mineral site

[Slickhead]

When the best time to start one
Also I bought some deer caine black liquid.
Im wondering if it would be better on a stump or on the ground?
I really dont want the deer digging a pit in the ground.
Any thoughts or recommendations appreciated

[Pat B]

Around here the deer hit mineral licks mostly in the spring and early summer. I was told that as they eat new shoots the excess moisture in them flushes minerals out of their systems so thats when they crave the salt/minerals. They itilize salt/mineral licks all year long.
  The other products should be used closer to hunting time as an attractant. If you put it out now it will have disipated by hunting season.
 If you put any of these things on the ground the deer will dig a pit.

[Bill Carlsen]

Start them in the Spring. Don't know what to tell you about the Deer Caine. I use the powdered stuff and mix it in water and dump it on the ground. There is soon a hole where I dumped it. I prefer the Trophy Rock when I can get them.

[eflanders]

I didn't think about timing's I just put one out in early winter. I used a mineral block normly used for cattle.  It gets visited about once a week or more depending on the amount of snow cover. More snow, they visit it more often.  I think it was a 40# block.  Its about 1/2 gone now.

[Pheonixarcher]

Why don't you want the deer to dig a pit?  If your doing this on your own land, what's it hurt? On the other hand, if you're on state land, be sure to check local laws and regulations.
If you continue to utilize the same mineral site, there will eventually be a pit, even if poured onto a stump. The minerals will leach into the soil, and the deer will dig for them.
The best place to locate a mineral site, is in a transition zone, or travel corridor where multiple trails exist. I also prefer the trophy rocks, and replenish as needed.
 The best time to start a mineral site is as early as possible, and keep it maintained at least through summer and fall.

[kbetts]

Research the mix on here and save a lot of $.  Works better too.  I can make 100# for about $30.

[creekwood]

Originally posted by Pheonixarcher:
Why don't you want the deer to dig a pit?  If your doing this on your own land, what's it hurt?
 

I can only speak for the residents in the state of Iowa, so here it is.  In Iowa, it is illegal to hunt over or near a man-made mineral lick.  I like to establish a lick and monitor it through the summer with a trail cam. At least 30 days before the archery season starts, I remove all mineral including the soil the block sat on and replace it with fresh soil brought in from elsewhere and then cover it with sod.  After removal, I have pics of deer coming to the site and standing with a puzzled look on their faces.  After about a week, there will be no deer coming to the site, proven by the camera.  I have found that minimizing the size of the pit the deer will dig also minimizes the amount of work for me to clean the site up.

[MCS]

I think the ground is probably to hard to dig now. If you put a mineral out in warmer weather they will dig a hole.

[olddogrib]

Now, they will frequent it mainly in the early spring before stuff "greens up".