Recommendations on mineral/salt for attracting deer?

[sightsee]

Putting some salt out today.

They sell game licks everywhere in Iowa and it is illegal to hunt near or use to manipulate game movement everywhere in Iowa.

[Terry Johnston]

bucknut has it nailed. thats the best and most cost effective mix in my opinion. Has the necessary minerals but also enough salt to make it attractive.Bucks love it, excellent to get early season photos over..

[South MS Bowhunter]

I set out 2 50# "Ranch House" trace mineral block that I broke in half and set up 4 licks today.

Will see how they do.  This was based on the study article that Darren (dhaverstick) had posted earlier.

Pretty convincing study.

[degabe]

A bag of rock salt dumped into an old pine stump is all we use. One bag every spring seems to work really well.

[dhaverstick]

For some reason, the deer on our farm and the deer behind my house prefer the Ranch House salt in the bag rather than the block, even if we break the blocks up.

I just delivered 10 more bags to my dad this past weekend. During this time of year the deer go through that stuff in a hurry!

Darren

[Tim Finley]

It depends on where you are at and what your soil is like here in ND they  totally ignore all of it so we must have enough minerals in the soil that they get it through the forage . ND is a giant food plot they don't even come to a bait very well, just to much to eat... except in the winter.

[bwcollins]

I use the TSC mineral blocks, and then i will dump a little of the buck jam or equivalent to give it a smell. Works pretty well and they seem to use them regularly here in ohio.

[Vesty]

Has anyone ever tried water softner salt? A large bag is not expensive.

[johnnyk71]

Originally posted by South MS Bowhunter:
I set out 2 50# "Ranch House" trace mineral block that I broke in half and set up 4 licks today.

Will see how they do.  This was based on the study article that Darren (dhaverstick) had posted earlier.

Pretty convincing study.

John, where did you purchase it? i've been thinking about putting some out soon too.

[achigan]

 I use the kinda pricey block from GM. Only go through 1 a year, so not too bad.

[twitchstick]

Redman salt. Same as trophy rock but cheaper

[DocWolf]

I buy a 50# bag of livestock mineral and 50# of livestock salt. I mix 2 parts salt to 1 part mineral. I also add 2 packs of Kool-Aid powder to a 5 gallon bucket. Deer do not like the mineral by itself but the salt is what keeps them there. Kind of like putting a dog pill in a piece of bread or cheese.

You need to check the ratios. I go for the mineral that is high in calcium and phosphorus. This way I can get more of the minerals the bucks need for the bone and does need for lactation. Most bucks go into a state of osteoporosis during he period they are growing their racks.