Spring Summer Mineral Sites

[ventilator]

Got my mineral sites reloaded on the farm yesterday. Going into year 3 , they really have a big pit opened at each location. I use a mix of dicalcium phospate, trace mineral salt and dried molasses. Really seems to work from march-september. I can usually get a pic of most all the bucks on my place in the summer anyway.

 

[Canuck5]

And what you are doing with those minerals, is providing the fetus, through the doe, it's best chance of survival for the first year, along with great bone/antler development for a buck or doe.

 

[Browning300mag]

Got my mineral sites reloaded on the farm yesterday. Going into year 3 , they really have a big pit opened at each location. I use a mix of dicalcium phospate, trace mineral salt and dried molasses. Really seems to work from march-september. I can usually get a pic of most all the bucks on my place in the summer anyway.

What’s your mixture rate of these products

 

[ventilator]

What’s your mixture rate of these products

I normally to 1/3 of each for a total of 150lbs per site. Due to the cost increase this year, I used the same ratio but only 100lbs per site. I have 3 total sites on 70 acres in SC.

 

[Bucaramus]

Where do you find the Dicalcium Phosphate? We don't really have any coop's nearby.

 

[ventilator]

Where do you find the Dicalcium Phosphate? We don't really have any coop's nearby.

Ive been getting it at Southern States in Fletcher NC. They have multiple locations though. Maybe one is closer to you. Dical is hard to find for me usually.

 

[fireman32]

Where do you find the Dicalcium Phosphate? We don't really have any coop's nearby.

There’s a southern states in Crisp co. If you’re close to there.

 

[Mackie889]

Got my mineral sites reloaded on the farm yesterday. Going into year 3 , they really have a big pit opened at each location. I use a mix of dicalcium phospate, trace mineral salt and dried molasses. Really seems to work from march-september. I can usually get a pic of most all the bucks on my place in the summer anyway.

Great info here ... thanks! Where do you put your mineral sights ... near food plots, feeders, or just random spots? I am going to attempt one more year at my farm. I have had absolutely NO LUCK with them over the past few years since buying the place in Northwest Brooks County. I'm not sure if the deer get all of the minerals from the crop fields, or the native vegetation, but they don't seem to touch the sites that I've done. I've tried various store bought ones (deer cain, blocks of different flavors, etc) and even mixed up a kool-aid concoction I found on YouTube. Any additional info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[ventilator]

Great info here ... thanks! Where do you put your mineral sights ... near food plots, feeders, or just random spots? I am going to attempt one more year at my farm. I have had absolutely NO LUCK with them over the past few years since buying the place in Northwest Brooks County. I'm not sure if the deer get all of the minerals from the crop fields, or the native vegetation, but they don't seem to touch the sites that I've done. I've tried various store bought ones (deer cain, blocks of different flavors, etc) and even mixed up a kool-aid concoction I found on YouTube. Any additional info would be greatly appreciated!

On mine, I always do them near a water source. If you can find a good creek crossing, just dig a hole the size of a 5gal bucket and fill it up with minerals now. They WILL be on it soon.

 

[b8hickman]

When the creek floods will it not wash away the minerals?

 

[Killdee]

When the creek floods will it not wash away the minerals?

 

[Killdee]

I always look for red clay to place mineral sites. They don’t need to be near water to be effective. Clay that will hold water will also hold the minerals after they dissolve and will pull deer in for a long time after the minerals are dissolved and they will dig out a pit.

 

[Flash]

Where do you find the Dicalcium Phosphate? We don't really have any coop's nearby.

Beggs Farm Supply in NE GA usually has it if that helps

 

[furtaker]

I just use the cheap red trace mineral salt from Tractor Supply or a feed store. It's over 90% salt so it's probably not very beneficial with nutrients for the deer but they love it and dig big holes. And it's a good place for summer pictures.

I like putting it in red clay as well if possible. It doesn't need to be near a water source.

 

[Canuck5]

Just for what it's worth.

Ranch House Trace Mineralized Salt are the red blocks we can buy at most feed and seed stores. Having nutritious food plots, help a lot too and salt is very important to the deer in the spring, when everything they eat is full of water.

 

[Canuck5]

Nutritional requirements

 

[Mackie889]

I always look for red clay to place mineral sites. They don’t need to be near water to be effective. Clay that will hold water will also hold the minerals after they dissolve and will pull deer in for a long time after the minerals are dissolved and they will dig out a pit.

At my old hunt club in Sumter County, we had red clay pretty much to the surface and the mineral sites got hammered by the deer. At my place in Brooks County, there is some red clay down about 15" through the top soil. Should I dig down to that level and then start the mineral site? The sites that I have prepared at the soil surface don't get touched by the deer.

 

[slow motion]

Just for what it's worth.

Ranch House Trace Mineralized Salt are the red blocks we can buy at most feed and seed stores. Having nutritious food plots, help a lot too and salt is very important to the deer in the spring, when everything they eat is full of water.

Remember my grandpa mixing mineral salt with sweet feed to get the cows to eat it in the spring for that reason. He'd always say they've been waiting on that grass all winter. Not much nutrition in that early growth and they'll eat so much they get the scours.

 

[ventilator]

When the creek floods will it not wash away the minerals?

I dont literally put it on top of the creek, just close. But the minerals get in the ground quickly. Deer seem to use the spot better once the ground absorbs them in my experience.

 

[Ihunt]

At my old hunt club in Sumter County, we had red clay pretty much to the surface and the mineral sites got hammered by the deer. At my place in Brooks County, there is some red clay down about 15" through the top soil. Should I dig down to that level and then start the mineral site? The sites that I have prepared at the soil surface don't get touched by the deer.

Just buy a trace mineral block and put it on the ground. They’ll eat it. The only problem with the block is hogs. Those rascals will roll it somewhere never to be seen again.