Deer licks, salt licks, etc.

[Fly320s]

Anybody use salt/mineral licks to attract deer?

I have some land now that might be suitable for wildlife watching and maybe hunting, so I might put out a salt lick to attract deer. Maybe even a moose.

Any recommendations? Are deer picky eaters?

[RoadKingLarry]

Usually deer will pass up the food you put out for them in favor of something you   don't want them to eat.
I've set out mineral blocks for deer and I've seen plenty of sign at them. Some places might consider that baiting and have hunting regs against hunting over bait.

[French G.]

Take up gardening. Are deer picky eaters? 

[mtnbkr]

Some places might consider that baiting and have hunting regs against hunting over bait.

That's considered baiting in Virginia and is against the regs.

Chris

[geronimotwo]

same in ny.

[Fly320s]

Is it still baiting if the deer aren't hunted?

[mtnbkr]

Is it still baiting if the deer aren't hunted?

Feeding deer is illegal here as well.  So, "baiting" becomes "feeding".

Chris

[charby]

We use goat blocks/buckets after the season to keep deer happy in the winter months and to judge how many deer a certain area holds. Baiting is illegal for hunting in Iowa, but putting out attractants outside of hunting seasons but at least 30 days before hand it legal.

[MechAg94]

Why would feeding deer be illegal?  To keep them from passing up the farm crops? 

Deer feeders and such are common down here.  I know people who use those to feed and hunt wild hogs as much as the deer.  I worked with a guy recently who had 20 or so hogs on land he hunted that would come around his feeder including a big 500 pounder.  He would go shoot one occasionally to keep his freezer full.  He had 3 kids to keep fed.  Not sure if he did much actual deer hunting there.

I have also heard of people putting out protein feed and such to encourage more growth and better horns.  I don't think that is very cheap though.

[Scout26]

Feeding deer or using bait/salt blocks etc. is illegal here in Illinois.  Even outside of hunting season. (to prevent the spread of CWD).

Planting a foodplot is legal however.   So till up an area where you want deer, buy a bag of food plot seed mix and spread it around. 


"If you plant it, they will come."

[MechAg94]

Feeding deer or using bait/salt blocks etc. is illegal here in Illinois.  Even outside of hunting season. (to prevent the spread of CWD).

Planting a foodplot is legal however.   So till up an area where you want deer, buy a bag of food plot seed mix and spread it around. 


"If you plant it, they will come."

CWD??

[Scout26]

Chronic Wasting Disease  Very bad.  Wipes out the herd.  Worse than Blue Tongue. 

[slugcatcher]

I use mineral/salt blocks.  The deer hit them pretty well in the peak of the summer (east Texas) but we run the corn feeder year round as well.  With that being said I can't say how well they work as an attractant.

[charby]

This is a goat block.

http://goat.purinamills.com/OURPRODUCTS/PRODUCTS/GoatBlock/default.aspx

Deer and goats are ruminants so I figure what is good for one is good for the other.

[Tallpine]

Yeah, in MT it's illegal to feed/attract deer, but it's not illegal for the deer to eat out of your hay stack 

At least I haven't been able to get the F&G guy to come out and arrest the deer 

[fifth_column]

I've heard that deer love cabbage.  Try planting some.  You could always make slaw if the deer don't like it . . .

[Gewehr98]

I found out this year that they like sweet potatoes.

Took out all of the mature plants, so no spuds underneath.   

[Fly320s]

Plant crops?  That is like work. Buying a salt lick is so much easier. 

I do intend to plant a garden for ourselves, I guess I should plant an extra are for our dear deer friends.

[charby]

I've heard that deer love cabbage.  Try planting some.  You could always make slaw if the deer don't like it . . .

Deer love most plants from the Brassicaceae family, which cabbage, turnips, radish, mustard, etc is from.