Mineral Blocks

NantucketShedHunter · **Posted:** Sun Mar 04, 2012 10:11 pm

Can you guys point me in the right direction regarding mineral blocks? I spent a lot of time last winter and today cutting a 1/2 mile path deep in the scrub oaks. At the end of the path I set up a camera. Last summer I got some great action there. Bucks, does with fawns, etc. I want to put something there at the end of the path where the camera is to attract the deer and hold them there. I want something that would last a couple weeks or even a month between camera checks. I hear you guys mention mineral blocks a lot. Is that a good choice? Will that attract deer and keep them around?

Chasin' Tail · **Joined:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:18 pm **Posts:** 434

Mineral blocks do work, though I have noticed that deer are not crazed over them, like they are for corn. I've tried the more expensive like the trophy rock and felt like I wasted my money. I get the cheapest block tractor supply has. Last a long time.

slay · **Posted:** Sun Mar 04, 2012 10:29 pm

Actually my deer love trophy rocks. They hit it hard in the spring.
I think the does and bucks need it to renourish for birthing and antler growth.
I have used plain salt blocks but they did not work as well.
Minerals are definately a spring thing thing though and one rock will last me about 2 months.
Depends on the quantity of deer in your area.

T-post · **Posted:** Sun Mar 04, 2012 10:48 pm

I dig a dished out hole about 16" in diameter and about 2" or 3" deep, then pour in Purina "Wind and Rain All Season Minerals". It's made for cattle, but the Purina rep is the one that told me to about doing it this way for deer. http://cattle.purinamills.com/Minerals/ ... fault.aspx

You can do the same thing with water softener salt too.

wolvenkinde · **Posted:** Sun Mar 04, 2012 11:06 pm

I usually put out the red trace minerals 'stock block'...buy the 50# for $7 and break it up a bit. I also get a 50# bag of Stockman's trace mineral with selenium(loose) which I pour over and around the block. The deer here really prefer the selenium stuff at least for a while...they only need a small amount in thier diet and our area is selenium deficient which may not be the case for you. In some areas selenium can be toxic if it is already prevalent in the system/area, so I would check with local soil conservation district. Add sugar and grape koolaid or deer cocaine(you can actually find the recipe online somewhere) to get them using the site faster. Some times of the year the mineral licks see alot more use than others but they do seem to get some action at all times of the year.

Sodbuster · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 12:23 am

I've always used deer cane, buck jam, and loose trace mineral. A few weeks ago I put out a 50lb Buck Lickers Magnum block from Academy(under 10.00) and the deer are all over it. I'm getting 4 at a time licking on it. It will last for months before it dissolves. Once it does it will all still be in the ground for the deer to use. Going to switch to using them full time from now on.

Bluesman · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 7:20 am

I try to limit my mineral/salt licks to 1 every 100 acres.It gives me a better idea of what deer are in the area.
I use all kinds of stuff but my everyday go to is the Water Softner salt pellets.Everything loves them.Deer,Bear,Coon,Squirrel,Rabbits etc. Everything needs salt.I have seen squirrel pick up a pellet ant take it with them.I have hundreds of pics of deer chewing on them.I love the Trophy Rocks but I won't pay that kind of money for them.The Brown Mineral lick for cows is good for established licks.
When I am testing an area like you are doing I dig a small hole around a rock or old stump.Then i put around a gallon of salt pellets premixed with sugar and Kool Aid around it.If it gets hit hard and I need a lick in this area I will keep it refreshed by adding more pellets,Brown mineral block etc.If no action I will relocate.
Deer are hitting the licks hard here now.Feb. thru May is prime time for licks here.They will tend them all year but nothing like they do in the Spring.

Sopchoppy · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 8:39 am

What I've observed:

Plain white salt block, lasted 9 months but the deer and/or rain finally got it. There were hoof prints around it.
Trace mineral block, deer never touched it.
Rock salt ($4.50 for #50 at the Co-op), depends on the time of year, more activity in spring and summer. Pour syrup or molasses over it and they get after it. Tried the grape kool-aid on the rock salt and they liked that.
Record Rack block, at one location, it was gone in 2 weeks, at another it stayed there for months and the rain finally disolved it. What's strange about this is they love the Record Rack nuggets and the block is made from the same thing.
Primos molasses block, they really like this one but it's the most expensive, usually $20 for a #15 block.
Trophy Rock, as said, it depends on the time of year. Deer "know" what they need because in early spring, they really hit it hard but as the need for minerals decreases so does their interest in Trophy Rock.
It's not a mineral block, but corn soaked overnight in diluted molasses or table syrup will make deer dig up the ground after the corn is gone.

Jeff K. OH · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:45 am

Just like slay the deer in my area love trophy rock and sometimes they like a regular salt block. Deer in my area rarely touch attractants such as buck jam,deer cane, and lucky buck. Usually a 12lb trophy rock will last between 3-4 weeks for me during spring, but after thier antlers stop growing it lasts much longer.

hookedoncameras · **Posted:** Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:49 pm

Trophy Rocks work well for me. It is not a major attractant like corn but if it is the only salt around it should work well and they will remember the location. I would set it on a stump or a big block of wood so any disovled mineral soaks in the wood-then they will lick on the wood.

I tried the water softener salt pellets and they liked that too but there might be some trace mineral in the Trophy Rock that you won't find in the salt pellets. The color of the Trophy Rock blends in where salt pellets stand out so be aware of that if you worry about pedestrians.

Last year I tried Lucky Buck all summer and fall. A few young deer really liked it and returned allot but the big bucks would try it and not return for seconds very often.

GTOHunter · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:14 pm

As far as minerals go the Deer will hit them mostly in the Spring and Summer months.I usually dig up a spot and put some minerals to help in antler growth and I set a plain ol 50lb white salt block close to the mineral spot and the Deer hit it year round and it draws them in the best....as much or better than the Trophy Rock!

The very best thing I have ever put out to draw the Deer in to a certain area is the Arm & Hammer Salt Lick.You get the Yellow box of the Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda and a bag of rock salt or even the water softener pellets!You pick an area on Your place where it's a good travel spot or a place the Deer feel safe and secure in...dig up a spot about 3 foot by 3 foot and break up the soil as small as You want.Take the box of A & H Super Washing Soda and spread 1/2 of it on the dirt and mix it up a bit, then spread about 15-20 lbs of salt on it and dump the other 1/2 of the A & H on top and let the rain dilute it into the ground.

If You want to You can pour a whole box of the A&H on the dirt,then add what ever amount of salt and add another whole box of the A&H on top of the salt depending on what You want to spend?We usually just use 1 box of the A&H when we first make a new Lick then we refresh it every 3 or 4 months depending on how much the Deer hit it and tear it up?

We had Deer work our A&H mineral licks year round and into Nov,Dec and Jan as long as there wasn't snow covering it and the weather was pretty well mild.I even put a little of the Lucky Buck Mineral in a few of the A&H Licks to help along with their antlers!

Make sure Your allowed to put out Salt or mineral licks in the State You live in.We can put them out as long as their is no grain in them or the blocks so we don't get in trouble for "Baiting"!

NantucketShedHunter · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:25 pm

Thanks for all the responses so far, guys. Are you saying that deer will eat salt mixed with dirt? I mean they will eat the dirt too?

Sodbuster · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:21 pm

NantucketShedHunter wrote:

Thanks for all the responses so far, guys. Are you saying that deer will eat salt mixed with dirt? I mean they will eat the dirt too?

Yes. I dumped buck jam on a stump last winter and now there is a 1ft deep, 3ft long and 2ft wide hole half way around it. If I start treating the other side I will be able to pop the stump out of the ground by winter. Anywhere you make a lick you'll get a hole dug by the deer, so you may want to keep that in mind when picking a spot for your lick.

NantucketShedHunter · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:23 pm

I would think that chewing dirt would ruin a deer's teeth in no time.

Deeraddict · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:26 pm

NantucketShedHunter wrote:

Thanks for all the responses so far, guys. Are you saying that deer will eat salt mixed with dirt? I mean they will eat the dirt too?

I've used water softener salt, trophy rocks, cow licks, and Monsterraxx. Ive personally had the most luck with trophy rocks and Monsterraxx mineral. It supposedly helps with antler growth; it has lower salt amounts, higher minerals, and they still love it! In my experiences, yes they eat the dirt. I've poored the mineral on stumps and they will eat that too. They end up with a decent sized hole after awhile from eating the dirt.

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Mineral Blocks

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