Mineral Blocks

Now that the feeding ban has been lifted in zone 3 in SE MN I wanted to try my hand at some mineral sites, so I bought 3 full size blocks at Fleet farm (do not remember the brand name) for 3 different sites thinking that they would last a long time. I got two of them out on June 16th with cams set up on both of them, two weeks later I went back to check them and the first site the block was totally gone not one crumb left and unfortunately I did not get any pics on that cam as I forgot to turn on the cam! The second site there was some of the block left maybe 25 percent of the block and I did get some pics and videos at this site mostly does and a young buck a coon and the neighbors dog. So how many of you have used mineral blocks and what kind or brand do you use? I would like to find something that would last longer then 2 weeks.

Is there a reason why you want blocks vs. granular that you mix into the dirt?

I was thinking that a block would last longer so much for that theory. LOL!!!

I’m sure some of it leached into the soil. We’ve tried a couple different blocks over the years and the results have been extremely poor compared to the granular products.

I put out a block and 2 bags of granular mineral to establish a new mineral site this year. With the deluge of rain we’ve had since April, both the granular and the block had disappeared by June. There were plenty of signs of use, but I didn’t have a camera on the site until last week and haven’t pulled the card yet.

We topped it up, but I think this year with all the moisture, everything salt is washing away very quickly.

Grouse

Ya, probably. Our block experience in SD was so poor it last two year with no use. The established mineral sites are a mecca for pics though.

So which granular products are you guys using and how long can I expect them to last?

Here is a recipe that @sticker1 put up last year.

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.

After doing some research, this is the same recipe that many deer hunting sites talk about including the QDMA website.
DT