What Are the 6-Step Processes for Making a Mineral Lick for Deer.

A mineral lick is cheap, easy to make, and helps bucks reach their full potential. It makes an excellent trail cam site during the summer. 

The mineral sites in the whitetails' range are natural ones that help deer deal with some of that stress. Deer mineral licks have become increasingly popular since hunters started providing them decades ago, as they are relatively scarce. Many food plot companies now offer mineral blocks, but you can make your deer mineral lick with just a few hand tools, a little sweat, and some minerals from your local farm supply store.

Deer Mineral Licks Are Worth Putting Out

Some hunter-managers overlook minerals, and some of their arguments are valid. Even the best mineral licks in the world won't transform a doe into Super Mom or a middling 10-point into a B&C candidate. Still, minerals can help whitetails express their genetic potential fully if fed a complete diet (including minerals).

In my experience, whitetails are experts at finding what their bodies need at any given time by deciding to consume this and not that (and vice versa). Undeniably, whitetails are attracted to mineral sources this time of year. As evidence, deer return to mineral sites I established years ago, even when I don't freshen them with new material.

Deer mineral licks are a great place to start hunting for trail cameras in summer. Once established, they are so attractive that they will suck in virtually any nearby buck. If you're serious about taking a summer inventory of bucks, mineral licks are far more effective than food and water as a trail cam site. 

How to Make a Deer Mineral Lick, Step-By-Step

1. Check the regs on minerals.

Check your state's regulations, and ensure placing minerals is legal in your area. Some states prohibit mineral licking entirely. If it is an acceptable practice, it may be regulated by your state agency, so follow any restrictions. Refrain from assuming you already know the rules because the rules may have changed since you last checked because of the spread of CWD and other diseases.

2. Mix the minerals.

I know many hunters and managers swear by various deer mineral mixes, blocks, and rocks, and I do not dispute anything. But I am an inveterate cheapskate on a limited budget. Go to your local farm supply store and buy trace mineral salt if you're on a penny-pinching plan or prefer to do things yourself. Many cattlemen offer this to their stock, and deer will flock to your lick if you do not use anything else. Dicalcium phosphate is also an additive that some dairy farmers feed their calves, and it contains body-building components that can boost a simple trace mineral lick.

3. Pick a suitable trail camera site for your mineral lick.

My camera sites are licks, so I want them located where I can pull an SD card without disturbing the bucks around. Two reasons make farm fields and food plots the ideal places to hunt: first, they are prime summer food sources that attract whitetails, and second, they are situated to check cameras at midday without bumping into deer. In farm country, I look for soybeans and alfalfa fields, clover food plots everywhere, and edges of fresh clearings and natural openings. A mineral lick near an entry trail, field edge corner, or another deer-friendly area will attract more deer.

4. Dig a hole and add the mineral mix.

It's easy to create deer mineral licks. Hang a camera on a tree near the food sources, walk ten or fifteen yards, and dig up the earth in a two-foot circle. Add a gallon or two of your mix, and mix it with your shovel. Using the remainder of your 5-gallon pail, create a second lick 400 to 800 yards away at a similar site as a visual attractant to draw deer to the lick. 

5. Hang a trail camera near the mineral lick.

Preseason pics are best taken at mineral licks, so I rarely start a lick without planning where and how to hang a camera. The ideal distance is about 10 yards or a fence post from the lick, sometimes more. If the camera is exposed, I will stick a leafy branch behind it to brush it. Initially, I like to pull the card from the camera and review photos to confirm that I've positioned it correctly. If your camera allows you to set how many shots are taken for each trigger event, it may be worth decreasing the number; I've seen does and fawns linger at licks for 20 or more minutes, which adds up to dozens of pictures. 

6. Repeat if necessary.

I've had licks light up instantly with deer activity, while others were almost ignored. If there's little to no activity at any startup lick, create another near it to see if that one takes. You'll start getting pictures of your best bucks in the summer if some take.

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