I've just been reading my latest shooting mags and came across a new add'. It's for Salt Paste . You spread it on a post or stump and deer lick it for the minerals. It's aniseed flavoured. Of course the ad' say's it's irresistable to deer. I'm wondering wether to try or not. Have any of you used anything similar and did it work?

trophy rock! hands down

search the web for a location near you that sells it. I put out several things over the years that were "irresistable" to deer and this beats all of them. It's a natural mineral block and I have seen three bucks in my backyard come out of the woods five times in a day to lick this rock.

I don't know if I can get that in UK. Is it the same as the mineral blocks we put out for cattle?

If memory serves me. It is illegal to hunt over or near a salt block in california, Oregon and Washington. Baiting is NOT hunting anyway....M(not so)HI...

Bushmaster wrote:

If memory serves me. It is illegal to hunt over or near a salt block in california, Oregon and Washington. Baiting is NOT hunting anyway....M(not so)HI...

here here i agree hunting over bait isnt hunting and is illegal here in georgia to

There are places where its legal and common to bait, and if its legal I have a hard time condeming someone. Ethics are relative I've learned.

I once got in a *MASSIVE* argument over "party hunting" (coming across several critters, blasting them all to fill your own, and tags of your buddies as well). I was extremely against it, fought tooth and nail over countless replys... then it was explained to me that it was legal in the state where the original poster was from. It seems they had an over abundance of the critter in question and to control populations they indeed opened "party hunting".

I really had to stop and take a step back and reconcider things. It truely was life changing for me because I really couldnt condem the guy for something I *thought* was illegal, when in fact it wasnt. I really try to not jump to conclusions when I read stories and messages posted on the net.

The internet is an amazing thing, but we have to remember it brings together people from all walks of life. There are chevy lovers and ford lovers and just because someone might personally believe one or the other is the greatest thing on the planet, they have to realize in the grand world of opinions, someone with a polar opposite view migth be just as valid.

I'm thinking about getting some mineral rocks to place at some waterholes just so we can get some trail cam pictures (see attached photo)


-DallanC

And we wonder why ethics are going down the tubes. Sorry DallanC. But you see...I am a hunter. I don't bait, I don't run dogs and I don't herd them over a cliff. I pit my skill against theirs. It's bad enough that I put the ballance on my side by using a firearm.

I don't want to hunt over bait I simply want to encourage more deer into my area. My area Part of 21 mile long ridge and the deer that come through are usualy on their way to somewhere else. I'd like them to stop a little longer is all.

Hunting over bait is one thing (as it's legal here in Michigan...in certain areas) but what about these guys i see plant acres of clover, peas, and alfalfa and hunt deer/game over that?

Quote::

what about these guys i see plant acres of clover, peas, and alfalfa and hunt deer/game over that?

That is how I look at it myself. Bait is bait. If you allow one you might as well throw all the bait in the pot.

I too tried to apply Georgia hunting to Texas hunting until I went to Texas for a hunt. One look at the brush country and you see why they put corn in the sendero's to get the does to come there and feed. It's the only way to see a buck. It's just no fun or healthy sneaking around cactus, sticky bushes, and rattlesnakes. (Killed one today!)

I personaly don't like dog hunting for deer but it is legal in my home state so I keep my thoughts to myself. It's argument material in most deer camps.

If you like to hunt one way that's the way you do it. My ideas have nothing to do with how others view their idea of hunting. Dogs, bait, kill all them does soe we get big antlers, primitive weapons have to look this way or that it's just a poor argument around any campfire.

Quote::

I don't want to hunt over bait I simply want to encourage more deer into my area. My area Part of 21 mile long ridge and the deer that come through are usualy on their way to somewhere else. I'd like them to stop a little longer is all.

Now back to the original question. No I have not tried the paste or the rock. I like to make mineral lick stumps myself by pouring the mix over a stump. In the end it's just salt with trace minerals.

Start some mineral sites with granular trace mineral salt (from your farm supply house) and you will be giving your deer the minerals they need. Salt is not an attractant just a diet suplement so don't expect deer to throw on the brakes because salt is around.

The flavoring or scent in the paste is just to help attract the deer to the mineral site so that they will find and start to use it. You can do the same thing using molasses, peanut butter, or vanila extract. The flavoring sent can be omited once they find the site. In fact they will find the site without help if it is placed correctly. They will return to the lick when found for a dose of salt then a drink of water. So if you start a lick place it near a water source. Take a box of baking soda along to sweeten the mix when you start a lick. They seem to like the addition to the mix.

Start your licks before the weather gets hot. The deer need the minerals for antler development and they get the best benifit in hot weather during antler growth. They almost stop using licks in cold weather. I say almost because everyone likes a little seasoning with their food.

I have a formula for a lick mix here by the computer (somewhere) if you are interested. I can PM the recipe if you want it.

Bushmaster, I tend to be on your side. I don't have a freezer of meat but when I do get something I have a real sense of accomplishment I think I might miss otherwise. Thanks for your encouragement.

I have a tendency to hunt the same area each year. The idea is to become an expert of that area and know where and how the deer move. Scouting is the absolute means of filling a tag. That includes deer, elk, moose or any other game animal. As many hunters have learned. If you hunt a new place by yourself it is doubtful that you will score, hence the guide is needed because he has scouted the area (what a concept). Whether the deer are just passing through (transiting) or live there, if you learn their habits you will score well...No need to bait. It might help you to keep from getting lost too. Then I won't have to search for your a$$...

Develope your skill Squirrelbait. Know what they eat in every season. Know where they tend to travel. Learn where and when they bed down. Learn to track. Aah...Now there's a skill that has a whole bunch of wives tales...Tracking.

Because something is legal it doesn't mean it is ethical (remember it is lawyers that write the laws). Ethics have evolved to offer guidelines of behavior above the minimal amount required by law. Hunting isn't a matter of putting meat on the table or facing the alternative of starving. Today, hunting is a sport that, in many ways, is more demanding that ever before because we adhere to increasingly higher and evolving ethics of taking game.

Given that there are depredation hunts and the need to reduce game populations in specific areas from time to time, in my lifetime I have not met an ethical hunter that would use dogs on game or bait game. IMO using dogs on game or baiting game is way beyond the boundary of ethical hunting regardless what the law does or does not permit. It is inconceivable at the very least.

popgun wrote:

I have a formula for a lick mix here by the computer (somewhere) if you are interested. I can PM the recipe if you want it.

I can honestly say within 24hrs i started seeing action after Sat. having this method completly done, it really works!

Thanks Popgun, i do appreciate the quick PM and recipe!

I'm glad that you tried it. As you will see it is not an attractant (bait) it's simply there for those animals that pass by. You should see a fairly deep hole next spring when you go back to freshen up the lick.