It’s not too late to set up a mineral lick for opening day. Spring is an ideal time to establish a mineral lick because deer have the whole summer to benefit from it and develop a visiting routine. However, it’s not too late to give your deer herd an extra boost of healthy minerals, and both sexes can benefit. If you planned on putting in a food plot but haven’t found the time, this is a great backup plan.
Simple to Do
If you plan to hunt over the mineral site, place it near your stand or in a location where deer normally travel, and you have a good tree or blind site nearby. Bucks often shy away from baiting sites during daylight hours, yet will visit a mineral site as part of routine travel. Visit your local hunting store and purchase minerals and attractants that will boost deer traffic from the first day. Normally, you want to rake the earth bare in a three- to four-foot circle and dump the mineral onto the bare ground. It’s normal for deer to eat dirt for the minerals, and you will often find a depression as they consume minerals.
West Virginia Stump Trick
A good friend from the Mountain State is a huge fan of mineral licks for bucks in deep woods situations. His favorite tactic is to find an old decaying stump or a smaller one he can move and drill holes into the weathered wood with a large drill bit. He then fills the holes with mineral particles or pours liquid minerals into them. The scent is above ground and quickly attracts deer, and it’s not uncommon for them to eat an entire stump in one season.
Farm Stores Save Money
I’m a big fan of Tractor Supply, a chain farm store that sells minerals for deer and livestock. Both are mammals, and with a little investigation, you will find that many mineral blocks and supplements are equally good for all mammals, yet the ones with a deer picture on the package are much more expensive. When buying mineral blocks this spring, I asked a retail gal about the varieties, especially the ones with built-in corn. “I’m surprised we still have those,” she said. “When a pallet of those arrives, they disappear almost overnight.” Near one of my stands, I wanted minerals and an attractant, so I bought one of the blocks she suggested. I forgot to bring fresh batteries for my camera at the site and didn’t return for a week or more. As predicted, the block containing corn was completely gone.
Dan The Man
Dan Schmidt has been an authority on deer hunting for decades and when he speaks, I listen. Here’s his take on setting up a mineral site:
