Best feed for attracting Elk (besides fruit)

[AKBowman]

Just wondering what the best feed to attract Elk besides fruit. I dont want to attract bears and I have seen that apples and other fruit seem to really attract bears.

Alfalfa?

Hay?

If anyone has a past experience please chime in.

Thanks!

[oldleclercrd]

Elk love salt 

[Transka]

 :tup:Stumplicker

[AKBowman]

Elk love salt 

I know salt out performes grasses (alfalfa, etc) in the early season but do you think it will still be better than another feed source in the late season?

[windygorge]

funny this thread has started, i was unfortunate for early season elk.  came home today and my first stop was the feed store and i asked about alfalfa feed. 
rabbit alfalfa comes in small pellet sizes, while livestock come in very big pellet sizes. 
50 lbs is around 17 bucks.
mineral trace without selinium is around 10 bucks for a 50 lb bag.  rock salt is around 9 bucks.  I was planning on finding an area and "juice" it up a bit for late season.  if there is a better choice than alfalfa, please let me know.  thanks.

[deerhunter_98520]

i was tryin to attract some deer to my cam with wet cob but the elk would eat it all before any deer could try it lol

[nwwanderer]

They walk miles for garbanzo beans (chickpeas).  A mix of barley, canola meal and northwest beef mineral from Wolfkill Feed (about $12 for 50 pounds) might be the very best.  You might add some limestone for calcium if you feed any quantity.  Try 10# barley, 2# canola meal, .5# northwest beef and .5# limestone.  The mineral all by itself will make elk excavate large holes to get all of the stuff.

[vandeman17]

I have had elk coming in almost daily to trace mineral salt with selenium. It is about $9 for a 50 lb bag.

[windygorge]

I have had elk coming in almost daily to trace mineral salt with selenium. It is about $9 for a 50 lb bag.

i heard that you shouldn't use the selenium.  its not good for the elk or something.  not sure why.
i professional hunter i know uses a 50/50 mix of trace mineral and rock salt.  they come by the hundreds.  but thats mainly when antler growth is happening, then they get used to visiting the site and come back after growth is done, but not as frequent

[windygorge]

They walk miles for garbanzo beans (chickpeas).  A mix of barley, canola meal and northwest beef mineral from Wolfkill Feed (about $12 for 50 pounds) might be the very best.  You might add some limestone for calcium if you feed any quantity.  Try 10# barley, 2# canola meal, .5# northwest beef and .5# limestone.  The mineral all by itself will make elk excavate large holes to get all of the stuff.

thank you for this.  do you think i will be good for late archery elk??  i would think so.

[nwwanderer]

Good anytime.  Most use when food is short, late summer and all winter.

[nwwanderer]

Selenium is a essential.  It is also very toxic.  The right amount is important, 3X that amount is toxic.  Humans too.  Check your area, deficent areas benefit.  Areas with high natural amounts should not be supplemented.  This is part of the reason Lewis and Clark ate roots, dogs, fish and horses while in the inland northwest.  Most of the inland northwest is very low.  Transplants of elk and other population increases like whitetail are partially due to selenium people supplied for livestock.

[PolarBear]

Mine and my neighbor's pasture!     We have a mix of oat grass, red and white clover and a wetside type of timmothy.  The critters seem to love it.

[vandeman17]

I use the salt that is made for sheep so I can't imagine it would be toxic but I could be wrong... 

[RuttinWapati]

trace mineral salt with selenium!!