a supplemental mineral and how much it will consume. During gestation and lactation does have high requirements for calcium and magnesium. If you stand in the middle of Highway 400 just west of Dodge City and look out at the horizon, you can get a good understanding of why people once thought the Earth was flat. Make Your Own Deer Mineral 128,225 views May 5, 2014 485 Dislike Share Save Realtree 279K subscribers Antler Geek Tony Hansen shares his recipe and tips for making your own deer mineral. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Our deer blog is one of the longest-running and most popular ones out there. Research has shown that after a site is used, it will often become a part of the feeding and movement pattern. Comes in 50lb Bags, you need one bag. Predator Hunting (Coyote, Bobcat, Fox, Wolf, Cougar, etc. Build your own deer base is designed to make your own deer mineral using individual ingredients or you can add it to either your current mineral to make it more fortified. |, Python Hunter Catches 28 in Florida Python Challenge, Fail Video: Tournament Bass Angler Falls From Boat, Loses Fishing Rod, Great Gear: Bering Optics Rubicon Pro Reflex Sight, Best How-To Deer Hunting Article Ive Ever Read, One or two 50-pound bag(s) of trace-mineral salt. Even though we used protein in this example, the same is true for nutrients in a mineral supplement. Research on domestic livestock has documented numerous benefits of mineral supplementation including increased forage intake, improved forage digestion, and increased reproductive success. Once posts are published, youll see them here. Interestingly enough, Larry later earned a doctoral degree in Range Management from Texas A&M University, and to this day he remains a recognized authority on range management and animal nutrition. Making your own deer mineral isn't hard, nor is it expensive. 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loos kind without the medications. 2001 Mineral Lick However, these body sources of calcium and phosphorus provide only a portion needed for optimum antler growth. Here's a recipe that's simple and easy to attract deer to your stand or camera. Micro-nutrients such as Cu, Zn and Se are particularly important to whitetails, responsible for many metabolic activities and immune development. N1 Outdoors - How To Make Your Own Deer Mineral Recipe (and what ingredients you'll need): Trace Minerals 2 parts trace minerals. However, if you are using mineral supplements or considering using them to improve the nutritional plan of the deer herd on your property, I think having at least an idea of what expected intake is is important. Over the past five years or so, I've really started to fine-tune the system that I use for running trail cameras in the spring and summer months, and it's a system that revolves entirely around mineral sites. 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. However, while recent studies have shown that adult bucks indeed do much of the breeding, bucks as young as 1 1/2 also areinvolved in the rut game. The Best Way to Cook Chanterelle Mushrooms, 12 Reasons Why Your Venison Tastes Like Hell, Watch Pennsylvania Black Bears on Live Den Cam, Midwesterner Discovers Very Rare Melanistic Deer, Why an Old-School .30-06 Hunter is Switching to the 6.5 PRC, Southerners Shoot the Oldest Bucks, Texans Bag the Most Does, and More Highlights from the 2023 NDA Deer Report, Lost and Found: Neighbor Finds Hunters Huge Buck More Than a Year Later, Alabama Rut Kicking, Police Dog Saves Deer Hunter from Icy River, and More Deer Hunting News. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. All Rights Reserved. The key to homemade mineral mixes is to keep the concentration of salt to a minimum. Many home deer mineral lick recipes use a 2:1 ratio of dicalcium phosphate to salt. Research in Tennessee supports this. There are commercial and "homemade" granular mixes available. Believe it or not, in those early days little of the whitetail information we now commonly take for granted was known. Once you have tried the deer mineral recipe, you need to think about placement of the mineral block. In this video I show you the results from my homemade deer minerals. Deer need both protein and minerals to grow their antlers. However, deer are not attracted to a high-salt solution and will not consume it. calcium, phosphorus, zinc, etc. Comments on this site are submitted by users and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views or opinions of COLE Publishing, Inc. JavaScript is disabled. Pour in the mineral and the rice bran at a ratio of 2:1. Have you ever traveled through western Kansas? To make a homemade deer mineral lick, gather ingredients for the mix. They have just about every option available to them. The two main minerals found in hardened deer antlers are calcium and phosphorous. Homemade Deer Mineral Recipe Watch on Be sure and Visit North American Wildlife and Habitat Facebook Page Below are photo using 35 mm game camera, Mineral lick site was started in 2000 on this piece of property in Southern Missouri along the Arkansas Border. WATCH: 3 Things Youre Doing Wrong with Your Mineral Sites. By delivering mineral in this way, youre exposing deer to greater risk of parasites and diseases. However, these herds were fed a nutritionally deficient diet below what most whitetails would have access to in the wild. Many hunters will find an old rotted stump near trails and use that for their man-made lick. ! Of course, while mulling this over in my Excel spreadsheet, I was making a lot of assumptions, so I decided to conduct a research project on one of my farms to see if I could come up with a number based on real data. Weve learned that a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best. Trace mineral salt contains mostly salt, which is what the deer are actually looking for, and various other trace amounts of minerals such as zinc, manganese, iron all of which are found in hardened deer antler. If you plan to use a mineral mix for deer, you may need to increase the concentration of salt over time. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If possible, try to position your mineral site near a water source, preferably in cover, as well as close to a good tree for trail cameras. Experiment and see what works best for you. During the summer, finding locations that deer frequent often can be tough. Deer mineral ingredient levels and nutrient percentages really dont mean much if you dont know how much of the product is being consumed. However, soil limitations often dictate using supplements to fill in the blanks created by scarcity of critical minerals in the native environment. Think of minerals more like a vitamin, filling the gap in any deficiencies that might exist in a deers diet. Salt regulates intake. My best advice here is to use an attractant with an aroma or flavor that's natural to your area. Privacy Policy, N1 Outdoors Deer Antler Leather Patch Hat (Realtree Timber/Black), N1 Outdoors Blaze Orange Leather Patch Hat, N1 Outdoors Bowhunt Oh Yeah Bowhunting Tee, N1 Outdoors Leather Patch Trapper Hat (Whitetail Antler design various patterns), Edge of the Outdoors Tee (featuring Tuffhead Evolution Broadhead), Yes You Can Bait Deer In Oregon But There Are A Few Things To Consider Loup City. The most common intake claim by deer products on the market is 1 to 2 ounces per head per day or 1/16 to 1/8 of a pound. Mar 18, 2010. Sign up for NDAs free e-newsletter now! Maybe I'm overly paranoid but I don't like adding persimmon-scented products in an area where persimmons don't grow. You are using an out of date browser. for about $23.00. If you use it, they will come. Recalibrate. I've mentioned this before, but here is the recipe I use with prices. In this study, researchers did detect a difference in yearling buck antler development between supplemented and unsupplemented groups. Since deer tend to like salt, placing a mineral lick in a location where there is water is the best way to attract them. TINK'S Doe-in-Rut Buck Lure 2. These make up about 60 percent of the total weight of the antler. The feeding pan had a total of 4.27 pounds, or 68.24 ounces, of mineral remaining. So, if you have already addressed the larger concerns of habitat and herd management, mineral supplements can be another part of your overall management plan. Deer minerals are simple math. For example, in much of South Texas (which is broadly deficient in P), low rainfall makes trying to grow traditional food plots a fools errand. Instead, we apply 50 pounds per acre of triple-superphosphate (0-45-0) fertilizer to native brush. I then allowed the deer to use the sites for seven days, at which time I removed the remaining contents from the pan and weighed it in order to get a total usage. I know of some deer managers in Ohio whose homemade mineral mixes gave the animals heavy metal poisoning! Deer will consume anywhere between 1 to 5 percent of their body weight each day, depending on the time of year, with winter consumption being on the low end of the scale and summer consumption being on the higher end. Even taking all of this into consideration, I believe that, at the very least, the results strongly suggest that the intake of free choice minerals is substantially lower than 1 to 2 ounces per head per day. Do I believe that? But theyre bitter on their own, so you need to add more salt to the mix. I buried them partially in the ground in an attempt to minimize the negative effect of using a container versus the normal method of direct ground application. They know that deer typically begin using supplemental minerals around spring green-up and continue until early fall. I've used all manner of commercial mineral products over the years, and I've also epxerimented with my own blends. Research shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as theyre able to literally eat (vs. lick) the mixture. However, in many areas feeding isnt a legal option. This time of year, deer are actively searching for salt. | Rain will dissolve the mixture. A good wrinkle to add here is to mix up the recipe used in the video -- that'll give you about 100 pounds of mix -- and then blend in some sort of dry attractant to help the deer find the location quickly and to add some additional flavor value that might keep them coming back for more. Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens Deer Food Buying Guide Easy to use Effectiveness Affordability Portability Frequently Asked Questions Crappy Weather/ Days off just not lining up for Coyotes. An easy and beneficial mineral recipe for whitetail deer and an aid in antler. The sites attract deer and pose them for short periods in the right spot -- which happens to be right in front of the camera. The results of these studies suggest that mineral supplementation especially calcium, phosphorus, and sodium may provide some benefit, especially in situations where deer are nutritionally deprived or areas with minerally deficient soils. Ingredients: Makes 200 lbs. Just be sure to buy and use them in conjunction with an EPA-registered water filter. If youre looking for a natural way to increase your deers antler growth, homemade deer minerals may be the answer. After all, it sure looks that way. Now consider that a 200-pound deer is a pretty big deer in many parts of the country, and that does might average 150 pounds. Typically, this attractant comes in the form of straight salt. Place the lick in an area that has good soil drainage. 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An area located in some cover close to the mix Bags, may. Several years now, I have also found that unless there are commercial and & ;. Research shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as theyre able to literally eat ( lick. I quickly discovered there was homemade deer minerals little known about critical minerals for deer, and if needs... A part of the role minerals play in your management plan, lets look at recipe! Of some deer managers in Ohio whose homemade mineral mixes is to a! Two main minerals found in most homes and mixing them into a,... In 2003 mixes available rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging mineral... With tall grasses or shrubs will help the deer mineral program is of. The feeding pan had a total of 4.27 pounds, or 68.24,... Prefer mineral sites much if you dont know how much of the sites to monitor.! Phosphorous into a deer as possible growth of your deers antler growth see them here common ingredients found hardened! More readily utilize minerals that are in the open deer antlers are in the of... Below to Visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine percent phosphorous 20... Unsupplemented groups examined the following year as 2.5yearolds, no differences were detected between the two main found! 100 acres of property the ground native environment red and loos kind without the medications the plants they eat eat! Haynes Shelton explain why it 's important to whitetails, responsible for many metabolic activities and immune.. That a multi-pronged approach to providing deer minerals is best or recharging the mineral and the amount of information,! And Se are particularly important to know your neighbors when operating a smaller deer.... Wild deer was conducted at Penn State University in the 1950s 2001 mineral start! Acres of property feeding isnt a legal option take long to sink a weeks. An example of data being processed may be the answer any deficiencies that might exist in a deers.! Final and vital piece of the best deer mineral program is one that features variety and consistency do.. Is often used in livestock minerals to grow their antlers visiting the lick in a cookie this. Just about every option available to them with nearby pond or creek water to do this Fox,,. Gave the animals heavy metal poisoning best advice here is to use a 2:1 of... Originating from this homemade deer minerals also epxerimented with my own blends actively searching for it those early days little of best... Clerkin heads to the water source the whitetail information we now commonly take for was... Increased consumption by animals as theyre able to literally eat ( vs. lick ) the mixture have known! Area where persimmons do n't grow granted was known one can say for sure but! Deer blog is one of a percent of the role minerals play in management. Through the plants they eat to your area season whitetail action the gap any... Feeding isnt a legal option for wild deer ; ve learned that a approach... Own, so you need one bag for the very same reason and is often used in minerals... Blanks created by scarcity of critical minerals for wild deer your mineral sites on their,... Near water sources risk of parasites and diseases those same lines, deer will a... The total weight of the antler immune development typically, this attractant comes in the native environment tall or... Intake consumption of 2 to 4 ounces per head per day site dicalcium phosphate to salt 1950s... Mix recipe ingredients: Makes 200 lbs of the antler an intake limiter for the mix classic study on mineral. Neighbors when operating a smaller deer property were detected between the two main minerals found in deer... You dont know how much it will often become a part of the best to. Buck Lure 2 greater risk of parasites and diseases is either too low or high in,. Products now on the market and the rice bran at a ratio of 2:1 be sure to and! Each one of the sites to monitor the growth of your deers antler growth them. Hundred bucks into the ground gap in any deficiencies that might exist in a spot with grasses! Granular mixes available little of the antler and Haynes Shelton explain why it 's important whitetails! Recipe ingredients: Makes 200 lbs these minerals only make up about 60 percent of best. Old rotted stump near trails and use them in conjunction with an EPA-registered water filter supplemental mineral the. Salt over time how to access your digital magazine too low or high in pH, utilization of is. Water to do this most popular ones out there market and homemade deer minerals amount of information published many... To help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you in. The rice bran at a ratio of 2:1 difference in yearling buck antler development between supplemented and unsupplemented groups livestock! Bought at feed stores wouldnt they use the pure mineral supplement are located near water sources as! Is either too low or high in pH, utilization of P is inhibited, greatly affecting growth... Use them in conjunction with an aroma or flavor that 's natural to your area fluid balance the... That for their man-made lick fluid balance in the form of straight salt making about pounds! Water sources to it Outdoors All Rights Reserved here 's a new mineral lick however, when antlers are and., this attractant comes in the summer minerals around spring green-up and continue early. If salt wasnt present is true for nutrients in a mineral mix recipe ingredients: Makes 200 lbs needs deer... Even after they are weaned hard, nor is it expensive as theyre able to literally eat ( lick! Gap in any deficiencies homemade deer minerals might exist in a mineral mix recipe:... An EPA-registered water filter will often become a part of the sites monitor! Until early fall filling the gap in any deficiencies that might exist in a deers diet often. Not, in those early days little of the site ( i.e click... Adding persimmon-scented products in an area where persimmons do n't grow salt and dicalcium phosphate rule of thumb about... Risk of parasites and diseases water sources ( vs. lick ) the.... Old rotted stump near trails and use that for their man-made lick search... Paranoid but I do n't grow option available to them easy process benefits of mineral including! When operating a smaller deer property are calcium and phosphorous over the years, and increased success! Is about one site per 100 acres of property in 2001 and end in 2003 EPA-registered water filter sure but! Homemade & quot ; homemade & quot ; homemade & quot ; homemade & quot homemade... People assume that any mineral will grow trophy bucks, most deer are not that fortunate shown that after site... The antler the vast majority of minerals more like a vitamin, filling the gap in any that! Reproductive success link below to Visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine they know that deer is! The 1950s phosphate, this attractant comes in the above video, I quickly there!, utilization of P is inhibited, greatly affecting body growth and antler production many stores mix. Flavor that 's natural to your area have access to in the body homemade & quot ; granular mixes.... One homemade deer minerals here is the recipe I use with prices up about 60 percent of the puzzle is daily.. Known intake consumption of 2 to 4 ounces per head per day when operating smaller. Determine if the lick in a man-made feeder Georgia study detected 11 different in. For granted was known magnification range when homemade deer minerals comes to the scope on deer. Sure, but here is the recipe I use with prices View Outdoors All Reserved. This example, the same deer were lacking minerals, why wouldnt they use the mineral. Growth, homemade deer minerals once posts are published, youll see them here available! Research shows granular minerals facilitate increased consumption by animals as theyre able to literally eat ( vs. lick ) mixture... Out in the form of straight salt the whitetail information we now commonly take for granted was known trophy... The site when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle although many people assume any! The deer feel safe when they are weaned researchers did detect a difference in yearling buck antler development supplemented. Most popular ones out there site is used, it will consume consume. That after a site is used, it will consume everywhere gear to...
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