Only took 2 weeks to find the trophy rock

[j-bird]

Only took the deer 2 weeks to find the trophy rock! I wasn't sure how long it would take, but it didn't take long. This stump is at a junction of a couple good trails and the activity was pretty good. This is my first time using a mineral like this and was not sure what to expect. Hopefully I will be able to follow antler development and get a decent inventory of my bucks before season. I figured with green up already taking place here the deer would appreciate the salt - as I understand it the salt helps their metabolism shift from woody to green forage types. Just thought I would share - sorry nothing more exciting.

 

[bueller]

I always had lots of action on trophy rocks back when it was legal for us to use them. From now through summertime was best.

 

[j-bird]

This is my first go round with a mineral site and the last cam I ised actually used film so the whole thing is a learning exp for me right now. I went with the TR because I am lazy. If I do this longer I may try a cheaper alternative, but I wanted to get some idea of use before I even screwed with that.

 

[tooln]

When I was able to put it out they found it within a few days.

 

[Rally1148]

I've found that you'll get a lot of deer visiting, but mainly just for a lick or two. I think that often times they use it as a sort of scentchecking station. I've got lots of pictures of deer walking to it, taking a lick, and then just staying there with their nose on the ground for a minute or two. I have both of my cams on salt, and both are on or near major paths. I've never seen a deer on stand that I haven't seen at one of those two licks (at least as far as bucks are concerned). Then again, my parcel is between two major food sources (fields), so most of the deer I see are on their way to or from them.

 

[biglakeba$$]

I use trace mineral blocks. Cheap. Easy to drop on the ground. Done.

 

[phil@thesidehill]

I've been using the TR for a couple of years now. I usually sprinkle a little corn on and around them just get the deers' nose on it...seems to speed up the discovery process.

In PA you can legally have mineral sites, but you have to remove the mineral and all residue 30 days prior to season depending on how close your stands are to them...obviously that is easier said than done. Since i am on 10 acres if i put mineral on the ground and formed a mineral site that way i would pretty much only be able to hunt a very small area of the property. So with the trophy rock, I laidd 2-4 cinder blocks into the ground and placed the TR on top. I'm sure some of the salt and minerals wash down between the cracks and into the underlying soil, but the deer cant remove the cinder blocks to get to them. 30 days before season i just remove the TR and leave the cinder blocks. In general deer seem to start to get away from the minerals by the end of August beginning of September...our archery season doesnt open until the beginning of October.

There are definitely cheaper ways of doing a mineral site, but the TR works for my purposes under my circumstances. I buy one 12lb TR every year and it seems to last the year....its usually about $14.

 

[j-bird]

Being able to throw a TR in a back pack and lug it into the site is something I will have to consider. I will cross that bridge when I get there - for now I was just lazy. I'll see how long they last and the like and go from there.

 

[Gator]

I use trace mineral blocks. Cheap. Easy to drop on the ground. Done.

Having used both a trace mineral block and a TR, I'll stick to the $6 - 50lb trace mineral block! I actually get more response to the mineral block than I did a TR and its WAY cheaper.

 

[j-bird]

Having used both a trace mineral block and a TR, I'll stick to the $6 - 50lb trace mineral block! I actually get more response to the mineral block than I did a TR and its WAY cheaper.

Gator - this isn't the "Gator" from a different deer/habitat site is it?

 

[Gator]

Yeah it's me. I just don't post much over here but check the fruit tree thread regularly.

 

[j-bird]

Yeah it's me. I just don't post much over here but check the fruit tree thread regularly.

That's cool - you will find some familiar names/faces around here. I just recognized the handle and thought it might be you.

So you just use a trace mineral block like the ones for livestock?

 

[biglakeba$$]

Yes Yes and Yes..... Dont waste you money on anything other than a trace mineral block......

 

[jaximus]

i use the trace mineral blocks also. during the winter i change to the wildlife block that has corn kernals in it. seems to keep their interest over just the plain blocks when there is snow. everytime i go to check the cams i toss old apple cores on top the block to add some scent

 

[j-bird]

well the party has started! I went from getting roughly 150 pics every 2 weeks to this last pull was over 800! Does are still carrying and some bucks are showing some antlers.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

On the subject of does still carrying - I just saw a fresh road-killed doe - really fresh - and she was carrying. 2 dead deer at that scene ..... sad. Glad you have some soon-to-be moms there, J-bird. Always good to see !!

 

[SD51555]

Nice angles on those main beams too.

 

[foggy]

I've done the "trace mineral mix" as found on a few sites......and done the trace mineral blocks....and bought a couple trophy rocks. These days I set the $6 mineral blocks on a stump and I am done. The blocks last about 1 1/2 years......and the critters eat the "mineral-laden stump" over time. Low cost....and lots of pics too. Win/Win/Win. :)

 

[j-bird]

I will more than likely go to a trace mineral block once the trophy rock is gone. I just started my sites this spring. I wanted something quick and easy that had a higher salt content to get the traffic started - once I have that established I will look into a more cost/time effective alternative like a trace block.

If I have does still carrying - how do I work backwards to figure out the breeding date (roughly)?

I have been out of the cam thing for a while - I am very curious to see how things progress over the year and see if I can support in pics what I have been seeing year in and year out first hand. I have no idea if the buck in the pic is going to turn into something of interest or not - i have a few other younger ones as well but i just don't have the history to say if he will amount to anything or not based on where he is at this far in the antler growing season.