When spring rolls around, grass, weeds, and all kinds of vegetation explode. Indeed, about the time you have to consider getting out the mower and weed eater, it’s also time for the annual ritual of creating and refreshing mineral sites. Yes, deer nutrition is in bloom and for many, it’s a rite of passage to work these precious locations around their deer hunting properties.
Big & J Granular Mineral (L) and Antler King Mineral Block (R)
During the spring and summer, deer are recovering from the strains of winter. They’re also living with a lack of sodium due largely to the potassium and water inherent in their forage. And they crave salt. Deer no doubt need minerals and will eagerly visit mineral stations – and the minerals are good for buck antler growth and the does raising fawns during this period. The fact of the matter is that a buck won’t experience maximum antler growth until their other bodily needs for phosphorus and calcium are met. Still, providing them with mineral supplementation prepares a buck’s body for good antler development. While calcium and phosphorous are the main minerals found in antlers, they are also made up of a host of others, including magnesium, potassium, iron, and zinc.
Why Use Mineral Sites?
For deer hunters and land managers, there are so many beneficial offseason tasks to take care of; scouting, food plots, stand maintenance. But in addition to the nutrition side, mineral site creation and maintenance is a worthy exercise for other reasons as well.
Inventory. It’s no secret that trail cameras can help inventory the bucks in our hunting areas. Mineral sites are just another way to aid in the process. Put cameras on them. Not exactly an earth-shattering notion, I know. The resulting snapshots are valuable at all times of the year. For many, the main goal of installing whitetail mineral stations is to see (and even pattern) mature bucks. The bottom line is that when paired with trail cameras, these sites bolster your intel efforts.
Long-term go-to spots. Like food plots and feeders, an established and well-placed mineral station draws deer to desired locations. Whitetails are intelligent, but are still creatures of habit and will return regularly to mineral-rich soil; especially if it’s refreshed consistently. Like many other hunters, I’ve got several sizable craters in the ground on various properties to prove it.
Creating daytime movement. If being honest, most deer hunters are creating mineral sites to find large mature bucks. Therefore, if you can find the right settings, you can encourage daytime movement. Establish them where they will be comfortable. Great alternatives include edge cover near watering holes, bedding areas, rubs, and scrapes. This is a balancing act and you’ll want to be careful not to overly disturb an older buck’s core area. Start on the outskirts and carefully work your way in.
Setting up on Them. Again, maximizing daytime movement is a priority if your end goal is to shoot a big mature buck. With that in mind, it’s important to maximize daylight encounters while hunting. If legal in your state, consider locating stations within bow range, but obstructed by clumps of brush or other structure. “Attraction and distraction”, I call it. If you can coax deer in to feed comfortably, quality shot opportunities arise as they exit the barrier. This is especially effective during the early days of bow season before buck patterns change. If you don’t already do so, embrace the unorthodox and literally hunt near the mineral-rich soil that you’ve worked so hard to create; and frankly, sunk money into. Why not? Just like mock scrapes, mineral licks represent a great solicitation. While they can be used as a part of your nutritional regimen, they can also play a direct role in the kill.
The Misnomer
Mineral supplementation is good for deer nutrition but alone doesn’t mean bucks will explode into giants.
Again, I suspect that most hunters use mineral sites as a means of ultimately arrowing a slobber-knocker buck. And they can help you achieve just that. However, putting out blocks and piles of mineral powder for deer to grow bigger antlers is largely a false rationale in and of itself. Do they help antler growth? Sure. Just don’t expect to pour out a couple of bags and watch a buck on your property suddenly swell into a “booner”. Bucks must reach a mature age and have access to good nutrition to reach optimal antler growth. Hence, managing for age structure is key.
The How
The most common methods of setting up mineral stations are to offer minerals through granular and block forms. It’s ideal to use both, as blocks or bricks will hold up during heavy rainfall during the spring and summer. There are many brands of mineral concoctions on the market designed to not only provide mineral supplementation, but attract deer. To achieve the latter, a lot of products will feature aromas such as apple or corn. Either way, a good product will have plenty of salt to accompany the other minerals in the mix. After all, on their own, the other minerals are bitter to the taste. The granular minerals not only permeate the ground but boost consumption, as they can be not only licked but eaten.
Consider providing supplemental minerals in both granular and block form.
The good news is that mineral site establishment requires no special equipment or hard work. Once you have your minerals, clear an area of all leaves and weeds (3-4-feet in diameter). Next, use a hoe or shovel to turn the soil. Add your mineral mix to the area and thoroughly mix and turn again. Supplement the site by placing a mineral block within the circumference. It can also be effective to build them adjacent to old stumps. If you do, coat them with the mineral mix as well. Finally, recharge the sites 4-5-times per year.
Mineral site creation and maintenance is easy. And watching bucks respond to them is both inexpensive and fun. It’s entertaining to ponder if not dream of their full antler potential. Whether on a five-acre parcel or vast properties, use them to benefit both your resident deer and your hunting experience. If started and recharged correctly, it’s a “build it and they will come” situation.
