Mineral licks and elk/deer visits

[cougforester]

Thinking about putting a mineral lick along a trail that I have had a camera on for a few months now with roughly equal heavy usage by both elk and deer. Has anyone seen a change in species proportions (i.e. more elk, more deer) after introducing one to the area? Or should I leave the trail alone and put it in another place?

Should be interesting to see results regardless, just wanted to see if anyone had prior experiences with this!

[jackelope]

Do you mean does the mineral lick result in more elk than deer or more deer than elk? Or do you mean does it attract more deer and elk in general? We had lots and lots of both on the couple cameras we had in the area. I'm convinced they can smell it. I've had salt lick baited camera sites in the past and not noticed proportionally any more deer than elk, etc but they were in an area that traditionally holds more deer than elk so it's tough to say for sure either way.

[cougforester]

Yeah, trying to figure out if the mineral/salt lick would attract a higher proportion of elk than deer or vice versa compared to what it is currently with no lick present

[jackelope]

I suspect the only difference you'll see is more of both.

[cougforester]

  That's what I'm hoping. Thanks for the info

[Dhoey07]

If a moose shows up, there will be less of both in my experience. Otherwise I think they attract both deer and elk sat the same rate

[cougforester]

I'm in Lewis County. Would be a bit of a shocker to see that on this side of the mountains!

[Wolfdog2314]

Apple flavored buck lickers mineral blocks. Sportsmans carries them. Deer and elk love them, in my area.

If there are free range cattle in the area, they will destroy your mineral licks!

[jackelope]

Apple flavored buck lickers mineral blocks. Sportsmans carries them. Deer and elk love them, in my area.

If there are free range cattle in the area, they will destroy your mineral licks!

Are you on the west side?
I've heard the mineral licks are not that popular with the deer and elk on the west side. I've got nothing to back that up. Just what I've heard. Curious what you've seen. Cattle will ruin a trail cam setup on multiple levels.

[Wolfdog2314]

Let's say, central. The "bench legs" along with the elk hammer the apple licks. But like
I said too, free range cattle find them camp out. Bust up cameras too.

Best thing I've found for west side (coweeman in my experience) has been actual apples. The deer walk right by them. Elk give little attention.

Apple flavored buck lickers mineral blocks. Sportsmans carries them. Deer and elk love them, in my area.

If there are free range cattle in the area, they will destroy your mineral licks!

Are you on the west side?
I've heard the mineral licks are not that popular with the deer and elk on the west side. I've got nothing to back that up. Just what I've heard. Curious what you've seen. Cattle will ruin a trail cam setup on multiple levels.

[cougforester]

Apple flavored buck lickers mineral blocks. Sportsmans carries them. Deer and elk love them, in my area.

If there are free range cattle in the area, they will destroy your mineral licks!

Are you on the west side?
I've heard the mineral licks are not that popular with the deer and elk on the west side. I've got nothing to back that up. Just what I've heard. Curious what you've seen. Cattle will ruin a trail cam setup on multiple levels.

Another reason why I'm interested to try this out. Just to experiment a bit. No cattle to worry about either.

[HunterofWA]

Trophy rock has worked great for me. On the west side too.