alafarmnews

Salt Licks are Just Part of the Plan

The ad read like a "Jack-and-the-magic-bean" story. Simply put out the "special" mineral block and bucks would rush to your property, lick the ingredients and grow trophy antlers. If only it was that easy!

Artificial salt licks can play a role in a deer management program, but it is a small role and will not produce trophy racks overnight, and most likely not pull your neighbor’s trophy bucks onto your property. If you consider putting artificial salt licks on your property for deer, consider it a small supplement to the deer’s diet.

Deer management studies have shown that deer are attracted to salt (sodium chloride) and have dietary needs for calcium and phosphorus. Many deer biologists recommend granular salt mixes that contain a concentration of 16% calcium and 10% phosphorus and trace elements including cobalt, copper, iodine, magnesium, manganese, sulfur, and zinc that help growing deer.

Once the weather starts to turn warm is the time to establish salt licks on your property. Deer use salt mostly in the spring and summer months when does are pregnant, or raising fawns, and when bucks are growing antlers.

Artificial salt licks are easy to establish. An old stump such as this works well.

This stump had hard use the first year and by the third year, it was dug up.

A lot of discussion has been devoted to the location of salt licks; however the bottom line is deer usually find salt licks regardless of their location. A favorite location for many deer managers is to put a lick in the corner of a food plot. Some managers like to place salt licks near deer trails or rub lines. Clay soil works best. One of the most natural-looking salt licks is an old stump, especially one you would like to have removed. Using a posthole digger, dig deep holes under the stump between the roots and pour 50 pounds of the granular mix in the holes. Cover with dirt. Save a little mix to pour on the top of the stump so deer can find it quicker.

After a rain or two the lick will become more natural and will not need salt added for a year. On my farm, I have had stumps dug out of the ground within a couple of years by deer pawing for salt. Over time, rain leaches the salt into the ground and deer have to dig deeper to get to it.

Check with your local conservation officer to be sure the mineral mix you want to use, and when you put it out, is not considered baiting and that it is alright for you to hunt near it legally.

Salt licks are not a "magic bean" and do not replace a well-rounded deer management program, but is one small step in the right direction, when combined with good habitat and population management.

J. Wayne Fears is the author of the book Hunt Club Management Guide and the editor of Hunting Camp Journal Magazine, a magazine for the hunter who manages the land and wildlife, www.huntingcampjournal.com.