Salt licks and “buck jam”

[Scheindogg]

This question if for those of you that have any experience bringing Salt licks, buck jam or similar things, to your spots in the backcountry.

If I’m headed up somewhere in a few weeks, I’ve heard it’s not worth it for a 2 day hunt, if I were to set it out the first day and check back the next day. You have to give it a few days. Is that right?

Would it be worth it to go to my spot a week/ 2 weeks ahead of time and set one or some of those things out further ahead of time? Or is that enough time?

It’s a place I hunted 2 years ago albeit was my first time hunting so I didn’t know what I was doing. I hiked up there to do some scouting early July and there was no fresh sign at all but I assume it’s just because it was too early summer they’re not in that spot at the time. When I hunted it a couple years ago there was fresh-ish sign as well as bear and coyote sign. To be honest I’d be happy and have tags for any of the above.

Anywho just wondering if bringing any of those things up to my spot for my hunt, or a week or 2 in advance would be worth it or no it has to be set up all year for it to be worth it.

Thanks!

[Scheindogg]

For the record I’m not per say looking to attract anything to the area, more so just to see what /if anything is around and if so for it to frequent a specific area of my spot.
If that makes any sense 

[KFhunter]

day 1    -  nothing hits it
day 2    -  bear finds it
day 3    -  bear sits on it and guards it
day 4    -  piles of bear scat all around
day 5    -  nothing but a torn up patch of ground

[Dan-o]

I've done it 6 years or so.

Usually takes a week or so to heat up good in my experience.

[Scheindogg]

I've done it 6 years or so.

Usually takes a week or so to heat up good in my experience.

So you suggest getting it out atleast a week ahead of time?
If you get it out a couple weeks ahead of time is that too far ahead of time?

It’s likely if I’m able to, it would be on a Tuesday a week and a half before I hunt fri-sat

[Billy74]

Im curious too.  Im a novice and not very good and wanted to try a new tactic.  I was gonna head out next weekend And again a couple weeks before rifle season to put down some bait.  I used salt/sugar/jello mix to attract them to cameras this summer and that worked right away.  I was gonna do the same but also put down a food source in the hopes they continue to check it out up to the season.  Hopefully i won’t be just helping out bow hunters 


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[archerykraze]

I've personally found mineral sites to work best on whitetails and not so much on Mule Deer as far as patterning. The product I use requires 5 gallons of water to "activate" the site which would be a real chore in the backcountry if the high hunt is what you are referring to. When I'm hiked into the backcountry I'm usually focused on catching them feeding in the early am and evenings and glassing them out of the beds during the day. I'd hate to put all that beautiful country to waste staring at one area waiting for one to come to my attractant. Usually get deer on camera within a couple days of mineral site being activated. Buck Jam seems to bring in the bears which is not what I want considering I'm usually in a ground blind w/limited vision around me. Had a sow and two cubs come in once and it was just too close for comfort with her chattering her teeth and all. Good Luck!

[Scheindogg]

I've personally found mineral sites to work best on whitetails and not so much on Mule Deer as far as patterning. The product I use requires 5 gallons of water to "activate" the site which would be a real chore in the backcountry if the high hunt is what you are referring to. When I'm hiked into the backcountry I'm usually focused on catching them feeding in the early am and evenings and glassing them out of the beds during the day. I'd hate to put all that beautiful country to waste staring at one area waiting for one to come to my attractant. Usually get deer on camera within a couple days of mineral site being activated. Buck Jam seems to bring in the bears which is not what I want considering I'm usually in a ground blind w/limited vision around me. Had a sow and two cubs come in once and it was just too close for comfort with her chattering her teeth and all. Good Luck!

Yes I’m referring to the high hunt.
First of all thanks for your advice and input.

My caveat though is that my high hunt spot is in the WOODS. There are no open areas nearby that are accessible at all. Every step is 4 cracked branches. In the timber. Can’t see too far.
But at the same time I’ve seen many an animal sign there so I know they are there or Atleast they trot on through.

Which is why as opposed to being able to glass them from far away and stalking, I was more so hoping to get them to frequent an area of the timber where I have a good line of site from my area.

[Bulldozer77]

I'll usually drop a salt block and surround it with apples. Action starts right away and they keep coming back to the salt.

[johnsc6]

Yes I’m referring to the high hunt.
First of all thanks for your advice and input.

My caveat though is that my high hunt spot is in the WOODS. There are no open areas nearby that are accessible at all. Every step is 4 cracked branches. In the timber. Can’t see too far.
But at the same time I’ve seen many an animal sign there so I know they are there or Atleast they trot on through.

Which is why as opposed to being able to glass them from far away and stalking, I was more so hoping to get them to frequent an area of the timber where I have a good line of site from my area.
[/quote] Seems like you need to pick a different spot..??

[boneaddict]

Here I am cutting the labels off my clothing and the handle off my toothbrush, or screw that, my teeth can make it a week, and you are thinking of hauling salt or apples. LOL

[jackelope]

I have found that mineral licks or loose salt or whatever won’t be as appealing to animals the closer to the west side you get. I have packed bags of salt ~2 miles from the road in moderate terrain for elk on the east side but I would never consider doing that for mule deer in an actual backcountry situation. The other thing is that in my limited experience the deer are not going to be in the same place once they lose their velvet. So you may set up a salt lick somewhere a few weeks before the high hunt then they lose their velvet and they move to the timber closer to the high hunt. If you’re hunting the cascade crest I wouldn’t bother with salt and God knows how many apples you’d have to pack in there to make a difference and have them last more than a day.  Who knows. Seems like a lot of work either way for little reward.

[jackelope]

I also feel that in my mind, and this is selfish, using bait for whatever during the high hunt takes away from appeal and the essence of the hunt. It’s a high country deer hunt in a place that a lot of folks don’t hunt. Leave the bait at home and get out your optics. Let your legs and your glass do the work. That’s coming from a guy who has had several baited trail cam sites in the past. I’m not at all opposed to baiting. It just doesn’t seem like the fitting place. Again, just me being selfish.

[Scheindogg]

I also feel that in my mind, and this is selfish, using bait for whatever during the high hunt takes away from appeal and the essence of the hunt. It’s a high country deer hunt in a place that a lot of folks don’t hunt. Leave the bait at home and get out your optics. Let your legs and your glass do the work. That’s coming from a guy who has had several baited trail cam sites in the past. I’m not at all opposed to baiting. It just doesn’t seem like the fitting place. Again, just me being selfish.

I do understand what you’re saying for sure. As I mentioned above though my spot is in the woods not near any real open areas where glass would do me any good. (Of course I bring it anyways)
As for the guy who said that means maybe I need a new spot I beg to differ. I saw plenty of deer sign there when I hunted there last time and was about 20 yards from a bear running the opposite direction. There are animals in the area I just have to be extra patient because I won’t be able to see 1000yards away.

Can someone tell me if I’m wrong and I 100% need a new spot? I don’t think I’m crazy for liking my spot even though it’s not an wideopen area.

[Scheindogg]

Here I am cutting the labels off my clothing and the handle off my toothbrush, or screw that, my teeth can make it a week, and you are thinking of hauling salt or apples. LOL

 
If I was going somewhere where I could see thousands of yards away, in very open country, I’d be doing that too.
Realistically I have a 2.5mile hike with 1k elavation. Nothing too crazy.

[KFhunter]

Nothing wrong hunting cover, just use the terrain to maximum advantage and put a stand over a funnel, if its not too far drop some certified weed free compressed alfalfa.  I'd stay away from buck jam or other attractants or you'll get bears.  Dump some salt on the hay, couple fist fulls all you need.

Bears wont be too interested in salted hay although they'll tear it up some,  but move on.



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[buckfvr]

I also feel that in my mind, and this is selfish, using bait for whatever during the high hunt takes away from appeal and the essence of the hunt. It’s a high country deer hunt in a place that a lot of folks don’t hunt. Leave the bait at home and get out your optics. Let your legs and your glass do the work. That’s coming from a guy who has had several baited trail cam sites in the past. I’m not at all opposed to baiting. It just doesn’t seem like the fitting place. Again, just me being selfish.

 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Here I am cutting the labels off my clothing and the handle off my toothbrush, or screw that, my teeth can make it a week, and you are thinking of hauling salt or apples. LOL

My thoughts exactly.

[Dan-o]

I've done it 6 years or so.

Usually takes a week or so to heat up good in my experience.

So you suggest getting it out atleast a week ahead of time?
If you get it out a couple weeks ahead of time is that too far ahead of time?

It’s likely if I’m able to, it would be on a Tuesday a week and a half before I hunt fri-sat

In my opinion/experience, 1-2 weeks ahead is good.

Much more than that and they will have obliterated the buck jam.     Salt seems to loose it's appeal closer to season.   I  think they crave it more during the spring and early summer.    Just my opinion.

[jrebel]

Can't speak for the high country....but can speak to buck jam.  My deer on the property would rather eat plain old whole corn than buck jam.  Tried it just to see what happened and for the most part it didn't perform.  A few of the does would go by and lick it off the stump I poored it on, but most just ignored it.   

If I were you, I would pack in a 50 lb bag of corn.   

[teanawayslayer]

I've personally found mineral sites to work best on whitetails and not so much on Mule Deer as far as patterning. The product I use requires 5 gallons of water to "activate" the site which would be a real chore in the backcountry if the high hunt is what you are referring to. When I'm hiked into the backcountry I'm usually focused on catching them feeding in the early am and evenings and glassing them out of the beds during the day. I'd hate to put all that beautiful country to waste staring at one area waiting for one to come to my attractant. Usually get deer on camera within a couple days of mineral site being activated. Buck Jam seems to bring in the bears which is not what I want considering I'm usually in a ground blind w/limited vision around me. Had a sow and two cubs come in once and it was just too close for comfort with her chattering her teeth and all. Good Luck!

Yes I’m referring to the high hunt.
First of all thanks for your advice and input.

My caveat though is that my high hunt spot is in the WOODS. There are no open areas nearby that are accessible at all. Every step is 4 cracked branches. In the timber. Can’t see too far.
But at the same time I’ve seen many an animal sign there so I know they are there or Atleast they trot on through.

Which is why as opposed to being able to glass them from far away and stalking, I was more so hoping to get them to frequent an area of the timber where I have a good line of site from my area.

if it were me. I would find a different spot. Get to a place where there is a higher density of deer and that you can see. I would not rely on a bait to be successful in the timber.

[Dan-o]

Interesting observation.

In my limited experience, wet COB has always worked.
Deer have also really liked the buck jam.

One thing I noticed:    Elk on the property I bait seem to hammer the buck jam.

[huntnnw]

wouldnt even bother. I wouldnt even sit over an established salt lick for years in sept. There is a drastic drop off in sodium consumption come august and mule deer are very erratic in hitting salts. I get at best a high country muley to hit a salt lick once a month or less.

[Bango skank]

wouldnt even bother. I wouldnt even sit over an established salt lick for years in sept. There is a drastic drop off in sodium consumption come august and mule deer are very erratic in hitting salts. I get at best a high country muley to hit a salt lick once a month or less.

But ya never know

[huntnnw]

there will always be a chance but its so erratic and inconsistent. If you were just starting a a salt lick today to only hunt it immediately or for the weekend you would be better off with some of the super smelly apple scents on wicks.

[pd]

Washington can have many very different types of hunting terrain, so one person's experience might not apply to you.

I have tried almost everything over the years (wet COB, salt blocks, salt pellets, dried corn, alfalfa...).  I haven't tried feed plots or doughnuts. 

I agree that sodium seems to be best when antlers are growing (until mid-summer), but not much thereafter.  It is said sodium is particularly effective in the sodium-poor soils of the Olympic mountains.

For me, I use the above attractants only for cameras, to see what type of animals might be in the area.  I have never been particularly successful in actually attracting animals to those feed sites to hunt.  YMMV.

[huntnnw]

ive been in the lolo area of ID miles from civilization and the animals in that country crave salt. You will have deer all around your camp licking your urine. only area i have seen deer act like this

[Dan-o]

wouldnt even bother. I wouldnt even sit over an established salt lick for years in sept. There is a drastic drop off in sodium consumption come august and mule deer are very erratic in hitting salts. I get at best a high country muley to hit a salt lick once a month or less.

But ya never know

Dang Bango, you post some beasts.

[jackelope]

wouldnt even bother. I wouldnt even sit over an established salt lick for years in sept. There is a drastic drop off in sodium consumption come august and mule deer are very erratic in hitting salts. I get at best a high country muley to hit a salt lick once a month or less.

Agree. For the most part, all the salt licks I put down dropped drastically in traffic as soon as they went hard horned. Exceptions happened, but that was the general result.