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jslucas
Junior Member
105 Posts |
 Posted - 03/20/2008 : 13:15:22
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Found this on the web and thought I would share it.
WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE
Ingredients: Makes 200 lbs. for about $30.00
1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag.
2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loose kind without the medications. Comes in 50lb Bags at around $5.00 you need two bags.
1 part Stock salt, ice cream salt. Comes in 50lb Bags at around $2.00 you need one bag.
Directions:
-Use a 3 pound or similar size coffee can to use as your measure for each part of the mix.
-Mix all together well but not until read to use, keep ingredients separate until ready to put to use.
-Dig or tear up a circle in the soil about 36 inches wide and about 6 inches deep.
-Mix your mineral mixture with the soil.
Maintenance:
-Replenish in 6 months with fresh supply of mineral, and then each year there after.
Jason Lucas
jslucas22@yahoo.com
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frank
Average Member
841 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2008 : 00:07:05
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Sounds intresting, do you know where to get the stock salt? I have never heard of this before, would it be the same as regular table salt grade salt? I know alot of the water softener salts are table grade salt. We have used Mortons water softner salt for salt licks before and that worked prety well. I think I might give this a try this fall, I put some deer kane out on my property to try it out and the deer never touched it.
Frank Manning
LandManager North/East
frank1968@tds.net
(810)347-5292
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jslucas
Junior Member
105 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2008 : 07:33:49
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The article I read said that you can get it at your local TSC store or you could use rock salt.
Jason Lucas
jslucas22@yahoo.com |
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Plore
Junior Member
449 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2008 : 11:35:50
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I've actually used this exact formula. Used it up north for couple seasons. Deer hit it pretty hard. I stopped using it though because of some things I read. Read some articles that claimed you could harm the deer this way (some dairy stuff has copper in it). So I quit. Even though it costs a bit more I rely on the manufactures who make the stuff specifically for whitetails. I use Whitetail Institutes 30-06 mineral as well as Luck Buck. I usually make 1 spot of each.
Paul Lorenc
734-558-3554 (cell)
Southern Michigan Land Manager |
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jslucas
Junior Member
105 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2008 : 12:10:37
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Here is a rough break down of the minerals in the recipe:
5.0% Ca
4.6% Phos
1.4% K
.15% Mg
74% salt
and a little bit of trace minerals (Cu, Co, Mn, Fe, Zn) depending on the specs of the Salt used.
Salt is the main attractant for the deer, which gets them to eat the minerals that they wouldn't ingest on there own, because quite frankly, they don't don't taste good. The amount of trace minerals is not enough to have any negative effect on the deer. Go look at a daily supplement pill and you'll find all of these trace minerals plus a few more. The reason to promote mineral licks is to provide the deer herd with minerals like Magnesium, Potassium and Phosphorus that they can't get in any significant quantity, which in turn promotes a healthier deer herd along with better antler growth in the spring and summer months.
For example: the hardened antlers contain 40 to 50 percent organic matter from mostly proteins while the most abundant minerals consist of calcium and phosphorus. The demands for these minerals on a daily basis can be significant for antler production. In addition, a lactating doe's milk contains high percentages of both calcium and phosphorus to pass on to their young, also causing a significant mineral drain on the doe. What makes all this significant is the fact that phosphorous cannot be synthesized by the body so it must be provided in needed levels in the animals diet. This is where a mineral mix such as this could be very valuable if an area is lacking in these naturally.
Jason Lucas
jslucas22@yahoo.com |
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Plore
Junior Member
449 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2008 : 12:48:57
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Thats pretty good Jason. So are you comfortable doing this? Like I mentioned I used this exact formula for a couple years then stopped. And if I recall seemed it ended up costing me around $70 instead of the $30. I got all my stuff from a place in Oxford. The deer really hit it hard. I just got concerned after reading some of these negative articles and stopped. With the way you explain it I'd agree it would seem to be ok. 200lbs. can go a long way. I've been buying the 20lb. buckets of Lucky Buck ($15) and go through 6-8 a year.
Paul Lorenc
734-558-3554 (cell)
Southern Michigan Land Manager |
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jslucas
Junior Member
105 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2008 : 14:29:21
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I have no problem with it during the spring and summer. You can always have the soil tested in the area where you are using the mineral supplement to find out the exact ratio to use. You don't have to follow the recipe exactly, if you leave the stock salt out, you'll cut down on the salt percentage by about 50% and you could also substitute in molasses to get the deer started on it. And your local feed store might have some already premixed at a different ratio than the recipe that they are selling to the dairy/beef farmers.
Jason Lucas
jslucas22@yahoo.com |
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jslucas
Junior Member
105 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2008 : 14:49:54
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I forgot to mention that the mineral mix is only part of puzzle to get a healthy deer herd (and more antler growth). They also need quality forage from us from during spring and continuing into fall; like brassicas, legumes , clover, chufa and chicory for example.
Jason Lucas
jslucas22@yahoo.com |
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teamasc
Forum Admin
1348 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2008 : 18:23:22
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My two cents, well maybe only one cent.
There is no definitive study that shows that using minerals helps deer grow big antlers/and or helps the does. Sure, the mineral companies have claims that theirs is the best and that they have the proof. They only have internal "studies" that they won't show you all the details of. Now having grown up on a beef farm where mineral supplements were provided, and seeing deer use the mineral boxes that the cattle did on a daily basis, I never once in 30 or so years saw a deer that appeared to be harmed in any way by the mineral. We had pretty darn healthy deer until the TB outbreak, and even then, most of the deer are healthy. Given that experience, any company that tells me I am harming the deer unless I use their mineral supplement, just lost my business.
I met the gentleman who makes Lucky Buck mineral. Seemed to be a nice guy. He made a lot of claims, and there are big deer down there. He next to 119 in Hillsdale. However, I saw dozens of small racked bucks this fall, all within a stones throw of his house. Didn't see any significant difference in the deer around his place than I did on property where the deer didn't have access to his mineral.
Given what I've seen on our property, by far the number one thing for us to see big racks is to get some age on the bucks. The habitat is there, the food is there, and there are some big deer there. The ones with small racks were all young deer. Same goes for the does. There are plenty of does, all that I saw had fawns last year, and all were healthy. We don't NEED minerals on our property, getting everyone (including neighbors) to pass young bucks and take more does will be the best improvement we can do.
Having said that, I did purchase a handful of Trophy Rocks on clearance at Meijers before the season ended. Put them out on various properties. Figure it can't hurt, but I am not expecting a big change. Biggest reason I wanted them out was to set up some cameras later this spring to get an idea of deer numbers.
Also, FWIW, MDNR considers salt licks baiting, and as such, it is illegal to place minerals out from Jan 2 thru Sept 30. If you are going to attempt to place mineral outside of the rules, please don't post it here, as this forum is public.
Todd Alexander
ASC Membership Services Manager
talexander@team-asc.com
www.team-asc.com
734-552-4839 |
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Plore
Junior Member
449 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2008 : 11:08:29
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If a persons only goal was to make the horns bigger then I would agree. In my experience mineral spots have been very effective in attracting and patterning deer into a general area. Many of my game camera pictures are over a mineral lick. One year in Ohio I had a buck make about a dozen rubs in a circle around a spot. He was a little 6 point I got on camera. I think I got that monster that roams around 123 as well. It was in June 07 so he was just sprouting horns and in velvet. You could tell he was going to be a monster. The picture was dated two days after I put the minerals out. Anyway, for me the value is really around the attracting and patterning of the deer. Get some pictures, etc. More fun than anything. I usually never hunt over them cause like you mention from a legal standpoint they are considered bait piles. But you can hunt the trails leading to them. So if I can do these things and give them some vitamins at the same time, what the heck .. It's most effective from spring through fall. Deer don't go for it in the winter. Chad's had a spot going for couple years now.
Just thought of a good one. What if we mix some salt with viagra and put it out during the rut. Now that might be instant results.
Paul Lorenc
734-558-3554 (cell)
Southern Michigan Land Manager |
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Plore
Junior Member
449 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2008 : 13:02:45
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Not sure if I mentioned this but I'm in the process of getting the soil tested from Monroe. Sending it to Whitetail Institute. Its more for lime and fertilizer reasons as well as the type of soil. the soil in that one area (you put your camera) seems pretty sandy. Not sure if they can do a mineral test but I'll ask.
quote:
Originally posted by jslucas
I have no problem with it during the spring and summer. You can always have the soil tested in the area where you are using the mineral supplement to find out the exact ratio to use. You don't have to follow the recipe exactly, if you leave the stock salt out, you'll cut down on the salt percentage by about 50% and you could also substitute in molasses to get the deer started on it. And your local feed store might have some already premixed at a different ratio than the recipe that they are selling to the dairy/beef farmers.
Jason Lucas
jslucas22@yahoo.com
Paul Lorenc
734-558-3554 (cell)
Southern Michigan Land Manager |
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teamasc
Forum Admin
1348 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2008 : 10:24:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Plore
Just thought of a good one. What if we mix some salt with viagra and put it out during the rut. Now that might be instant results.
I don't want to have to watch my back every time I head into the woods! 
Todd Alexander
ASC Membership Services Manager
talexander@team-asc.com
www.team-asc.com
734-552-4839 |
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Plore
Junior Member
449 Posts |
Posted - 03/27/2008 : 12:48:01
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Just strap some big horns on your head. Then you'd just have to fight the deer. And dodge some arrows.
quote:
Originally posted by teamasc
quote:
Originally posted by Plore
Just thought of a good one. What if we mix some salt with viagra and put it out during the rut. Now that might be instant results.
I don't want to have to watch my back every time I head into the woods!
Todd Alexander
ASC Membership Services Manager
talexander@team-asc.com
www.team-asc.com
734-552-4839
Paul Lorenc
734-558-3554 (cell)
Southern Michigan Land Manager |
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Topic |
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WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE
