mineral and salt licks for deer

cbrjohnthou

I was reading the Irish Shooters Digest today and there was an article about using mineral licks to improve the condition of deer who have endured a harsh winter. Has anyone ever tried salt or mineral licks and if so what was the outcome. I often thought about using the licks to draw a few deer to a particular spot but I kind of thought of it as cheating!

Tackleberrywho

shank1 wrote: »

I was reading the Irish Shooters Digest today and there was an article about using mineral licks to improve the condition of deer who have endured a harsh winter. Has anyone ever tried salt or mineral licks and if so what was the outcome. I often thought about using the licks to draw a few deer to a particular spot but I kind of thought of it as cheating!

Not at all! You are just looking after your quarry!

Animals love salt and salt licks

bang2

shank1 wrote: »

I was reading the Irish Shooters Digest today and there was an article about using mineral licks to improve the condition of deer who have endured a harsh winter. Has anyone ever tried salt or mineral licks and if so what was the outcome. I often thought about using the licks to draw a few deer to a particular spot but I kind of thought of it as cheating!

I have never used them but happened to be in John Lamberts in camolin last week and saw "Deer" salt licks for sale ...

Tackleberrywho

bang2 wrote: »

I have never used them but happened to be in John Lamberts in camolin last week and saw "Deer" salt licks for sale ...

Go to a Farmers store and buy them half the price of a RFD

T.H.308

Add some Anisseed to the salt lick and the deer will find it in no time and will keep coming back,really helps them.

Tackleberrywho

T.H.308 wrote: »

Add some Anisseed to the salt lick and the deer will find it in no time and will keep coming back,really helps them.

Or molasses that is used to flavour silage or some cakes lol

T.H.308

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

Or molasses that is used to flavour silage or some cakes lol

Definitely a big draw for the "Ghost Of The Woods" , easier to get too.

cbrjohnthou

I might give it a try next season, no point in me going all the way to my hunting ground cause it would have to be topped up pretty regularly, seemingly apple and sugar beet pulp is good too.

What about the actual mineral licks though, where can I get them, the fallow heads are bad apart from the odd one. Would it help improve the antler quality or is it generic. It was shot to s**t over the years and I hear the heads suffered as a result compared to what they were back in the day, like most places I suppose

jwshooter

shank1 wrote: »

I might give it a try next season, no point in me going all the way to my hunting ground cause it would have to be topped up pretty regularly, seemingly apple and sugar beet pulp is good too.

What about the actual mineral licks though, where can I get them, the fallow heads are bad apart from the odd one. Would it help improve the antler quality or is it generic. It was shot to s**t over the years and I hear the heads suffered as a result compared to what they were back in the day, like most places I suppose

not if you dont shoot them licking it .

Tackleberrywho

shank1 wrote: »

I might give it a try next season, no point in me going all the way to my hunting ground cause it would have to be topped up pretty regularly, seemingly apple and sugar beet pulp is good too.

What about the actual mineral licks though, where can I get them, the fallow heads are bad apart from the odd one. Would it help improve the antler quality or is it generic. It was shot to s**t over the years and I hear the heads suffered as a result compared to what they were back in the day, like most places I suppose

Salt licks any Glanbia or Animal veterinary supplies for agri.

https://agrilink.ie/indexMainMenu.html
I know they sell them in the grain yard.

Not very dear for deer

T.H.308

shank1 wrote: »

I might give it a try next season, no point in me going all the way to my hunting ground cause it would have to be topped up pretty regularly, seemingly apple and sugar beet pulp is good too.

What about the actual mineral licks though, where can I get them, the fallow heads are bad apart from the odd one. Would it help improve the antler quality or is it generic. It was shot to s**t over the years and I hear the heads suffered as a result compared to what they were back in the day, like most places I suppose

Most co.op's stock them i think, another very good alternative is to buy 25-40kgs of comercial salt,dig a 2 foot hole in the area the deer frequent preferably near a ditch , mix the salt and earth together and refill and pack the hole leaving some salt on top to help the deer find it, this type of lick can last for months and works great.

cbrjohnthou

jwshooter wrote: »

not if you dont shoot them licking it .

:D:D:D:D:D ha good man! lol

cbrjohnthou

T.H.308 wrote: »

Most co.op's stock them i think, another very good alternative is to buy 25-40kgs of comercial salt,dig a 2 foot hole in the area the deer frequent preferably near a ditch , mix the salt and earth together and refill and pack the hole leaving some salt on top to help the deer find it, this type of lick can last for months and works great.

sounds good man, I might try that.