Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag. Sign up for NDAs free e-newsletter now! How to Make the World's Best Homemade Deer Attractant Feed Mineral - YouTube Skip navigation Sign in 0:00 / 18:02 Intro How to Make the World's Best Homemade Deer Attractant Feed. 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. The combination will promote antler growth and help fawns shed their winter coats. Discussion Dicalcium Phosphate - #50 - $20.10. Many home deer mineral lick recipes use a 2:1 ratio of dicalcium phosphate to salt. All Rights Reserved. Although this winter has been warmer than average for much of the country, many, Deer warts are one of the most easily visible diseases of whitetails, and every year deer hunters ask us about this health problem. Therefore, I took the total number of deer that used the site over a seven-day period and divided it by seven days to reach an approximate number of deer using the site each day. Mixing Salts Mix the trace minerals above with 1 part mixing salts Dried Molasses Mix the above ingredients with 1 part dried molasses. in Food Plots, A different approach, Research is learning what is wrong about a forage. Dicalcium phosphate contains around 19 percent phosphorous and 20 to 25 percent calcium. There are three main types of mineral supplements. During the spring and summer, deer operate at a sodium deficiency due to the high potassium and water content of the forage. ). In so doing, we get fantastic response from the deer herd. 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loos kind without the medications. Every two weeks, remove any remaining mineral and wash or wipe out the pan with 50 percent bleach water to kill bacteria and parasite eggs. Micro-nutrients such as Cu, Zn and Se are particularly important to whitetails, responsible for many metabolic activities and immune development. Simply use a bucket with nearby pond or creek water to do this. However, a University of Georgia study detected 11 different minerals in the whitetails antlers. Dump no more than 25 lbs per deer lick per application, Lightly kick a little dirt on top of the mineral to make it apear as natural as possible. 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. Many hunters believe that it is simply because bucks need the minerals for antler growth and does for raising fawns during these months. Ohio Hunter Balances Hunting and Family to Bag 190-inch Typical, Dr. 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. Calcium and phosphorous are the two biggest components of antler growth after protein. Place the mixture in a shallow container, such as a baking pan or pie plate, and place it in an area frequented by deer. The first step is have the soils analyzed for the critical macro- and micro-nutrients. The minerals are not as attractive to deer, but they are a necessity for their body. 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. So why not just pour salt out for the deer if thats what they're after? So when I am creating new sites, I try several locations and replenish the ones that receive continued use while abandoning the sites with little or no use. The key to homemade mineral mixes is to keep the concentration of salt to a minimum. This study differed from the Penn State study in that both herds were fed a nutritionally complete diet. A lot is made over the power of mineral sites to grow antlers and create a healthier deer population. You are using an out of date browser. Besides calcium and phosphorus, little is known about the role of other minerals in antler growth. calcium, phosphorus, zinc, etc.). | Antlers are comprised of roughly 20 percent calcium and 10 percent phosphorus. Once posts are published, youll see them here. But this does not guarantee that deer will use the site. Rice bran is around $10 for a 40-pound bag. Basically, the deer will tell you where they like to eat. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. After all, it sure looks that way. What is the Most Important Factor in Whitetail Nutrition? Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Researchers at Mississippi State University found a strong correlation between soil mineral content (primarily phosphorus) and body size, although no correlation with adult antler size was found. Interestingly, the immense prehistoric deer called the Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus) went extinct during the last global warmup shortly after the Ice Age, apparently due to the loss of tundra plants high in Ca and P. Fossil evidence supports these deer were victims of spontaneous cervical fractures caused by osteoporosis. Place the lick in a location that has a lot of natural cover. Deer mineral licks are a great way to attract more deer. Regardless of the intensity of mineral supplementation, a yearling buck will still be a yearling buck. The water is so powerful and so easily drained in your hands that you should definitely be buying water from a natural resource like a stream to get a better picture of what the water is going to be like . Over the past five years or so, I've really started to fine-tune the system that I use for running trail cameras in the spring and summer months, and it's a system that revolves entirely around mineral sites. The best way to provide supplemental minerals is by using a granular mineral that contains less than 30 percent salt and has Ca and P at the rate of 12 percent each. In the old days, we simply dug holes and poured granular mineral into them. When creating sites, I try to find heavily used trails or trail crossings somewhere in cover (brush or timber) and create the site just off that trail or trail crossing. Once you have your supplies its time to start making mineral sites. In this edition of "From The Stand," Pat Hogan explains the importance of being aware of proper clearance when using your bow or crossbow out in the field. In addition, one group was provided a commercial mineral supplement. Bucks must live long enough to reach physical maturity while having access to high quality nutrition to achieve maximum antler growth. What Are Arrows Shot From Untuned Bows Likely to Do. Maybe, or maybe not. Just be sure to dig up some of the existing dirt and mix the trace mineral salt and dicalcium phosphate into the soil. Studies have shown that calcium and phosphorus are by far the two most common minerals in deer antlers, comprising 3035 percent of the mature antler by weight. Here is a recipe one of the MO conservation agents passed on to us hunters. If you dont see any deer activity near the mineral sight, try placing it near water sources and a good tree for trail cameras. 2001 Mineral Lick In this study, researchers did detect a difference in yearling buck antler development between supplemented and unsupplemented groups. Originally came off the QDMA website, but I can't find it know. Those actually were wonderful days to do research, as my colleagues and I picked the low-hanging fruit of knowledge. To make a homemade deer mineral lick, gather ingredients for the mix. Lucky Buck Apple Flavored Deer Attractant 4. All Rights Reserved. These products can be mixed with water or placed in a tree stump. An easy and beneficial mineral recipe for whitetail deer and an aid in antler. Pour your mineral contents all over the turned-up ground and mix it in with the shovel or pitchfork. This should be followed by developing a food-plot or native-plant fertilization program to ameliorate any deficiencies. Deer prefer mineral sites that are in cover as opposed to out in the open. Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loos kind without the medications. It also has a lower taste, so deer will return for more. When spring rolls around, hunters everywhere gear up to begin establishing or recharging the mineral sites on their hunting properties. A good rule of thumb is about one site per 100 acres of property. Make sure the lick is near a water source. This being said, there are many variables at play and these results certainly do not provide a definite answer. This would equate to a .21 ounce-per-head-per-day intake. The best time to put out these mineral blocks is in February/March/April. Pour your mineral contents all over the turned-up ground and mix it in with the shovel or pitchfork. This final and vital piece of the puzzle is daily intake. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Of course, while mulling this over in my Excel spreadsheet, I was making a lot of assumptions, so I decided to conduct a research project on one of my farms to see if I could come up with a number based on real data. Now add in the oats and mix again. Clearly minerals are important in antler development. Join us as we mix up the mineral and take it out and put. Also, if youre not getting at least the intake level of .2 to .4 ounce per head per day, then maybe you need to switch products, move the mineral site or make some other changes to make sure deer are consuming the desired amount. In fact, theres significant scientific evidence to suggest Cu deficiencies are linked to spontaneous occurrences of brain diseases such as mad cow and CWD. As you can see, getting the right salt level in a mineral can be tricky. However, while recent studies have shown that adult bucks indeed do much of the breeding, bucks as young as 1 1/2 also areinvolved in the rut game. In contrast, most studies on whitetails have focused on the impacts on body weight and antler development. Next, choose a central location near cover and dig a shallow, 6-inch deep hole a few feet in diameter. Most folks would simply look at the tag and see that one product is 28 percent and the other 22 percent and just assume that the deer is getting more protein from the 28 percent protein product. Copyright Jesse's Hunting & Outdoors L.L.C. At the same time, I reviewed the cameras located at each spot to identify how many deer were using the site each day. Getting your food plots back on track. In areas where it is legal to use deer mineral, here is an economic option for you. This makes deer actively seek out concentrated sources of sodium such as natural or manmade licks. Pull up a seat and join us. Salt regulates intake. If possible, try to position your mineral site near a water source, preferably in cover, as well as close to a good tree for trail cameras. As it turned out, the general area has long been known for a cattle disease called grass tetany, which is directly related to a lack of magnesium in the diet. Homemade deer mineral supplements work best near waterholes and food plots. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. This sheds light on why quality forage high in protein is needed during the spring and summer for deer to reach their antler potential. However, age and nutrition are the two most important ingredients for producing large antlered bucks. Do the math. Ingredients 2 cups = Oats 2 cups = Cornmeal 1 cup = Brown sugar 1 cup = Molasses 1/2 cup = Vegetable oil Directions In a large bowl, pour in molasses, brown sugar, and vegetable oil. Next, clear the ground to bare dirt, about 3 feet in diameter. Choose a location that is away from human activity, like your house or outbuildings. Deer's antlers are made up of over 22% calcium and 11% phosphorous. Powdered sugar brings the sweetness deer crave as the winter approaches. Making your own deer mineral isn't hard, nor is it expensive. Micro-nutrients include: iron (Fe), copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), iodine (I) and selenium (Se). Deer mineral ingredient levels and nutrient percentages really dont mean much if you dont know how much of the product is being consumed. Could the use of salt/mineral mixes simply be due to an increased need for salt? The best mineral sites are located near water sources. But I think the aroma of the added products -- the general purpose mineral in the blend above -- helps deer find the location faster and may add some level of taste value as well. 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. 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. There also is 5 flavors that are natural to deer. Arguably, the test might only be representative for the particular deer mineral I was using, and a different mineral with different salt levels or other attractants might have shown a different result. Western Kansas is also flat, and when I say flat, I dont mean kind of flat. More Info At www.huntingnet.com Visit site Granular - these minerals are added to the soil, and deer get them by consuming the minerals and/or soil/minerals mixture. 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Quality forage high in protein is needed during the spring and summer, operate! Best time to put out these mineral blocks is in February/March/April, youll see them here the....

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