Where hunting over minerals is legal, one of the easiest “licks” to establish is a mineral block. I bought the block shown above from Tractor Supply for $12 a month ago, and deer in my area are heating up to it. Technically, it’s a trace mineral block, the same kind that cattle and sheep ranchers use to benefit their animals, but significantly less in cost than those branded for deer.
Read the Label
When shopping for deer minerals, be sure to bring your readers if you are like me. The key to making a savvy purchase is printed on the block or bag. Many times, the same ingredients are found in block and granular form, and you can compare them on the spot with a little analysis. Granular minerals can be distributed to many sites by pouring a small amount and then mixing it into the forest soil. Although you see a full block in the above pictures, I often break a full block in two, which doubles my exposure, and even a half block will last a full season.
I Don’t Like White
Our hunt club annually buys each member a white salt block and a Trophy Rock mineral block since the intake of critical minerals benefits the entire deer herd on our property, even does nursing fawns. Personally, I don’t like the white salt blocks because they will cause deer to shy for a week or two, and they will push them away for good. I could break the larger block into small pieces and put them in the ground, but the larger brown mineral blocks are inexpensive and, once down, will last the full season.
Food Blocks, Too
Food blocks are often infused with corn and meet the qualifications for bait, so be sure baiting is legal in your area before using them. While shopping at Tractor Supply, a young woman told me about their food blocks and how quickly customers buy them. “When we get a pallet in, they are usually gone in a week,” she said. I bought one as an experiment and had unexpected results. One camera had dead batteries, and I planned to place the food block and replenish the batteries. I forgot the batteries, but placed the block, planning to return in a few days. Days turned into a week, and 10 days later, I returned, and the block was completely gone. If you are short on time or have stand sites that are difficult to reach, choosing a mineral or food block makes sense. It will draw deer into your camera location, give you an idea of the travel and feeding patterns, and allow you to make the most of your first hunt of the season. Good luck!
