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Mineral Blocks? #5797092 06/19/15 11:47 PM
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Looking for some advise on mineral blocks. Do you guys use them and if so what brand. I was looking at Cabelas today and most of the mineral blocks advertise they are "attractants". I'm in a new spot this year (roughly 1050 acreas) with just a few 5-6 hunters. To my knowledge no one is feeding protein. I figured a mineral block would be the way to go for longevity but if I'm off base on this I'm open to new ideas.

thanks




Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5797105 06/19/15 11:52 PM
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i use Cabelas brand

the white salt block and
the pink mineral block

deer , hogs will lick both

Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5797114 06/19/15 11:57 PM
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stxranchman Offline
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Are you wanting a mineral block(all mineral) or protein block(mostly protein and some mineral)? Big difference in the 2.


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Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5797120 06/20/15 12:03 AM
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Last time I put one out, the coons ate the whole thing in two weeks. bang

Got mine from Tractor Supply Co.


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Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5797272 06/20/15 02:00 AM
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Will be making a mineral site next weekend. Ill post about how it seems to go.

Do yall think a block or making a mineral site with the powder mixed with water then poured works better?



Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5797280 06/20/15 02:06 AM
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I have used mineral sites for years, but never hunt them as they tend to quit using them after antler development stops and fawns stop sucking. I also use these as "safe" zones to keep deer on my place. I dig a 9" hole and put the mineral block in it. First year will go through 2 and only 1 each year after. The deer will dig out the dirt and suck on it to get the mineral they need after the block dissolves. Best to have mineral spot in or next to woods/cover and close to water source. By year 3 your mineral site will be a small pond and the deer will literally flock to it when it fills with water to get the minerals they need. If your deer are not lacking minerals, they may not utilize it....however, I have hunted 7 states with them and not found a spot where the deer didn't use them.

I use the mineral block from Tractor Supply usually.

Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5797334 06/20/15 02:42 AM
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I just buy a trace mineral block at the feed store and put it in a low, cut-off plastic barrel that's wired to a t-post. If there are cows around, make sure it's inside your feeder pen. I think it helps to keep deer checking out your feeder from time to time, especially if you're not feeding year round.


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Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: stxranchman] #5797373 06/20/15 03:10 AM
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Originally Posted By: stxranchman
Are you wanting a mineral block(all mineral) or protein block(mostly protein and some mineral)? Big difference in the 2.


Waste of money IMO...invest in a good Protein Tub, they hold over well once the free choice runs out..L & E has a great one up


Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5797616 06/20/15 02:15 PM
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I've tried several and their have been a few tracks around the, suggesting that they are used, but mostly they just sit there and eventually fade away from the weather. In my opinion, they are a waste of money.


Eddie

Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5797648 06/20/15 02:39 PM
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It's almost too late for mineral blocks. These supplement feeds should have been out months ago when the antlers fell off.


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Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: 30378] #5797764 06/20/15 04:34 PM
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Originally Posted By: 30378
It's almost too late for mineral blocks. These supplement feeds should have been out months ago when the antlers fell off.
its never too late to help the health of your herd! smile


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Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5797768 06/20/15 04:39 PM
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Do whatever you want, it's your money, and you sure aren't gonna hurt anything. I have seen cows tear down feeder pens trying to, and getting those softer protein, "deer attractant" blocks.

I keep a trace mineral block out all year. And have seen deer licking it...all year.


...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Creekrunner] #5797826 06/20/15 05:42 PM
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I have had lots of activity around deer cane and trophy rock sites. They continue to use 1 site after I quit refreshing it. They have dug it out about 2 ft deep. Do t know how beneficial it is but they definite use it.

Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5797956 06/20/15 08:15 PM
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Deer at my place hammer Biologic rock from academy and the rocks from Bass Pro.

I've also made a homemade mix of dicalcium phosphate, rock salt, and trace mineral salt from tractor suppy. Like pittstate said, dig a shallow hole and mix in with soil. They will cont to hit it for years especially if you add mix to site every 4-6 months or so. I've now got a hole 1-2 feet deep and 10 wide after 3 years.

Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5798483 06/21/15 04:15 AM
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We have used this with varied luck. Some years they tear it up, some they only mess with it a little, it seems to kind of depend on the local farmers and what has been planted and the rainfall.

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Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5799509 06/22/15 01:08 AM
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Trophy Rock..

Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5801236 06/23/15 02:45 AM
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I use one block at each protein station on my place. Noticed this past weekend they were really hitting them hard. They are so inexpensive and last so long they are about the cheapest thing you can do for your herd.

Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5802545 06/23/15 10:42 PM
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I use Moormans 12/12 summer blend cattle mineral. I pour it out in wooden boxes I have made for my feed pens and allow free choice as I do on my protein. It works well for me!

Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5802576 06/23/15 11:04 PM
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Lots of good options out ther

Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5802681 06/24/15 12:13 AM
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According to my tc pictures they like the trace block I put out a few months ago.

Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5802733 06/24/15 12:55 AM
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I've had luck with the B2B Protein block and much less success with the Trophy Rock.

Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5805060 06/25/15 02:05 PM
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gary roberson Offline
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I am a firm believer in keeping mineral out for deer just as we keep mineral out for livestock. The key is to know what minerals the country you are hunting is deficient. In other words, most of the Hill Country and Trans Pecos is deficient in Phosphorus and loaded with Calcium from all the limestone. It takes Ca and Ph to grow bones and antlers so I always keep a high Ph mineral out for the deer.
Don't buy products that say "Deer" on them as that gives the manufacturers the ability to mark up the product as a "specialty" item. I purchase livestock mineral blocks such as Hi Pro 12-12 which is at least 12 percent Ph. As 30378 said, you need to keep the mineral out before they shed their antlers. I typically put it out in January and keep it out through July. High Ph mineral blocks are not cheap, even if marketed for livestock.
By the way, I was not smart enough to figure this out on my own. The directions were given to me by a TP&W Biologist many years ago.
Adios,
Gary

Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5805076 06/25/15 02:13 PM
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The Moormans 12-12 livestock mineral that BowsndRods mentioned in his post should be excellent as well. It is a loose mineral and I am using blocks. Since I don't have to worry about livestock one a couple of ranches, I break the blocks in half with a grubbing how and scatter them over more country. The Hi Pro blocks are hard and even a half will last for several months. You will notice that there is a spike in consumption after a rain when vegetation is lush. They will eat much more mineral on a wet year like this than a dry one when you would think that they deer were hungrier.
Adios,
Gary

Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5805242 06/25/15 04:02 PM
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Gary, my theory of why the deer use the mineral in wet years, is that during wet years they are using less supplemental feed. Corn will have phosphorus and protein will be balanced, if the ground is deficient the natural feed will be also, they will then use the blocks to make up the deficiency.


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Re: Mineral Blocks? [Re: Kill Box ALPHA] #5805270 06/25/15 04:19 PM
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I have tried different mineral blocks (cabelas and protein blocks from feed stores), vanilla, flavored corn, cool aid powder, pretty much any baiting idea I have tried it.

In my opinion gardens are the best attractant. I have 3 different gardens, 2 I really take care of and 1 is kind of a deer garden. The deer eat out of all 3, they come in like clock work at dusk. I sit out back and watch them walk to the garden.

They hammer the green beans, arugula, yellow eyed peas, and tomatoes. I also have a couple of peach trees and the deer love them.

If I were in your shoes, I would plant some beans and leafy greens. A hunting buddy of mine has a lease and they have 3 feeders up. When I go hunting with him there the most action is over the clovers which they planted. This year he is adding soy beans. I have heard turnips are good too but I have never tried planting them.

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