What next?
Contributors to this thread:Massachusetts
From: Jebediah
04-Mar-17
In January I put out a salt lick that the deer haven't touched. Even has "trace minerals," because that sounded like something the deer might like. Then several days ago I put a couple apples right on top of it, and today found them untouched. What now? Maybe I put a grape on top of each apple? These deer are pretty frustrating.
From: drslyr
04-Mar-17
thats cuz there aren't any.
From: huntskifishcook
04-Mar-17
Try money and then just tell me where it's located and I'll help keep an eye on the deer activity for you.
From: Bloodtrail
04-Mar-17
There is no reason for the deer to go after salt yet. Once everything greens up and the deer have a need for the salt to counter all the water they will get from the greens, you will see action around your lick. Typically late spring through the summer deer will come to the salt lick.
From: spike78
04-Mar-17
Jeb don't give up on the feed I use. Put some out yesterday and it was gone this morning.
From: Jebediah
04-Mar-17
How about that--I had no idea they use the salt in spring/summer. But it makes sense. So for now the salt block will just function something like a TV tray for them. Maybe I'll spring for another bag of grain Spike. There is an indentation in the top of the block, it can be their grain bowl.
From: Murphy31
05-Mar-17
I was walking around the woods a few weeks ago, and I came came across a mineral/salt lick block. The deer were all over it. I was walking on a run that went straight to it. It also had 2 more runs coming to it from the other difection. Literally the best sign I saw the whole 4 hour walk revolved around that one stupid block. It showed me the true power of good attractant.
From: Fatkid1979
07-Mar-17
Jeb, if you're putting out cash, I'll help watch it for you too. Team work.
From: Jebediah
13-Mar-17
I put out a couple dollars but this guy took it.
From: buckmas12
13-Mar-17
That's because there's a shiite load of natural feed around. They know what the like best and it's not salt licks.
From: Murphy31
13-Mar-17
Where's this shiite load of nature feed? I ran out oaks by early November.
Jeb is lick on a run or anything? If so, have any deer walked by the cam yet?
From: Jebediah
14-Mar-17
No deer, but I learned on here that they primarily like the salt in the summer. Plus I just dropped it where I got tired of carrying it, so I probably shouldn't complain.
From: buckmas12
14-Mar-17
north east mass had a boon crop of acorns, but forget the nuts. with the absence of snow deer have been able to continue eating browse, mushrooms, green growth etc etc. deer herd is in excellent health.
From: Jebediah
14-Mar-17
I know that all of you out in Bowsiteville are wondering "Hey, what happened to the apples in the first picture--they're gone in the second picture!" I don't want this to be a distraction throughout the day today, so I'll tell you--raccoons ate them. The raccoon population in that spot is incredible. Spike these are the same raccoons that hammered the grain that I put out some time ago. Normally I don't mind raccoons, but these guys I don't care for.
From: Jebediah
14-Mar-17
I should say, I wouldn't mind if the raccoons wanted to stop by for a snack, but they take it all. They'll sit there all night, and eat nonstop, and I wind up with a hundred pictures of the same six raccoons.
From: spike78
14-Mar-17
Lol Jeb you crack me up! Keep it coming! I just checked my backyard cam yesterday and the deer are fat and in great looking shape.
From: Murphy31
14-Mar-17
I have no doubt that the deer are doing fine on browse and what not, but something should be hitting his lick. I could see if it was just salt lick, but deer need minerals year round. Like I said I was walking around and came into a block that pretty similar to one jeb has out, and it was about 75% gone with 3 runs going and coming from it. If I were to guess I would say no deer are around the area, so no deer know that it's there.
From: Jebediah
14-Mar-17
Murphy31 I think you're right, no deer. Only tracks I see in the snow in that area are coyotes.
From: Jebediah
15-Mar-17
This should do it, a few more apples and some bad maple syrup.