attractant/bait for elk trail cam setup

[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.