Interesting article and you be the judge.http://hunting.scout.com/story/1408...1&spJobID=483113964&spReportId=NDgzMTEzOTY0S0
Minerals and deer- helpful or not
- Thread starter MK111
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Big_Holla
Senior Member
I am a firm believer in minerals helping deer and more specifically bucks. I've been fooled a couple of times now on 2 1/2 year old deer that I thought for sure were a little older and I attribute that to their diet and minerals.
at1010
*Supporting Member*
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this is like the debate baiting vs. not baiting.......
I like using minerals and believe it helps. However, there are folks who will argue to their grave that they have 0 proof they help grow deer in the wild. Very hard to say what effects deer in the wild. So many variables, but I like putting out minerals, and won't stop anytime soon!
I like using minerals and believe it helps. However, there are folks who will argue to their grave that they have 0 proof they help grow deer in the wild. Very hard to say what effects deer in the wild. So many variables, but I like putting out minerals, and won't stop anytime soon!
I keep trophy rock out year round. There's tracks in the snow right now from the deer hitting it.
Strother23
Member
Yea putting out minerals IMO is a good thing and help deer maintain healthy weight and supports antler growth. I have deer tracts by my 2 mineral sites all year round. I mix my own. Havnt had much luck with the store bought kind
at1010
*Supporting Member*
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I agree, I have used LuckyBuck- stuff works to attract them. Trophy Rocks work to attract them. DeerCane- blows, Heartlands stuff works good. I simply put on some mineral, and put some regular table salt over top of it. Seems to draw in the deer, and I have some areas where the deer have dug 2-4feet circles.
Hortontoter
Senior Member
I can't say for sure, but I know that since I started using Trophy Rocks at my place I've had better bucks. Is it helping them grow better antlers, or are the bucks just living longer in my area. I'll probably never know one way or the other, but a TR is always present on my property.
I've done a ton of research on minerals and have formed my own opinion, one I feel is very informed. My opinion is that minerals help does and herd health more than antler growth. There is a ton of research on cattle that outlines the positive impacts of mineral supplementation. The research on whitetails is less substantial. However they are both ruminants and have similar digestive processes, so it is reasonable to assume certain comparisons are safe to make. Minerals supplementation has been proven to improve protein retention in the milk of dairy cattle. Milk richer in protein makes for healthier calves and healthier calves can grow bigger, stronger, faster. My experience in 9 years of mineral supplementation on our farm is that fawn weight (as estimated from pictures) has increased. I truly believe our does are healthier because they have access to minerals (much like we are when we have a proper diet) and in turn, they produce healthier fawns.
As for buck and big racks, I do not believe minerals will take a 140 to a 160. For a buck to grow his biggest rack he needs genetics, age and nutrition in that order. Mineral supplementation can very well add a few inches of antler over the life of a buck, but it will not make a genetically inferior or unhealthy deer grow a much larger rack. By filling the gap in his diet, minerals can help him maintain a healthy diet and over the course of his life, it will help him maximize skeletal development which ultimately helps him focus on growing his best rack. A buck born to a healthy doe who has milk richer in protein thanks to minerals, gets the full benefit of mineral supplementation from birth to death.
Minerals are no wonder substance, but are often marketed as such. Nor are they worthless. Be realistic about their place in the scheme of things and you won't be disappointed.
As for buck and big racks, I do not believe minerals will take a 140 to a 160. For a buck to grow his biggest rack he needs genetics, age and nutrition in that order. Mineral supplementation can very well add a few inches of antler over the life of a buck, but it will not make a genetically inferior or unhealthy deer grow a much larger rack. By filling the gap in his diet, minerals can help him maintain a healthy diet and over the course of his life, it will help him maximize skeletal development which ultimately helps him focus on growing his best rack. A buck born to a healthy doe who has milk richer in protein thanks to minerals, gets the full benefit of mineral supplementation from birth to death.
Minerals are no wonder substance, but are often marketed as such. Nor are they worthless. Be realistic about their place in the scheme of things and you won't be disappointed.
Fullbore
Senior Member
I knew there would be some good postings when I posted the article. I'm with Jesse as it'll help the general health but not grow big racks out of the hot air.
Hortontoter
Senior Member
Urbanhunter
Junior Member
There are numerous study's done by university's none show proof of benefits from mineral's.. Studies show that there is not an improvement in size of antlers or body weight.. They just crave salt in the spring..
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Big_Holla
Senior Member
JMHO but deer farms wouldn't supply minerals to their deer if they didn't work. Same goes for cattle and other similar livestock. The one thing we are lacking with wild animals is a reliable delivery method to get it into their system to the point where they get the results we are after.
Urbanhunter
Junior Member
No.. I use a salt block that I brake into 2 to 4 pieces, each go to a lick site. Then I top ever 3 weeks with lucky buck. Someone else stated that they are starting to paw at the ground at their sites... They are starting at my sites also, so I just refreshed them.
The mineral lick's are helpful if they are lacking those minerals naturally but that is rare. Live stock is secluded to a fenced in area which has been grazed on for years unlike deer which are free range browsers. I can see the need for supplements in cattle.
The mineral lick's are helpful if they are lacking those minerals naturally but that is rare. Live stock is secluded to a fenced in area which has been grazed on for years unlike deer which are free range browsers. I can see the need for supplements in cattle.
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