Feeding mineral?

I’d like to start putting out some mineral feeders. In our northern MN hunting location, I’m starting to suspect that our rack growth is being hampered by lack of minerals.

This particular area is a working cattle ranch and we are good friends with the owners. The current foreman is one of the sons of the owner and he is running a lot more cattle than they traditionally ran on this spread. What I think this means is a lot less opportunity for the deer to get into the cattle licks as the deer seem to avoid the cattle whenever possible. Also, the ranch crew has moved the cattle licks closer to buildings to allow for easier filling. All of this has me suspecting that the deer aren’t getting the minerals and that rack growth might be suffering.

I don’t think food is a problem. The deer have access to hundreds of acres of clover, alfafa, corn, etc. In the winter, there are about 40 deer standing around the sileage loading area every night waiting for the evening feeding to be over so they can clean up the spillage.

Two questions:

1. What kind of mineral blocks or suppliments should I be looking at and when should I start feeding it?

2. How do you feed them? By this, I mean is there a better way to go than just setting a block on an old tree stump? I just feel like this method wastes a lot of mineral.

I’ve seen QDM guys with “mineral feeders” that have a roof that covers feeding trough that’s off the ground so rain doesn’t wash the mineral away and waste it. Is this the way to go, or is this overkill?

Many thanks.

Grouse

maybe it’s genetics

We simply start our mineral sites soon, probably a little tardy even. I’ll start in February when I’m back in SD. Won’t be able to it into the ground like normal, but I’ll do my best to mix it up with existing lose top soil. The deer are hitting it year round.

Quote:

---

maybe it’s genetics

---

While that may be a possibility, it would be rather impractical to alter the heard genetics over the short term. Unless you want to send a semi truckload of huge bucks to be live released in the area.

I’m looking at improving factors that I can reasonably control. Unfortunately, despite having 1600 acres of private land and several hundred more acres of adjacent public land, there are a lot of limits to what we can and can’t do. The reality of many areas of northern MN is that they are hit hard by rampant meat hunters that whack everything they see and then complain loudly that there never are any big bucks around. The connection never occurs to them.

Grouse

Quote:

---

We simply start our mineral sites soon, probably a little tardy even. I’ll start in February when I’m back in SD. Won’t be able to it into the ground like normal, but I’ll do my best to mix it up with existing lose top soil. The deer are hitting it year round.

---

So you just spread it on the ground and create kind of a mineral lick?

What do you use?

Grouse

I have a mixure that I use that I dig up about 6-12″ of soil in a 3′ circle, pour the mineral mix on the dirt then mix that into the loose dirt. I usually freshen these mineral stations up every spring as soon as I can dig into the ground 6″ or so. Here is the mix I use that you can get at fleet farm or a feed mill

Ingredients: Makes 200 lbs
1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores.
Comes in 50lb Bags you need one bag.
2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loos kind without the medications.
Comes in 50lb Bags you need two bags.
1 part Stock salt, ice cream salt.
Comes in 50lb Bags you need one bag.

I’ve used Sticker’s mixture in the past and the deer like it. However, last year I switched over to Nutra Deer Antler Builder completely. It gives me the peace of mind knowing there is some science in what I’m putting out.

If you go to our mineral sites, you’ll see they are all scratched up even this time of year. Our deer in SD hit them year round contrary to popular belief that they stop after the velvet drops. I also like the fact there is a small chance I might find a set of horns at these locations this time of year.

This time of year I’m primarily dumping it on the ground. Come spring, I mix it into the dirt. I’ve got spots where the deer have eaten down 6″ into the ground to get the minerals. Make a 3 foot circle, get rid of all the grasses/roots. Break up the ground, eliminating as many clumps as you can. Dump a few pounds on the fresh soil and mix it up real good. Dump a few more, mix again. Lastly I’ll dump a few more and mix lightly with the top soil. I don’t know there is a perfect way of creating a mineral lick, it’s just how I do it. We refresh the licks at least once a month depending on the traffic.

We have been feeding minerals since 1988, Back then I believe that most products were mainly salt. I have tested almost every brand out there and have found that usualy the products with the highest salt content get the most use. the problem is that these probably don’t have the proper trace minerals needed to not only grow more bone but most importantly keep our deer herd in good condition during the entire year. I firmly believe that a healthy Doe that gives birth to a healthy buck fawn will normally have offspring that will grow larger racks earlier in life. I have also had very good luck with the Nutra deer antler builder

Where are these Nutra Deer products sold in the Twin Cities area? Since this stuff is fairly heavy and bulky, it would be nice to buy it as needed rather than have to store a bunch of it.

I’m looking at establishing 3 different mineral licks in different areas.

Grouse

Grouse,

Nutra Deer isn’t sold around the Twin Cities yet, but they do have a free shipping deal going on now on their web site. http://www.nutradeer.com/

I’ve been working with Jeff at Nutra Deer on a spring promotion for everyone at IDO. We hope to have the details worked out soon!

Bump!

I realize that spring is still several months away , but any news on the spring mineral promo?

I’d like to get some sites established in the spring and keep them stocked all year. Since I’ll be going turkey hunting, I’d like to do double duty and haul it then.

Any comments on availability, price, etc?

Grouse