Which trace minerals for elk?

[steeliedrew]

I'll be packing two cameras into my Elk area later this month and would like to leave a good amount of trace mineral at each cam sight.

Questions:

1.) what is the best trace mineral to buy and what feed stores carry it locally in the greater Seattle area?

2.) how much is the right amount to leave?

3.) should I do a combo of trace minerals that will soak into the ground as well as a longer lasting block?

My elk spot is 6 hours from home plus 5 miles and 2,000 foot elevation from the truck so I'd like to get it right. I plan on checking the cams once in June and once in late July before staying out of there until the opener.

Thanks for any help. 

[steeliedrew]

Oh and I hope to be able to share some good pics with you guys. There should be one or two booger hogs up there. I'll be leaving two Moultrie M-880's in there. Me and my hunting partner have been very happy with image quality on these camera.

[bowhunterforever]

I use trace mineral with selenium, SE 90 for deer and elk with good results. Loose and blocks both work

[vandeman17]

I use trace mineral with selenium, SE 90 for deer and elk with good results. Loose and blocks both work

  I also like to bury most if not all of it as well as get some in old rotten stumps. Make them work for it a bit and it also helps it last longer. I generally put about 20-25 lbs per camera site

[Bean Counter]

Holy cow dude I put out two 50 pound bags of loose salt and had a salt block w/selenium in one honey hole last year and the elk literally destroyed what was nice level, soft earth. Its a few inches lower all around, and down to bumpy, jagged rocks sticking up. I put what was left of last years block back out there and can't wait to grab it in a few weeks 

[steeliedrew]

Excellent advise. Thanks fellas. And I can get trace minerals with selenium at feed stores?

[huntnnw]

What I use, but I have seen 0 difference in activity at sites by using just plain salt or just trace salt. I buy mine at north 40 store for $8.99 per 50lb bag.

The amount you dump is how willing are you to pack?   If you have alot of elk in the area 50lbs will last a month they will still keep coming for years later to the site, but once it appears to be gone you will get a drop in activity and thats when I dump again.

[vandeman17]

Holy cow dude I put out two 50 pound bags of loose salt and had a salt block w/selenium in one honey hole last year and the elk literally destroyed what was nice level, soft earth. Its a few inches lower all around, and down to bumpy, jagged rocks sticking up. I put what was left of last years block back out there and can't wait to grab it in a few weeks 

I have seen the same and that is why I bury mine and mix it in with the dirt as well as find old stumps and such to put it in. I also generally check my cameras every 4-6 weeks and will have multiple out so packing in 60-80 lbs of salt is about as much as I want to do to cover my 2-3 cameras. I am getting weak in my old age.   

[jackelope]

Put a 50# bag on it now, and another in August and you'll be good to go. No need at all to re-salt every 4-6 weeks.

I just dump it on the ground. It will leach into the soil and they will dig it up once they get the top layer off. It will stay there for a long time, even 1 bag. I've seen pictures where they've dug into the soil so deep to get the salt, a deer's butt is all you'll see sticking out.

[Woodchuck]

Put a 50# bag on it now, and another in August and you'll be good to go. No need at all to re-salt every 4-6 weeks.

I just dump it on the ground. It will leach into the soil and they will dig it up once they get the top layer off. It will stay there for a long time, even 1 bag. I've seen pictures where they've dug into the soil so deep to get the salt, a deer's butt is all you'll see sticking out.

This

[vandeman17]

Put a 50# bag on it now, and another in August and you'll be good to go. No need at all to re-salt every 4-6 weeks.

I just dump it on the ground. It will leach into the soil and they will dig it up once they get the top layer off. It will stay there for a long time, even 1 bag. I've seen pictures where they've dug into the soil so deep to get the salt, a deer's butt is all you'll see sticking out.

This is an easy route to go as well if you don't plan on checking your camera every 4-6 weeks. I figure that if I am going to check it, I want to get my gas money's worth and have multiple cameras out and I can't pack 50 lbs to each site. To each their own. 

[huntnnw]

Once again it depends how many elk are there....I have spots where 50lbs doesnt even get a chance to leach into the ground and is gone in 2-3 weeks..this spot is about 25-35 deer and herd of elk between 6-9 cows and a few lone bulls and bach group of bulls 3-6 bulls

[jackelope]

Once again it depends how many elk are there....I have spots where 50lbs doesnt even get a chance to leach into the ground and is gone in 2-3 weeks..this spot is about 25-35 deer and herd of elk between 6-9 cows and a few lone bulls and bach group of bulls 3-6 bulls

I got 12-15k pictures a year for 2 years on a camera that had 200# of salt on it in those 2 years. 1 bag in spring and one late summer and that was it.

[oldleclercrd]

12-15k pics a year isn't really that much maybe that's why your salt lasts awhile. I have sets that produce 2000 pics a week and that's set at 1 pic every 30 seconds. The salt goes pretty quick but they always come back and paw at the ground for quite awhile after its gone.

[huntnnw]

  I avg 4-6k pics on 1 pic 1min delay over 2 weeks.

What I am saying when you notice that you cant see the salt on the ground I get a drop in pics...when its piled up I have way more elk action..deer still come no matter

[Bean Counter]

In my best honey hole I'll get 8,000-10,000 in a month, but that's with like 10 seconds and 3-5x per activation.

[jackelope]

12-15k pics a year isn't really that much maybe that's why your salt lasts awhile. I have sets that produce 2000 pics a week and that's set at 1 pic every 30 seconds. The salt goes pretty quick but they always come back and paw at the ground for quite awhile after its gone.

My year is about 6 months long I guess as I don't do anything with the cameras over winter. The critters migrate out.

[nwwanderer]

Northwest beef from Wolfkill, Stanwood.  The right combination of trace minerals with salt to control consumption.  You might want to devise a container for holding the product as large excavations occur if placed on soil.

[CP]

I split a 50lb block into 3 or 4 pieces – less weight to pack around and the block lasts longer than loose.  I’m not trying to supply the mineral needs of the deer & elk, just get them to stop long enough to get a photo.

Here’s a good video on how too:

It works -

[Bean Counter]

How did you actually manage to break yours apart? I dropped a 50lb block of salt on the concrete and I think the concrete got the worse end of the deal 

[RadSav]

Bean, your inbox is full!!

[huntnnw]

Never had much luck with the 5lb blocks...they attract but the elk push them all over and some places on hillsides I never found them again

[Bean Counter]

Bean, your inbox is full!!

Sorry boss! 

hit it again! 

[LeviD1]

How did you actually manage to break yours apart? I dropped a 50lb block of salt on the concrete and I think the concrete got the worse end of the deal 

If you hit it in the middle with a sledge it will break in half or a few chunks.

[CP]

How did you actually manage to break yours apart? I dropped a 50lb block of salt on the concrete and I think the concrete got the worse end of the deal 

Drill a couple of holes 1/4 way or so into it, then stick a chisel in one and give it a whack.  Breaks clean along a line between the holes.

[CP]

Never had much luck with the 5lb blocks...they attract but the elk push them all over and some places on hillsides I never found them again

yep, when they get small they get pushed around a bit.  This one has been licked in half and gets moved around a lot.  If you make them at least 10 lbs and flat they stay in place.

[BNAElkhntr]

How did you actually manage to break yours apart? I dropped a 50lb block of salt on the concrete and I think the concrete got the worse end of the deal 

I use a stone Mason Chisel  costs like 10.00  real wide blade,  tap  across one side to set up a groove then smack once hard should split right in half