Deer Like Mineral Licks And Salt Is A Large Part Of Their Nutritional Needs

Posted by Peter Douglas on April 26th, 2019

The white-tailed deer, also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. White-tailed deer have long been hunted as game, for pure sport, and for their commodities. In some areas where their populations are very high, they are considered a "pest", and hunting is used as a method to control it. However, this is against deer breeding and deers are gentle yet wild creatures. Buying the best mineral supplements for deer is highly important in their antler development. Calcium, phosphorus, and sodium are key: Calcium and Phosphorus are the two most prevalent minerals in antlers, so it makes sense that these two minerals should be included in any supplement you provide. The next most important item is salt mostly because salt is the major attractor for deer. The minerals that a deer imbibes for antler development is of high interest and antlers are strong and agile attacks from them can often be fatal.

When you buy the best mineral supplements for deer, make sure you get the correct ones. In addition to calcium (19 percent) and phosphorus (10 percent), the next most common elements were magnesium (1 percent) and sodium (0.5 percent). Lesser amounts of other minerals have been found including potassium, barium, iron, aluminum, zinc, strontium and manganese in deer.

Small Supplements To A Deer's Diet

Since deers need salt for their antlers, simply put out the “special” mineral block or mix and bucks will rush from miles around to your property, lick the ingredients, and grow trophy antlers. If you consider putting artificial salt or mineral licks on your property for deer, consider it a small supplement to the deer's diet.

Deer are hoofed creatures, but that doesn't mean that any mineral that works for a cattle ranch or horses will do the same for whitetails. This is why deer will commonly visit and use pure salt licks during a select few months, but they do not provide the overall benefits that a whitetail-specific mineral will. Buying the best mineral supplements for deer is a good idea because they actually like mineral licks.

How To Spot A Deer?

Deer can be seen stomping their hooves if they sense danger through sight, sound, or smell; this action leaves an excessive amount of odor for the purpose of warning other deer of possible danger. Bucks also grunt, at a pitch lower than that of the doe; this grunt deepens as the buck matures. In addition to grunting, both does and bucks also snort, a sound that often signals an imminent threat. Mature antelopes also produce a grunt-snort-wheeze pattern, unique to each animal, that asserts its dominance, aggression, and hostility.

Author’s Bio- The writer’s an avid blogger. This article is about mineral supplements for deers.