Are your deer herds healthy?

[nwwanderer]

Kathy at Plants of the Wild, exceptional resource

[hunter399]

I heard this somewhere,that when the deer have that beautiful buck skin color in the spring to early summer. Is when available forage is at is peak for the year.
Then in the fall they change back to that dull grey color again,is when they transition back to holding fat reserve for the winter.

Just what I heard somewhere.

Kinda like that buck in my avatar,bright buck skin color.
You can look at a deer sometimes and tell what's going on in the plant world.

[LDennis24]

I heard this somewhere,that when the deer have that beautiful buck skin color in the spring to early summer. Is when available forage is at is peak for the year.
Then in the fall they change back to that dull grey color again,is when they transition back to holding fat reserve for the winter.

Just what I heard somewhere.

Kinda like that buck in my avatar,bright buck skin color.

While that's basically true it's only relative to the fact that they grow a winter coat at the end of the summer starting when they basically start shedding velvet. It all happens at the same time. Velvet sheds, winter guard hair starts growing in and they change habits to prep for the leaves falling and some plants that they relied on going dormant. Willow leaves BTW are also another natural wormer for animals. Willow trees grow easily and deer, moose and elk love to eat them. My sheep stare up at the trees when the wind blows and chase after the falling leaves like little foot from the land before time! A tree star! 

[hunter399]

I heard this somewhere,that when the deer have that beautiful buck skin color in the spring to early summer. Is when available forage is at is peak for the year.
Then in the fall they change back to that dull grey color again,is when they transition back to holding fat reserve for the winter.

Just what I heard somewhere.

Kinda like that buck in my avatar,bright buck skin color.

While that's basically true it's only relative to the fact that they grow a winter coat at the end of the summer starting when they basically start shedding velvet. It all happens at the same time. Velvet sheds, winter guard hair starts growing in and they change habits to prep for the leaves falling and some plants that they relied on going dormant. Willow leaves BTW are also another natural wormer for animals. Willow trees grow easily and deer, moose and elk love to eat them. My sheep stare up at the trees when the wind blows and chase after the falling leaves like little foot from the land before time! A tree star! 

I hear great stuff about Willow.👍
As long as it's not 10 feet tall,it gotta stay short,otherwise it becomes less desireable.

[hunter399]

I've actually been researching different plant types,and how different deer species utilize these plants from season to season.
In my quest to become a better hunter.

[MeepDog]

There was a bumper crop of scrub oak acorns this year in around Goldendale. The deer herds seen pretty healthy. The mostly mild winter helped.

[LDennis24]

There was a bumper crop of scrub oak acorns this year in around Goldendale. The deer herds seen pretty healthy. The mostly mild winter helped.

Yep! And even with a small amount of snow those acorns will stay fresh just like being in the fridge until the snow melts again and provide alot of calories. I hate that oak trees take so long to produce and won't thrive near me. My soil is alkaline.

[hunter399]

Since we are talking supplement,natures available forage.

What's the deal with the cobalt salt,and sulfur salt.
I thought the blue or yellow salt block was medicated.
Looks like blue is cobalt,yellow is sulfur.
Just kinda asking,cause I have seen both left in the woods for deer and Elk.
Not by myself.
Are these good for deer and Elk,no difference than any other salt.
Is there benefits.

Google says.....

Cobalt is this.
helps cattle, sheep, and goats synthesize vitamin B12 and plays a role in thermoregulation, intermediary metabolism, and reproductive growth and development.

Sulfur is this.
Sulfur is required for proper development of protein, cartilage, bones and tendons.

I'm just gonna assume the guys using the sulfur block are trying to increase antler growth.
While the guys using cobalt are trying to increase reproductive growth.


 

Can anyone school me ,or clue me in.
Or is this new to any of you.

[nwwanderer]

Cobalt, along with several other micros, are supplemented to meet requirements of production animals.  Deer can also benefit.  Sulfur is important but usually does not need to be supplemented.  Hydrogen sulfide is toxic.  If you are fertilizing plots or pastures with gypsum, CaSO4, you are supplying Ca and sulfur and not promoting acid soils. If your soil is very basic, high pH,  Ammonium sulfate for nitrogen will help lower pH and supply sulfur for plants and animals. 

[hunter399]

Cobalt, along with several other micros, are supplemented to meet requirements of production animals.  Deer can also benefit.  Sulfur is important but usually does not need to be supplemented.  Hydrogen sulfide is toxic.  If you are fertilizing plots or pastures with gypsum, CaSO4, you are supplying Ca and sulfur and not promoting acid soils. If your soil is very basic, high pH,  Ammonium sulfate for nitrogen will help lower pH and supply sulfur for plants and animals.

Thanks for the response 👍

Ya I been researching it on Google for a few here .

The colbalt is found in almost all trace mineral salt.
I assume the blue colbalt salt blocks have a much higher contration of cobalt.

Then the sulfur blocks yellow salt block.
I'm reading all kinds of rumors on those, everything from bigger racks,helping with ticks,just all kinds of stuff.

But like you just said is a mineral that isn't really needed.

I was just curious,cause I have seen both used in the woods before.(not by me)
I was at the feed store today, decided to stick with the big 6 blocks,which seems like a good trace mineral mixture.

Thanks for responding.👍

[DeerThug]

Around Yakima lower country they are fat and happy.  Went on a short shed hunt yesterday and saw ~ 100ish on the winter range.  In just a couple of hours. Lots of twins.   

No sheds though - ton of boot tracks so I had the right idea just a day late - dollar short.

[LDennis24]

Yes cobalt helps ruminants and ungulates produce B12 to feed red blood cells and keep from becoming anemic. White muscle disease is something that also affects animals that are deficient in Vitamin E and Selenium.  Selenium is probably the best and most important salt you can put out anywhere in the northwest.  It is what they need most in all of Eastern Washington. This is the sulfur I was talking about that you can add a cup of to some 50 lbs or so of salt and it will help increase milk production for does and cows. Somehow it increases the quality of milk produced by the mother also. Just make sure it's regular sulfur powder with no additives.

[Rainier10]

You may be finding blocks that are put out by cattleman for cows on leased land.

[hunter399]

You may be finding blocks that are put out by cattleman for cows on leased land.

I'm 💯 percent that these are hunters salt block,I have found cattle lease salt blocks.
They where all a red type salt block,with a cow trail,they usually throw those near there loading ramp or correl.
Spots where I found these color blocks have no cattle.
They look like this.

[hunter399]

I will say I was just curious about the color blocks.
After seeing them on multiple occasions, multiple locations.
I don't really think it makes a huge difference,salt is salt.
Feed store could of been out of normal block that day.
Deer I seen in different areas ,looked like deer.

I have to do more research,see if name brand mineral rocks,have hi amount of sulfur or cobalt.
I'm using that big 6 for now. So it's just for kicks. Sulfur is in some of the name brand products, didn't really see colbalt.
Research done,yup feed store is where it's at.