Salt Licks for Deer

[Sampo]

Was reading about the use of salt licks for deer and wondered if the salt blocks used in water softner could be used for the same purpose? Its sodium chrolide and seems to be the main ingredient along with magnesium, zinc, copper, iodine, selenium, iron etc. Would the water softner salt cause harm to the deer or would it make them simply way too thirsty?

 

[Greenmist]

You can buy salt blocks for horses at your local agri merchant, they don't cost much and come with a convenient hole in them for put on a branch or sapling, that way it drips down the bark for them to lick. If its the water softener blocks I'm think of it would be too much of a faff to get the same effect

 

[JTO]

I have tried salt licks from agri stores, but deer walk straight past them(trail cam). I assumed there is enough salt on local vegetation for the deer not to need it, being only about 2 miles behind Chesil Beach.

 

[TringSaint]

I was previously told about the salt post model, where you fix a bucket with holes in the bottom to a nice big post (corner fence post or the like) and drill holes in the bottom of the bucket and fill with some rock salt.
Then any rain will dissolve the salt and it will soak into the wood, creating a nice big lick.

Never tried it but was assured it worked a treat.

 

[jimmer.13]

Rock salt from local agricultural supplies dirt cheap. Takes a while but they find it.

 

[Taff]

Strangely we had two tubs of saltz turn up at the shop, two things to note we don,t have deer this far north, and everyone keeps asking what deer is that on the (roe) probably end up for cattle licks.

 

[HallyButt]

Squirrels here go mad for salt licks !

 

[Sika98k]

I have used Himalayan rock salt. Cheap by the ton or 500kgs. It takes the deer a long time to find it but they do come back to it. The tree stump in the photo had the bark stripped (licked ? ) off it.

 

[Monarch Country Products]

We sell Red Rockies (small brick sized ones); on our ground in Scotland the Red Deer came to them regularly, however the Roe captured on trail cams seem to amble past without a look.., I believe using a scent agent combined with a salt lick can have more success with Roe.

 

[shortshot]

What is the point???

 

[BenBhoy]

What is the point???

Self seasoned venison

 

[VSS]

Depends what you're trying to achieve. I put mineral licks out to keep animals healthier in an area that is very low in essential trace elements. Other people use them as an attractant, either to draw deer into an area, or to persuade passing deer to pause momentarily in a safe shooting zone.

 

[bottletopbill]

Don't you will have Mr C P head of the RSPCA saying we have assalted deer

 

[nun_hunter]

I've used various salt licks and never had any deer stop by even drizzled with molasses too. There must be enough salt about naturally for them to not be fussed.

My father-in-law however told me that years ago at the ambulance station he worked at the deer used to come into the yard and eat/lick the grit salt from the big bin they used to salt the yard with in winter.

Bearing that in mind I'd save money any buy a 25kg grit/salt bag stab a few holes in it and leave that on a tree stump.

 

[Leupsak]

Please don't confuse rock salt blocks or salt licks with salt for gritting roads as it is toxic if ingested as highlighted buy vets and RSPCA over the last few years.

I put salt lick blocks on stump and have done for years and shoot many fallow that come to the stumps.

 

[VSS]

Please don't confuse rock salt or salt licks with rock salt/grit for salting the roads, road salt is toxic if ingested as highlighted buy vets and RSPCA over the last few years.

I put salt lick blocks on stump and have done for years and shoot may fallow that come to the stumps.

Road salt can't be that toxic. There's loads of unfenced roads in upland areas, and sheep will always be on the roads in winter licking the salt. They love it, and suffer no ill effects.

 

[Sampo]

road salt is toxic if ingested as highlighted buy vets and RSPCA

If this is the case, what happens to the deer who licks these off the side of the roads and to those who might shoot these deer and consume it? Also why make it toxic if its to be spread all over the roads and why don't we see any protests from the likes of animals lovers? Just logical thinking.

 

[Leupsak]

Please Google it don't take my word for it but the vets I work for get many cases over the winter from pets ingesting road salt.
Its common knowledge, ice-melting chemicals commonly contain sodium chloride, heavy metals, calcium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, and urea, also known as carbonyl diamide, sheep and deer may lick it and move on as it is unpalatable, dogs walking on roads and getting irritated paws and cleaning their feet have needed vet care due to the chemical compositions ingested, its quite common.
Lick blocks on the other hand are a natural source of essential nutrients to supplement the regular diet. This pure form of salt contains up to 90 trace minerals that provide nutrition to animals. Furthermore, salt licks are perfectly safe and you don't have to worry about over-consumption.

 

[VSS]

Please Google it don't take my word for it but the vets I work for get many cases over the winter from pets ingesting road salt.
Its common knowledge, ice-melting chemicals commonly contain sodium chloride, heavy metals, calcium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, and urea, also known as carbonyl diamide, sheep and deer may lick it and move on as it is unpalatable, dogs walking on roads and getting irritated paws and cleaning their feet have needed vet care due to the chemical compositions ingested, its quite common.
Lick blocks on the other hand are a natural source of essential nutrients to supplement the regular diet. This pure form of salt contains up to 90 trace minerals that provide nutrition to animals. Furthermore, salt licks are perfectly safe and you don't have to worry about over-consumption.

Road salt certainly isn't unpalatable to sheep. However, sheep deaths have been linked to them ingesting road salt. Basically, they get run over.

 

[Ratel]

I tried all sorts of licks for Roe years ago they just made new paths around them. However my Red deer herd loved lumps of rock salt along with their fodder beet. Never tried them on Fallow might give it a go.