Post by: Dreaded Archer24 on June 07, 2024, 07:58:55 AM
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Post by: vandeman17 on June 07, 2024, 08:15:25 AM
Post by: Jpmiller on June 07, 2024, 08:26:09 AM
Post by: vandeman17 on June 07, 2024, 08:48:16 AM
I used to put it out about two weeks before season started and it seemed to work well, then I started putting it out beginning of summer and it seemed to work better. I think the more regular you have it there and the longer the better.
From my experience and some research, they will be drawn to salt from late spring until around August or so. What I have always done is run salt until August and then transition to a food source
Post by: huntnnw on June 07, 2024, 09:12:46 AM
Post by: vandeman17 on June 07, 2024, 09:24:18 AM
Antler and milk production and tons of green leafy food which is loaded with water depletes them of sodium. As antlers finish and does wean fawns with correlation of food sources drying up the huge draw to salt diminishes
:yeah:
Post by: Jpmiller on June 07, 2024, 10:08:17 AM
I used to put it out about two weeks before season started and it seemed to work well, then I started putting it out beginning of summer and it seemed to work better. I think the more regular you have it there and the longer the better.
From my experience and some research, they will be drawn to salt from late spring until around August or so. What I have always done is run salt until August and then transition to a food source
I was archery hunting early season near salt so that very well could be the case. They were hitting it early September (usually still in velvet) and I stopped replacing it for the year after I stopped hunting.
Post by: nwwanderer on June 07, 2024, 10:58:11 AM
Post by: hunter399 on June 07, 2024, 12:52:52 PM
I'd search there if your looking for information.
I can say ,not all mineral sites are created equal.
I've seen deer/elk hit one site ten times more than another that are basically in the same 1 mile radius.
For a number of reasons ,cover,water,what mix is being used .
All kinds of reasons.
With all that said.
Deer will hit mineral sites year round. Don't let these guys discourage ya . Saying they won't work for hunting.
I've got tons of pictures on trail cams during the fall of bucks and doe hitting mineral sites.
Of course when fall seasons approach,deer/elk are gonna change there routine. As habitat changes throughout the seasons,hunting pressure,and breeding times. They will hit mineral sites just not as much in the fall.
Try searching YouTube,tons of videos on the subject.
An example would be....
Decent buck all summer mineral site.
Hunting season rolls up,he may switch to nite visit.
Or weeks between visits.
So you would setup early mourning, evening try catch him on his way out or in.
Or if he disappears, he'll show with a hot doe at some point.
Those are just examples.
Post by: hunter399 on June 07, 2024, 01:26:51 PM
Mineral sites/trail cam is just to take inventory of deer or elk in the area. That's the way I look at it.
You may be able to hunt over a mineral site early archery.
Later fall hunts,I wouldn't hunt over minerals.
You know what's in the area from your inventory,so your looking for track,sign,cover ,that holds that old buck.
If that old buck disappears come fall,start grid searching out away from your mineral site.
I never see a lot of big bucks killed of minerals in the fall.
I've seen a lot killed within a quarter mile,to half mile of a mineral site.
That's all I got ,goodluck .
These guys are not gonna tell ya this stuff.
Post by: huntnnw on June 07, 2024, 01:32:35 PM
Post by: Dreaded Archer24 on June 07, 2024, 02:35:12 PM
I planned on archery hunting this year so around late August put some corn out instead of salt ?I used to put it out about two weeks before season started and it seemed to work well, then I started putting it out beginning of summer and it seemed to work better. I think the more regular you have it there and the longer the better.
From my experience and some research, they will be drawn to salt from late spring until around August or so. What I have always done is run salt until August and then transition to a food source
I was archery hunting early season near salt so that very well could be the case. They were hitting it early September (usually still in velvet) and I stopped replacing it for the year after I stopped hunting.
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Post by: Dreaded Archer24 on June 07, 2024, 02:37:08 PM
I'll hit ya with another one here.That’s some great information thank you I planned on going archery hunting this year so that’s good to know thank you
Mineral sites/trail cam is just to take inventory of deer or elk in the area. That's the way I look at it.
You may be able to hunt over a mineral site early archery.
Later fall hunts,I wouldn't hunt over minerals.
You know what's in the area from your inventory,so your looking for track,sign,cover ,that holds that old buck.
If that old buck disappears come fall,start grid searching out away from your mineral site.
I never see a lot of big bucks killed of minerals in the fall.
I've seen a lot killed within a quarter mile,to half mile of a mineral site.
That's all I got ,goodluck .
These guys are not gonna tell ya this stuff.
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Post by: Jpmiller on June 08, 2024, 08:01:39 AM
I planned on archery hunting this year so around late August put some corn out instead of salt ?I used to put it out about two weeks before season started and it seemed to work well, then I started putting it out beginning of summer and it seemed to work better. I think the more regular you have it there and the longer the better.
From my experience and some research, they will be drawn to salt from late spring until around August or so. What I have always done is run salt until August and then transition to a food source
I was archery hunting early season near salt so that very well could be the case. They were hitting it early September (usually still in velvet) and I stopped replacing it for the year after I stopped hunting.
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In my anecdotal experience, I usually went out over Labor Day weekend and shot the first legal deer that came to the site. They were still using the salt then. Not sure how long they hit it after that but if it’s early archery I wouldn’t bother changing it up. Plus salt is a lot easier to replenish than feed. I’m not close to an expert, my hunting the last fifteen years was mostly squeezed around family time taking the kids to visit my folks but we had enough success that I never changed up the system.
Post by: Jpmiller on June 08, 2024, 08:04:22 AM
In case you see this I got a new phone number and lost a bit of my contacts or I’d have checked in with you my friend. Hope you’re doing well.
Post by: hunter399 on June 08, 2024, 08:27:47 AM
I agree.I planned on archery hunting this year so around late August put some corn out instead of salt ?I used to put it out about two weeks before season started and it seemed to work well, then I started putting it out beginning of summer and it seemed to work better. I think the more regular you have it there and the longer the better.
From my experience and some research, they will be drawn to salt from late spring until around August or so. What I have always done is run salt until August and then transition to a food source
I was archery hunting early season near salt so that very well could be the case. They were hitting it early September (usually still in velvet) and I stopped replacing it for the year after I stopped hunting.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
In my anecdotal experience, I usually went out over Labor Day weekend and shot the first legal deer that came to the site. They were still using the salt then. Not sure how long they hit it after that but if it’s early archery I wouldn’t bother changing it up. Plus salt is a lot easier to replenish than feed. I’m not close to an expert, my hunting the last fifteen years was mostly squeezed around family time taking the kids to visit my folks but we had enough success that I never changed up the system.
In some of my old spots,they don't really change there routine till
Middle of September.
I do know some spots though,if you disturb the area to much patterns will change.
Let's say you add a corn feeder week before season,they may spook more than be an attractant.
Or checking cam daily,when you normally do monthly checks.
Or adding your tree stand .
Things like that.
You'll see it on your trail cam ,if you disturb the area to much.
That buck will show up one more time,then notice what's "new".
Then won't show for awhile,or a long while.
I'm not an early archery hunter.
If I was,I'd add whatever to your spot 2-3 weeks prior .
New food sources,your stand,or any changes.
I'd have my stuff setup,two weeks before the season ,I wouldn't disturb the area at all.
I do know a better food source than corn or apples.
That deer go crazy for,but it's expensive.
Post by: Dreaded Archer24 on June 08, 2024, 10:23:47 AM
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Post by: kodiak06 on June 08, 2024, 02:33:33 PM
Antler and milk production and tons of green leafy food which is loaded with water depletes them of sodium. As antlers finish and does wean fawns with correlation of food sources drying up the huge draw to salt diminishes:tup: That's the answer. They have to replace the sodium they use during those months due to the feeds water content. Same with cattle diets. If ya gonna bait, use bait, not salt. The minerals are just an add on. I like the Trophy Rocks personally. Be careful with some "mineral mixes" in store, they can mildew
Post by: hunter399 on June 11, 2024, 06:53:00 AM
Antler and milk production and tons of green leafy food which is loaded with water depletes them of sodium. As antlers finish and does wean fawns with correlation of food sources drying up the huge draw to salt diminishes:tup: That's the answer. They have to replace the sodium they use during those months due to the feeds water content. Same with cattle diets. If ya gonna bait, use bait, not salt. The minerals are just an add on. I like the Trophy Rocks personally. Be careful with some "mineral mixes" in store, they can mildew
Yup,they are only attracted to salt spring and summer.
Have you guys ever put salt out in the winter or kept salt at a mineral site year round.
I suppose there is a bunch of green leaf for them to eat in winter time.
I agree spring and summer they desire salt more.
But to say they won't hit salt fall or winter is a myth.
I literally have thousands of winter pics at a salt block.
Post by: hunter399 on June 11, 2024, 07:24:09 AM
You can tell it's the same location in the tiny pics.
There is another file on the same card with another 4k pics.
I'm gonna tell ya the truth here.
If you have a good spot,keep salt there year round.
You'll have deer show up year round.
No smoke and mirrors from me.
I have four years into this site, keeping salt there year round.
Using minerals I guarantee you'll get what you put in.
Put in hard work,and it will pay off.
Post by: Dreaded Archer24 on June 13, 2024, 07:59:31 AM
Check out the picture count on this photo.Right on are you doing that in public or private ? Also great pics of the deer btw.
You can tell it's the same location in the tiny pics.
There is another file on the same card with another 4k pics.
I'm gonna tell ya the truth here.
If you have a good spot,keep salt there year round.
You'll have deer show up year round.
No smoke and mirrors from me.
I have four years into this site, keeping salt there year round.
Using minerals I guarantee you'll get what you put in.
Put in hard work,and it will pay off.
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Post by: kodiak06 on June 13, 2024, 01:15:48 PM
Antler and milk production and tons of green leafy food which is loaded with water depletes them of sodium. As antlers finish and does wean fawns with correlation of food sources drying up the huge draw to salt diminishes:tup: That's the answer. They have to replace the sodium they use during those months due to the feeds water content. Same with cattle diets. If ya gonna bait, use bait, not salt. The minerals are just an add on. I like the Trophy Rocks personally. Be careful with some "mineral mixes" in store, they can mildew
Yup,they are only attracted to salt spring and summer.
Have you guys ever put salt out in the winter or kept salt at a mineral site year round.
I suppose there is a bunch of green leaf for them to eat in winter time.
I agree spring and summer they desire salt more.
But to say they won't hit salt fall or winter is a myth.
I literally have thousands of winter pics at a salt block.
NEITHER of our quotes above said they wouldn't hit it anytime of year, nor did we say they only hit it spring or summer lol... It's just a scientific fact that spring and summer months are the primary push for the mineral, same with elk. The mineral is out all year. Once a site if set up the right way the soil contains those minerals, it simply need a 'lil refreshing year to year. I have put out 5-6 12# trophy rock plus another 60# of the crushed variety. Still have several ready to go in July
Post by: hunter399 on June 13, 2024, 05:59:22 PM
I just wanted to say you and huntnnw are correct there is a drop off with minerals in the fall.Antler and milk production and tons of green leafy food which is loaded with water depletes them of sodium. As antlers finish and does wean fawns with correlation of food sources drying up the huge draw to salt diminishes:tup: That's the answer. They have to replace the sodium they use during those months due to the feeds water content. Same with cattle diets. If ya gonna bait, use bait, not salt. The minerals are just an add on. I like the Trophy Rocks personally. Be careful with some "mineral mixes" in store, they can mildew
Yup,they are only attracted to salt spring and summer.
Have you guys ever put salt out in the winter or kept salt at a mineral site year round.
I suppose there is a bunch of green leaf for them to eat in winter time.
I agree spring and summer they desire salt more.
But to say they won't hit salt fall or winter is a myth.
I literally have thousands of winter pics at a salt block.
NEITHER of our quotes above said they wouldn't hit it anytime of year, nor did we say they only hit it spring or summer lol... It's just a scientific fact that spring and summer months are the primary push for the mineral, same with elk. The mineral is out all year. Once a site if set up the right way the soil contains those minerals, it simply need a 'lil refreshing year to year. I have put out 5-6 12# trophy rock plus another 60# of the crushed variety. Still have several ready to go in July
Whether that's there needs,habitat, seasonal changes,or hunting pressure. It's all debatable for any given area or experience.
My personal experiences is I do have year round pics if salt is dropped year round. The pics definitely slow down during modern firearm,like said many factors may play into that.
Private/public ,AG fields vs mountain tops all that.
I have seen a couple of stud whitetail harvested within a quarter mile of a known mineral. They dropped off the camera around October 1 . Where harvested during modern.
Which they where still in the area,just not active on mineral or cam.
These are just my experiences,like said any area,this,that, or many factors may not result in the same outcome.
I try to learn from my experience and pass it along.
Also want to say sorry Kodiak,huntnnw I come off a little strong headed sometimes.
I do agree there is a fall drop off for minerals,for whatever reason.