A balanced pelleted ration can deliver all the mineral nutrition needed by the herd. Mineral rocks are often called a deer mineral lick, since deer have to actually lick it to get the mineral content. Sodium helps to regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. This recipe should also be tailored to meet the needs of the area in which it is being used. Site by Gray Loon. Deer, during this time of year, are actively searching for it. You can also locate these sites near good trees for trail cameras. As you seek to improve herd nutrition, theres still no substitute for good native forage management. Again, this isnt a magic trick that will ensure you have trophy bucks running around your property, but youll at least have peace of mind that your deer have access to all the minerals they will need to stay healthy and to develop antlers and healthy fawns. I know of some deer managers in Ohio whose homemade mineral mixes gave the animals heavy metal poisoning! Next, clear the ground to bare dirt, about 3 feet in diameter. Do I believe that? 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. 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. However, soil limitations often dictate using supplements to fill in the blanks created by scarcity of critical minerals in the native environment. An easy and beneficial mineral recipe for whitetail deer and an aid in antler. When formulating free choice minerals, or any feed product for that matter, the vital elements include the ingredients used along with the percentage of those ingredients and the resulting percentage of actual nutrients (i.e. WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE. WATCH: 3 Things Youre Doing Wrong with Your Mineral Sites. Salt is the most common attractant used in mineral supplements. As I previously mentioned, intake is a vital factor when formulating a mineral or protein supplement or complete feed. What Are Arrows Shot From Untuned Bows Likely to Do. That's why mineral licks make excellent trail camera spots in the summer. Deer: Balancing Expectations for Small Properties, Get to Know Your Neighbors for Better Deer Herd Management, Big Buck Profile: Reid Crawford Kansas Buck, Choosing Correct Magnification for Rifle Scope, Big Buck Profile: Troy Metzger's East Illinois Giant. When soil is either too low or high in pH, utilization of P is inhibited, greatly affecting body growth and antler production. The best place to put a deer lick is near your closest water holes, ponds or water sources and near your food plots. I struggled with that, because many cattle minerals have a known intake consumption of 2 to 4 ounces per head per day. 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. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. Weve put together one of the best deer mineral recipe articles for you to try at home. This interferes with efficient sodium conversion in the body and increases the need for sodium. All of these minerals are necessary for deer to maintain their health and help to keep their coats shiny and strong. Choose a location that is away from human activity, like your house or outbuildings. |, 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. Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag. This is where we cover all things deer hunting, from experts and whitetail trivia to news, gear, and hardcore hunting advice. There are commercial and "homemade" granular mixes available. You could also create your own homemade mineral licks for deer, by combining various bulk minerals (e.g., stock salt, trace minerals, dicalcium phosphate for deer) from your local coop. 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. 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. Creating a lick is certainly fun, inexpensive, and watching deer respond to these licks is satisfying. 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loose kind without the medications. Dicalcium Phosphate - #50 - $20.10. Photo at mineral lick start in 2001 and end in 2003. You are using an out of date browser. And, honestly, the only difference I can tell is in the price. You can use granular minerals or dicalcium phosphate, which can be found at a feed store. Surely, the knee-deep depressions in the soil caused by repeated years of mineral supplementation are evidence of deer need. In fact, theres significant scientific evidence to suggest Cu deficiencies are linked to spontaneous occurrences of brain diseases such as mad cow and CWD. Do the math. Crappy Weather/ Days off just not lining up for Coyotes. Whitetail Institute Mineral for Deer 5. There are many other examples of popular beliefs being dramatically changed through scientific discovery. Also, slightly burying the pan helped to ensure the mineral would not be spilled. There are three main types of mineral supplements. These two ingredients are bitter, so you may want to add some salt to the lick. Top 5 Best Homemade Deer Attractants Reviewed 1. Mike Clerkin heads to Buffalo County, Wisconsin to bowhunt whitetails. This past summer, I was developing a new deer mineral product and was constantly frustrated by the fact that I really didnt know what expected intake would be. for about $23.00 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. For instance, did the cameras trigger each time a deer was using the site? Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag. Typically, this attractant comes in the form of straight salt. If you notice no deer sign after a few weeks, then mix in more salt to the site. 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. Homemade deer mineral supplements work best near waterholes and food plots. Theyre classified as either macro- or micro-nutrients. Farm B had a total of eight adult deer using the deer mineral site, five of which used the site on a daily basis. This would equate to an average ounce-per-head-per-day intake of .29 ounces. Clearly minerals are important in antler development. Inside the trough, place a metal or plastic pan to hold the mineral. logging, flooding), a mineral site will receive increased usage with each progressive year. Deer will be less likely to visit the lick if there is too much human presence. However, be mindful of your impact to the area and don't risk spooking your buck by delving too deep into his core area. This is especially true of dried molasses, which deer love. Once youve thoroughly mixed the minerals with the soil, youre done. THE RISE AND FALL OF THE MISSOURI WILD TURKEY, 2021 Missouri Spring Turkey Season Worse in 24 Years, Missouri Wild Turkey Regulation Changes Needed, MDC Mythbusters Missouri Turkey Population, 2022 Missouri Wild Turkey Poult Production, 1st Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 2nd Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 3rd Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 4th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 6th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 7th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 8th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, 9th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium, North American Wildlife and Habitat Facebook Page. Heavy deer rub activity along this interior path Monitor the lick and the deer activity around it regularly. Minerals are also important for does. You can use granular minerals or dicalcium phosphate, which can be found at a feed store. I've used all manner of commercial mineral products over the years, and I've also epxerimented with my own blends. Dont expect to see trophy bucks walking around this fall just because you gave them a mineral boost this spring. WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE Printable version Ingredients: Makes 200 lbs. The amount of mineral soil used for antler growth will depend on how many deer will visit the site. The test was conducted in July. Maybe, or maybe not. for about $23.00. I have also found that unless there are major changes in the vicinity of the site (i.e. Subscriber Services. When spring rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging the mineral sites on their hunting properties. The higher the numbers the more you are typically getting out of it. Once you've thoroughly mixed the minerals with the soil, you're done. Once posts are published, youll see them here. Simply use a bucket with nearby pond or creek water to do this. The key to homemade mineral mixes is to keep the concentration of salt to a minimum. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Home Recipes The #1 Best Deer Mineral Recipe. I've mentioned this before, but here is the recipe I use with prices. Surely, the knee-deep depressions in the soil caused by repeated years of mineral supplementation are evidence of deer need, correct? About 40 percent is composed of protein. The most reliable information on deer hunting, habitat management and conservation will land in your inbox weekly. N1 Outdoors - How To Make Your Own Deer Mineral Recipe (and what ingredients you'll need): Trace Minerals 2 parts trace minerals. In this study, researchers did detect a difference in yearling buck antler development between supplemented and unsupplemented groups. We also identified magnesium deficiencies in some Michigan deer when we discovered dozens of them eating mud rich in this mineral. The first and most beneficial is to pour the GYT90 crude soybean oil and mineral mixture over supplemental feed. In conclusion, the best deer mineral recipe is one that contains trace minerals, salt, vitamins, and minerals that are beneficial to deer. Important macro-nutrients include: calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and sulfur (S). I began the project by placing black plastic feeding pans at my oldest and most frequented deer mineral sites. Place the mixture in a shallow container, such as a baking pan or pie plate, and place it in an area frequented by deer. If youre looking for a natural way to increase your deers antler growth, homemade deer minerals may be the answer. Although deer obviously arent cows, we realized there were three things we needed to learn in regard to mineral supplementation: (1) Which minerals deer need; (2) How do deer obtain these minerals in the wild; and (3) Whats the best way to provide such supplements? My best advice here is to use an attractant with an aroma or flavor that's natural to your area. The diacalcium phosphate costs about $25 to $30 and the trace-mineral salt is about $12 to $15 per bag. Granular minerals seem to work better than blocks, as most of the usage of blocks occurs in the surrounding dirt as the minerals leach into the soil. It also has a lower taste, so deer will return for more. Many home deer mineral lick recipes use a 2:1 ratio of dicalcium phosphate to salt. So here, during a time of year when mineral interest and use are high, Id like to recap which minerals deer need and how to address those needs. As you can imagine, after a deer paws up and eats a bunch of salty dirt, its going to need a drink. All Rights Reserved. If a buck consumes 8 pounds of total food per day, then in order to hit an 18 percent protein level in his diet, he would need to consume 1.44 pounds of protein. In order to hit the 1.44 pounds of protein, the buck would need to consume 5.1 pounds of the 28 percent product or 6.5 pounds of the 22 percent product. That means their expected consumption should be 0.21 to 0.42 ounces per head, per day. Obvious dietary differences dictated that this information might only be elementary when it came to whitetails. A lot is made over the power of mineral sites to grow antlers and create a healthier deer population. Rice bran is around $10 for a 40-pound bag. Also, fawns will learn mineral site areas from their mothers and will return to sites even after they are weaned. Realtree is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience to everyone, including those with disabilities.2023 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. Be sure its in close proximity to a good tree for a trail camera, too. I believe that when properly provided, minerals can increase the productivity and quality of a deer herd. February 24, 2023 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, February 22, 2023 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes. Minerals are important to all living things, serving a host of physiological functions. By delivering mineral in this way, youre exposing deer to greater risk of parasites and diseases. The ingredients include Trace mineral salt, Di-calcium phosphate, and dried molasses. As I was at the time formulating a 20-year research plan for our institute, I decided it was a natural fit to include mineral supplementation in the plan. However, age and nutrition are the two most important ingredients for producing large antlered bucks. Have you ever wondered why deer hammer mineral licks in the warm-weather months more than any other time of year? This being said, there are many variables at play and these results certainly do not provide a definite answer. Comes in 50lb Bags, you need one bag. Pull up a seat and join us. Making your own deer mineral isn't hard, nor is it expensive. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Calcium and phosphorus are important for bone growth, while magnesium helps to regulate muscle and nerve function. Research has shown that after a site is used, it will often become a part of the feeding and movement pattern. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. In addition to calcium (19 percent) and phosphorus (10 percent), the next most common elements were magnesium (1 percent) and sodium (0.5 percent). Regardless of the intensity of mineral supplementation, a yearling buck will still be a yearling buck. During the spring and summer, deer operate at a sodium deficiency due to the high potassium and water content of the forage. Now, back to the 18 percent protein. Think of minerals more like a vitamin, filling the gap in any deficiencies that might exist in a deers diet. 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