Salt Licks for Deer

[nun_hunter]

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.

Maybe it's the quantities or pets are consuming the salt that is sold in 1kg packs in supermarkets for people to sprinkle on their drives and footpaths as that contains many additives.

Most the stuff you buy in 25kg sacks or what the lorries spread is literally crushed rock salt and some grit too. As nearly all of this will end up washed down drains into rivers and ghylls it can't be that toxic.

 

[Leupsak]

Maybe it's the quantities or pets are consuming the salt that is sold in 1kg packs in supermarkets for people to sprinkle on their drives and footpaths as that contains many additives.

Most the stuff you buy in 25kg sacks or what the lorries spread is literally crushed rock salt and some grit too. As nearly all of this will end up washed down drains into rivers and ghylls it can't be that toxic.

It is, well known issue but there is currently no alternative, RSPCA and vets have provided lots of documentation, Google it for all the info

 

[sako85708]

It took the Roe a far time to find it, but they clearly like the taste of Rockies apple mini salt blocks

 

[Leupsak]

@sako85708 Loving that method of attaching it to a tree, going to pinch that idea as the fallow kick them all over the place if not nailed down
Cheers

 

[VSS]

@sako85708 Loving that method of attaching it to a tree, going to pinch that idea as the fallow kick them all over the place if not nailed down
Cheers

I don't suppose it's doing the tree much good!
Better to find a dead tree or a stump (or simply use a big fence straining post, and put it where you want it).

 

[Ratwhiskers]

l can't remember where l picked up the idea (maybe from some of the Hound Trailers round here) but l found that adding a touch of Aniseed to the salt worked very well.

 

[Freeforester]

I think you would need to be aware of the fact that the salt is generally there as a carrier for the trace elements that are essential for optimum fodder conversion and bodily development, which seems to being overlooked by some.

 

[sako751sg]

l can't remember where l picked up the idea (maybe from some of the Hound Trailers round here) but l found that adding a touch of Aniseed to the salt worked very well.

I put a few squirts on the feeders when I start filling them for the winter months and the roe know what the smell means after all the years of doing it.

 

[VSS]

This is just a log stood on end in a hole, backfilled to secure it in an upright position. I hammered an iron spike in the end of the log, and place the salt lick (which has a hole through the middle) over the spike. The deer lick the sides of the log where salt washes down, rather than licking the block itself.
You can see how popular it is by the smoothness of the log, and the trampling of the ground around.

(Rifle just in the pic for scale. And yes, I know that the bolt is closed, thanks. I'm quite happy with it like that).

 

[Leupsak]

This is just a log stood on end in a hole, backfilled to secure it in an upright position. I hammered an iron spike in the end of the log, and place the salt lick (which has a hole through the middle) over the spike. The deer lick the sides of the log where salt washes down, rather than licking the block itself.
You can see how popular it is by the smoothness of the log, and the trampling of the ground around.

(Rifle just in the pic for scale. And yes, I know that the bolt is closed, thanks. I'm quite happy with it like that).

View attachment 313730

The ground around the log has been torn to bits!!!!!!
Im defiantly having a few of them, Fallow can't kick the salt lick about now

@VSS which lick block is that as I only see the pink salt blocks on a rope for horses, whatever you are using is obviously working going by the state of the log and the ground around it!!

 

[VSS]

The ground around the log has been torn to bits!!!!!!
Im defiantly having a few of them, Fallow can't kick the salt lick about now

@VSS which lick block is that as I only see the pink salt blocks on a rope for horses, whatever you are using is obviously working going by the state of the log and the ground around it!!

It's a Red Rockie, although they're not red anymore due to iron oxide no longer being a permitted ingredient. Probably the exact same ones that you've seen on a rope.
They're high in copper, so OK for cattle, deer and horses. Potentially toxic to sheep.
Available in packs of two from any agricultural merchant or equine supplies.

 

[Leupsak]

Thanks VSS

 

[VSS]

Thanks VSS

This is the same log, when first put in place:

Quite interesting to see how much it's been smoothed off by a couple of years of licking! The ivy didn't last many minutes!
The block on top is one of the original Red Rockies, before the colour was changed.

 

[Sampo]

@VSS How long does the block usually last? Does rain/ snow do much damage or do you put it out only during summer? Just wondering what might be the best way to get started.

 

[Taff]

I think the vets maybe talking about urea not rock salt, in server conditions it can be mixed with rock salt for de icing.

 

[VSS]

@VSS How long does the block usually last? Does rain/ snow do much damage or do you put it out only during summer? Just wondering what might be the best way to get started.

Probably lasts six months or so. It's out all year round.
One thing to bear in mind though is that our soils in this area are extremely low in trace elements. Therefore the deer, whether wild or park, really need the supplementation. In a different area the deer may take very little notice of the lick because they're getting everything they need from their diet. Under those circumstances you'd need a lick containing molasses or some other palatable attractant to draw them in.

 

[pendle]

Dralilixs from Darlington plc group Eastham on the Wirral . It was hymilayan rock salt on a rope or bags of animal lick.
When I was there last Friday there was some in

 

[Covert]

Salt and mineral supplements very popular in N.America for mostly Whitetail deer.
QDM devotees especially keen, lots of research and consequently lots of different products blocks, powders, and liquids . Many wonderful products dreamt up by the advertising departments, one of my favourites being “ Moose Crack”. .
I have experimented for the last 25 years with numerous products. Have got stumps that have been in constant use for this time just top up once a year. Absolutely licked smooth and the surrounding ground dug up.
Seems to be it’s the salt element that attracts the deer not the minerals. I tend to use a mixture of rock salt and a mineral supplements. Not just deer that use them have seen all sorts including bear, moose , squirrels , hare, skunks and raccoons on trail cams.
Dicalcium phosphate seems to be the latest fad.
Been a problem in Western Canada with Moose licking the road salt off cars, seen matrix signs on the highways warning motorists.
Tried some for Roe in the U.K. took them along time to start using them, found that choice of location seemed to be important.

 

[old 30-06]

I am thinking of adding a sheep type salt block. Any tips on what to attach it to, height off the ground,location etc ?

 

[VSS]

I am thinking of adding a sheep type salt block. Any tips on what to attach it to, height off the ground,location etc ?

Just put it on top of a post in an area where deer regularly pass. They lick the salt that runs down the post, rather than licking the block itself, so it can be 4 or 5ft off the ground.