Should You Use Minerals For Deer?

[@stephenkendall6108]

I’ve used minerals for several years now. I did see results over the years. First few years things gradually changed then things kind of took off. I did read an article on “genetic predisposition”. That after several repeated years of using minerals the fawns begin to be born able to use and take better advantage of available minerals. Not sure how real that it but it makes sense to a degree. Like you I don’t know if that makes antlers bigger over the years but I certainly had much larger bucks on the same farm after a few years.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

As far as I know there is no real study to show that min rals do anything at all...other than large quantities ingested in fenced game farms. I could be wrong tho? Just no studies that prove otherwise that I know of. Would be cool to see a link to a study done by someone other than a mineral company. Like a university study? Bottom line...if nothing else a cool spot for summer trail cam inventories where legal!

[@redmondray8066]

I do enjoy your videos, I’ve been putting in deer plots and have learned a lot from your videos. Even tho I do not hunt (yet) I enjoy seeing all the deer and other critters on the cameras. Used to be able to count over a 100 turkeys at one time, now I’m lucky to get a count around 20. I’m also in S.E.Mn. Thank for sharing your knowledge.

[@courtofficermcilvaine7928]

Here in NJ we can legally use minerals to attract deer. I place cameras on my mineral sites to help keep an inventory of bucks on my small parcel. Great video!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thanks Cris...mineral sites truly create an exceptional spot for summer buck inventory!

[@gordonneverdies]

I'm from NJ too. South Jersey. I'm gonna give this a try too this year. I finally gave in and bough some cameras.

[@drewharman1690]

I planted 16 trees in our clear cuts yesterday they were 3 year old seedlings! A few white oaks and some white pine and cedars about every 50 yards

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Beautiful Drew!!

[@GM-md5ss]

When we bought our hunting property 20 years ago it was small bucks. Started putting out mineral. Gradually they got bigger. Been shooting P&Y bucks for several years now and had 6 different P&Y bucks on trail cams this year.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Always remember the minerals have nothing to do with antler growth...body wrights, or any other measurable. Great spot for a summer trail cam tho!

[@timhatfield6367]

Turkey hunted at farm last weekend, seen lots of hens throughout the day. Seen couple Tom's from a distance,but I did see 3 pheasant, 2 quail, wood ducks and lots of deer. No sheds or mushrooms. Oh, and a coyote tried to steal my Jake decoy. It happened too fast for me to get my bow on him. Also I could see a massive lack of green where I sprayed simazine a month or so ago. Great time outdoors even if we came home empty handed! Thanks for doing what you do WHS!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Man what a great time Tim...really happy for you!

[@Treeplanter73]

Unfortunately putting down minerals is illegal in 90% of Wisconsin. Back in the day, we put out deer co- caine, theyd hit it hard on old stumps and water holes.

[@johnmcmorris1170]

I used salt and dical mixed 50-50 for years. Got lots of great pictures but I noticed that a lot of the bucks hitting the mineral moved off as fall arrived. Not sure if it added anything to the antler growth or not but if it did, I was only helping someone hunting a mile away. I do know from my ag nutrition background that minerals can help deer the same as they do livestock. There are years when food source is better than others and they should help out more in the lean years. Late fall food sources that stretch into the winter as far as possible are the key.

[@cola2328]

Where do you get your dical mix from?

[@josephbennett4442]

about 75%of the same bucks I get in spring and summer I get year round , great video ! We also bought like 300$ worth of seed from u other day ! Can’t wait for it to come in

[@bowman8316]

Thank you ! I'll prob put light grain in with the clover ☘👍🏻

[@joelb7668]

I’ve tried a lot of different blocks and the critters are for the most part just not very interested though they eventually get eaten. But I tell you what the Big & J block has an amazing attraction power. I’ve seen on trail cam pics bucks and does hang around for hours Truly a wild difference. And then consumed in a week or too. Oh and the pigs take their share too

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Dang pigs!

[@bowman8316]

I'm also planting late may clover... if the plot is in a low damp area, are oats still needed ?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Boy that's a tough call...maybe not if the water table is high enough

[@BrianMoore-j6p]

Jeff what mineral do you use ? So many to choose from , what do you recommend

[@ihus9950]

Thanks great info👍🏻

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

You are very welcome!

[@SnowmanR72]

The deer and elk are always licking the mineral blocks and salt blocks I put out for my cows and goats. More so all winter long.

[@JakeKopec]

love every one of your videos! thanks team WHS! -after spraying symizine pre emmergent 3 weeks or so ago, how long should I safely wait before digging into the contaminated/sprayed soil & transplanting a few immature pine trees? would like to do it before my round up spraying if possible. thanks for your time

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Jake thank you! Man that's a really tough call? The Simazine stays in the soil between 60 to 90 days. Impersonally wouldn't plant the trees there, but if I did I wouldn't do so until late Summer just to be safe?

[@randyh.6019]

Took you along time to say it wasn't legal in our county, Jeff, you had me thinking that maybe the laws changed!!😂😂 Did you see the dead head giant found north of lake city, Mn. WOW

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

I didn't see that!! And yes...had to save that for last 😁

[@randyh.6019]

ya found dead head while shed hunting up by lake city mn. possible new state record around 280" if I ever figure out how to send you a picture I will

[@benborgschatz9525]

​@@randyh.6019 That was a huge deer!

[@chrisreetz4117]

Thank you for all your videos. Would a mineral site waterhòle combo Be a really hotspot or is it not a good idea

[@CarterLake880]

Hi Jeff, my question would be are there any scientific studies or research that shows minerals do NOT help with antler growth or general health of the herd? Just from personal experience we have a large herd of goats that were plagued with parasite infestations even deworming regularly and rotating pastures. What we found was they were lacking minerals. Mineral supplementation was the “key” or at least played a key role to solving the problem

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Charlie! This is a pretty good, unbiased article. Has some great info. Bottom line is they probably don't hurt deer (maybe in TB areas?) they are fun, as well as a great place to hang a summer trail cam! deerassociation.com/minerals-for-whitetails/

[@CarterLake880]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 thanks!

[@anthonymalueg3520]

I really miss being able to put mineral out camera photos were so much easier in the summer

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

I hear you Tony, that is so true! It's been years since it was legal anywhere I hunt... MI, WI and MN...but that was very enjoyable! The Summer mock scrape pics have been a good replacement tho. Something about those minerals tho...

[@anthonymalueg3520]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Not many of us up this early

[@AustinCrocker]

I’m definitely going to be cutting some vines to make mock scrapes it all clicked for me when I heard you mention vines in your videos because the most active scrape I ever saw years ago was in Pennsylvania and it was under a vine naturally drooping down and for whatever reason never occurred to me to re-create it. On 100 acres how many would you put up? I was thinking 2. Thanks, and love all your content!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Very cool Austin...that's what led me to start making them long ago 😊 Check out my mock scrape playlist on this channel...over 50 mock scrape vids! What I always talk about is 1 per stand location...no more, no less.

[@underdogoutdoors]

Used to use minerals, sometimes the dirt beneath would be eaten, turned into a big pothole.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Deer love salt! They even lick roads for it. There is even a thought that salt can be bad for deer next to wat r. They eat unnatural levels of salt, then develop a thirst because of the salt and then consume water. They then bloat and eat less food and the nutrition they need because of the salt and drinking too much water. Who knows...but it's hard when there appears to be no evidence that minerals help other than, "the bucks got bigger on my land". I'm hoping there is some better info out there?

[@royguidry1311]

I agree that it doesn't do much for antler growth but it can contribute to their overall health. They wouldn't go out of their way to get in those few licks if it didn't. They live off of instinct and as a food plotter you know they will seek out the healthiest plants.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Deer love salt...which does nothing for their nutritional health, but they will lick roads for it. Food plot forage and forage in general is measured in pounds per day. Minerals in licks per day. So, so different. The crazy thing is that if all the research out there, I know of none yet that shows any positive attributes of minerals in free ranging deer. I'm hoping a link is shared in these comments but I haven't seen one yet. Would be cool if they did tho!

[@royguidry1311]

@Whitetail Habitat Solutions valid point. Bucks love breeding does, does nothing for their health, damn near kills them. Probably like us eating a candy bar.

[@janitorialguy4436]

Thanks Jeff, never messed with it just another expense

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Good way to look at it...although if legal, cool spot for summer trail cam pics! Still waiting for a link to a scientific study from a non biased source, that shows benefits. Who knows tho?!

[@BillVerbeten]

Have you ever added anything like RacH2O to your water tanks over the years?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

No not at all. I've seen any waterholes with additives that deer then ignored. I've even seen someone use apple flavored mineral packets...the deer avoided. Natural seems to always be best...

[@joelb7668]

Is there any way to put out something the deer will eat that can treat deer tick infestation. It’s unbelievably prevalent and heavy in our area of Oklahoma. I’ve searched the internet for anything with no success

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Joel...not that I know of, at all! I would worry too much other than those fawns...they can literally make them go blind. Mother nature is CRUEL at times!

[@joelb7668]

Last year there was a fawn with an almost solid ring of ticks around at least one of its eyes. Lost track of its plight but felt so bad for that young creature

[@barryklein6521]

Ive used trophy rock mineral licks in the past for years and had mostly bucks on one of them and mostly does on the another. Deer were hiting them daily...Good way to get tabs on deer in the area. Question on wether it can spread diseases when you got multiple Deer depositing there saliva all over it...I think so...I think that is the reason why the DNR bans it...

[@jerrodhankins2676]

I understand that the minerals do not have a large impact on antler growth. My question is that does it help with the general health of the deer. Some of the mineral companies claim that their ingredients help with lyme disease or the females to produce more milk for fawns. They have also claimed that the minerals help deer to break down foliage that is harder to digest. Is there any scientific studies that prove or disprove these acquisitions?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Jerrod several scientific studies have been completed and none have shown (other than by mineral companies) that there has been any improvement to free ranging deer herds. There has been no proof that I am aware of, that reveals improvements for lactation rates, body weights or any form of antler improvement. I am not aware of any but if anyone knows of any that would be very cool to see. I hope someone can offer some links. I just do not know any and those studies in the past did not show any improvement in any area.

[@brob-zy8zi]

I can't say I've seen a study either way. The way I understand a deer pulls the minerals essential for antler growth from its bones and that is replaced through diet. But I've also read about epigenetics. The way I understand, even the best antler genetics can be dialed back so to speak depending on the nutrition a doe finds during her pregnancy with a buck. Low nutrition is equal to adjusted genetics to make sure antler growth or huge body size doesn't mean a deer will be negatively affected healthwise. But I think it's mostly poor genetics leading to poor antler growth. PA grows 400 inch elk in areas where truly large bucks are rare. The nutrition has to be there if we are seeing 400" elk. Must be genetics.

[@danwilkinson2489]

I had almost no activity on my rye this spring. Is it possibly because, it went from snow cover to spring green up in a week?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

It sure could be Dan! Once spring green up takes place deer will ignore the rye almost every time.

[@alexlindekugel8727]

the land and by extenchen all land around my hunting area is as devoid of minerals as can be and still have life. soil has almost no calcium or phos. and only time they get nutrition is fall realy and by then not much good. yes helps herd health but i think adding a mineral site may just help. it does seam that the deer that eat at the food plots are healthier as them areas have added minerals to soil for the plants like red clover and w rye.

[@SnowmanR72]

also, the deer eat all the weeds down all winter long when the cows don't let them near the bales. I leave the weeds for winter feed to keep them alive. Hash winter sask

[@disc4609]

😎

[@alanruechel2240]

Deer need minerals just as we humans do. I always give a the mineral block a few licks before i put it out. 😛

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Ha, good way to lick at it. I mean LOOK at it 🙂

[@PutEmInTheBox]

Is there any minerals in glyphosate or 2-4D? Haha

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Ha, I wish!

[@kurtpearson2793]

First

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Yes sir!

[@bowman8316]

Grrr

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

😁

[@gaigehinspeter2159]

First lol

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Almost...the lol may have cost you 😁

[@Norseman311]

Lost cred by spraying weed killer ya Jabroni

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

It's unfortunate you've swallowed the Kool Aide, but I'm sure it's one of life's trends for you 😂

[@Norseman311]

@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 round up causes cancer doofus

[@willyfaulker6001]

I’m from up in NB Canada and use a mix of stockman trace mineral start and deer cocaine and the moose and deer love it

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Great for getting dinner trail cam pics...where legal.

[@CarterLake880]

There is not alot of info out there, but I did find this I thought I’d share: wildlife.tamu.edu/files/2010/05/Nutrition-Effects-on-Fawn-Doe-Buck-Deer.pdf