attractant/bait for elk trail cam setup

[doyourtime89]

I am looking to set up a couple trail cams for some elk scouting.  I was just wondering what would be good to use at an nice pic's....I am wanting to set up a couple cams for some elk scouting and wondering what you are using at attractant/bait? .  West side elk if that matter.  I have never used trail cams so any other info you think would be help to a first time user would be great.  Thanks. 

[SkookumHntr]

I always use apples off my tree for deer and the elk seem to eat them just fine aswell..

[SkookumHntr]

One thing tho, a bucket of apples for deer will last awhile, the elk will eat every single one the first time they come in so maybe a salt lick is better!  Thats what I have seen anywayz

[Jingles]

Have to agree with SkookumHntr I'd go with a 50 pound mineral block usually available at most farm and feed stores.

[Greenhorn]

I have tried different types of corn and molasses, deer blocks ..... but they cost about $11 for a 20lb one, the animals love them, and they are gone within a week.  I just bought a 50lb bag of salt with selenium in it for about $8 and it was gone within the week but I think it is stepped into the ground and the animals will keep on coming.  I can only afford salt from now on and it is almost a 1/2 mile hike to my camera and I put it on my pack frame and hump it in pretty easy.  I normally get bear and elk on my camera.

[vandeman17]

There are lots of threads on this but what I always use is trace salt with selenium like greenhorn said. $8 for a 50 lbs bag and they will tear it up! I just throw the bag in my pack and then I like to spread it and kick some dirt on it to make them work for it. If you can get it in a stump or hole or something that works well too

[bowhunterforever]

Trace mineral  salt with selenium works wonders this time of year

[Button Nubbs]

Salt should have been out a month or so ago now imo. Apple's when they start droppin in august.

[huntnnw]

Salt!!  You will see a huge decline in deer activity by the end of July, but I have seen elk pound salts into October

[rosscrazyelk]

Where do you get salt with selenium?  Won't a bag of salt just work?

[vandeman17]

Where do you get salt with selenium?  Won't a bag of salt just work?

I get mine at Coastal Farm and Ranch but you can get it at most any feed stores. The trace salt with selenium will do much better then just salt because it has other minerals that they really like/need this time of year. 

[doyourtime89]

Where do you get salt with selenium?  Won't a bag of salt just work?

I get mine at Coastal Farm and Ranch but you can get it at most any feed stores. The trace salt with selenium will do much better then just salt because it has other minerals that they really like/need this time of year. 

rosscrazyelk...I see you are in Edgewood, there is a Coastal Farm and Ranch down by the Supermall that has all that stuff.

[Nice Racks]

How bout some molasses, sweet cob or some brown sugar? I've been putting some trace minerals out for a while now with some great results on elk, and want to start to sweeten the pot.  I will put 2-3 buffets out in shooting lanes around my tree or blind set up.  Not too close to my stand because when an elk comes in my pounding heart and breathing will give me away. 

[Ccortez]

I use corn and molasses and works great but I usually put a salt block out to make it last a lil longer and apples work good too. I usually cut the apples up to get the smell out better

[idaho guy]

I cant hunt off bait/salt in Idaho but can put it out and at least get some pictures to see what is in the area.  I  Have also used the mineralized salt with a lot of success more as a way to do some pre season scouting. Thinking about putting out some bait in Wa for my son to hunt off. Anyways I was wondering if anyone has used a protein tub like they sell at big R? Had a freind recomend putting one out with our steers and got to wondering how it would work on deer and elk maybe with a salt lick.       

[rosscrazyelk]

Where do you get salt with selenium?  Won't a bag of salt just work?

I get mine at Coastal Farm and Ranch but you can get it at most any feed stores. The trace salt with selenium will do much better then just salt because it has other minerals that they really like/need this time of year. 

rosscrazyelk...I see you are in Edgewood, there is a Coastal Farm and Ranch down by the Supermall that has all that stuff.

Thanks. 

[rosscrazyelk]

I tried your 50# of salt trick.  I carried it around a mile on my back up hill. 
Never again.  I will find an alternative

[zackmioli]

i used the apple buck jam last year with some good success. the elk and deer hit it within a day of putting it out. got it out on 2 cams right now, will post pics when i get up in the hills to check them. might try the salt with selenium next since its cheaper.

[CedarPants]

I tried your 50# of salt trick.  I carried it around a mile on my back up hill. 
Never again.  I will find an alternative

Just think of it as practice for packing an elk out 

[bobcat]

I tried your 50# of salt trick.  I carried it around a mile on my back up hill. 
Never again.  I will find an alternative

Any alternatives will be just as heavy and just as much work as packing in the salt. Actually the salt is much easier because it will last longer and won't need to be replenished weekly. Next time maybe do 25 pounds the first trip, and next time pack in the other 25 pounds. And/or find a spot that is downhill from the road. 

[vandeman17]

I tried your 50# of salt trick.  I carried it around a mile on my back up hill. 
Never again.  I will find an alternative

I know how that goes. I have carried 50 lbs of salt in plus water, cameras and other stuff over a mile into the hills. It sucks but once you get it set up, those 50 lbs should last you a while. I just suck it up and get it over with but then again I am a bit crazy.

[bracer40]

I tried your 50# of salt trick.  I carried it around a mile on my back up hill. 
Never again.  I will find an alternative

Just think of this as great pre-season training to prepare the body for carrying out multiple loads of elk meat out!

[hunterrcc]

I tried your 50# of salt trick.  I carried it around a mile on my back up hill. 
Never again.  I will find an alternative

I know how that goes. I have carried 50 lbs of salt in plus water, cameras and other stuff over a mile into the hills. It sucks but once you get it set up, those 50 lbs should last you a while. I just suck it up and get it over with but then again I am a bit crazy.

Been there many times.  I use two small buckets with about 20 pounds in each hand of salt/mineral with a little deer chow mixed into it.  Plus waters, cameras, security boxes, cable locks, batteries all in the pack. 40-50 lbs of apples strapped onto my backpack.  Best thing to do is bring a change of clothes and leave them at the truck to change into because if your not soaking wet with sweat when you get back your not walking far enough to put the cameras out.

[huntnnw]

50lbs is my normal pack weight when hunting ..last time in I went in with 75 lbs of salt, stands, water ..4.6 mi and 1700 ft in elevation gain. I look at these as training hikes instead of work.

[gonehuntin68]

I always use apples off my tree for deer and the elk seem to eat them just fine aswell..

 

[Mfowl]

How long do the apples last if they aren't being eaten right away. Will elk/deer still eat them if they are discolored or begining to rot? Is there a type of apple that you prefer or will they eat them all? My neibor's tree is beginning to drop apples now and I'm sure he doesn't want them but some are already discolored.

[bowhunterforever]

How long do the apples last if they aren't being eaten right away. Will elk/deer still eat them if they are discolored or begining to rot? Is there a type of apple that you prefer or will they eat them all? My neibor's tree is beginning to drop apples now and I'm sure he doesn't want them but some are already discolored.

I have had deer eat apples from not ripe all the way to mushy apple sauce apples

[Yankee]

Is there a risk that sweet stuff like molasses, etc. will bring bears in and push the elk out?

[Wolfdog2314]

Is there a risk that sweet stuff like molasses, etc. will bring bears in and push the elk out?

Yes, for me in my area anyway.

I was getting very consistant elk activity with apples and wet cob. As soon as the bears found the stash they were there multiple times a day hours at a time.

You can try dry cob also, same thing with no molasses.