The salt lick is overflow from the water softner. I don't use the softner anymore but about once a month I put 8-10 gallons of water into the softner barrel and manually flush the system. The outlet is at the head of the trench. Not much mineral value but they do love the salt at certain times of the year. Used to have a ladderstand just outside the picture frame to the right. Shot a doe out of there one fall but decided that was not what I wanted my hunting to be so pulled the stand.