qustion about feeders and minerals please

[severn don]

This is my first time trying this. I bought a protean block from cabelas as well as a jug of black magic liquid minerals.
After last year of no evidence of deer in my area due to the kill off from the ice storm of the year before. I wanted to try and determine if there were any in the area. I know I have at least one moose around and he has survived the winter this year lots of evidence. And I found some fresh tracks and scat of a couple of deer at least, back in the area.
So I placed the block on the ground in an area I found deer evidence and poured the jug over a rotten stump ten feet away. I came back two weeks later and the block is know were to be found as well as no crumbs or any thing the stump is almost totally gone and the ground all around it has been dug up. there were two 5 foot sapling trees in this area all most bent right over and broken. I bought a apple flavored salt block and two more jugs as well as a large bag of deer feed for a 4 inch pipe feeder I am going to make and toy to a tree. should I put all this, in the same spot or do you think this is the moose that is doing the damage and find another spot. any advice is greatly appreciated Thanks all Don

[bushman007]

I would put some stuff out in the same area and possibly put a trail cam up there so you can see exactly what is coming in. I have been putting my blocks in the exact same area for 20 years now the deer are so used to it they automatically come to that area every year now.

[johny]

Maybe a bear.
Bent sapling and digging is too destructive for deer.

Try again in same location and set up a trail cam to watch.

[Maximus44]

I had something similar happen too, from a bear and her cubs.

[twostroke]

The deer will paw at the ground to get any minerals out of the dirt....but not usually that fast acting, and for the area to be completely destroys and the block missing all together I would also say most likely a bear.....try the trail cam method to gether intel. the large cattle salt blocks work well and they are alot heavier...if infact it is a bear and you dont want the block to continually go missing you can drill a hole through the center and chain it to a tree as well. Try and find an old stump and tuck the salt block inside it and chain it right in place if need be.

would love to see the pics you get off this lick site!!

[severn don]

Thanks guys did see a bear and cubs in the area last year just never thought of it

[eljefeshuntshop]

Like the others have said, sounds like a bear to me. Are there any large rocks, small boulders in the vicinity? Often times, bears look under rocks for bugs/grubs. Other than people, I haven't had any other experience with animals flipping rocks or small boulders around bait sites. Maybe raccoons but bears are much stronger to flip the bigger rocks.

My hunting buddies and I mix dried molasses and minerals early in the year. We add apples closer to season for deer but whatever else comes and digs through and steals, we say it's par for the course. We want the deer to know that each site is a guaranteed place for something tasty to eat. Keep putting the stuff out in the same spot. It shouldn't matter much how specific you are, just that the goodies are in the same small area. Ideally, we all want repeat customers!


-huntshop

[Doug]

Just a word of caution of caution on using a salt block. While I do not have bears to contend with I did watch something that has me never using a salt block again. The first year at this spot I had dug a hole 3'x3'x6" or so, spread a bag of the cheapest water softener salt and then covered it with dirt. It took a few rains; but the deer did find it. The next year I was feeling lazy so I used a salt block, the deer didn't truly lick it, rather went at the dirt around it, still it worked. Then comes fall, the rut! I am in a tree watching a buck come straight up the trail, no concern, he is going to walk right into my shooting lane covering the trail, I'm thinking a done deal; but then he spies the salt block. He is obviously not a resident deer, he does not know what this thing is, he ducks off the trail to walk around this block of salt, he must have never seen a block of salt; but he knew that he wanted nothing to do with it. A salt block that had been out all summer spooked this deer. If he had turned to his right, the salt block would have ruined my day... he turned to his left and came to 5' under my stand. I got the deer; but at the same time I learned a lesson, I will always use the cheapest bag of softener salt TSC carries!

[severn don]

Thanks for the advice guys I am going out next week and chain a block of apple flavored salt to a tree and putting a jug of honey acorn over the same place as the black magic I have a poor mans pvc feeder I made but I was thinking of using that in the fall or should I do this now. Once again Than you Don

[Pol-Dawg]

I agree with Doug here... cheap softener salt or mineral salt from your local feed shop is all you need. Then, you can place more down in strategic spots as its half the price of these blocks from Bass Pro or Sail. I hate seeing these "apple flavour" salt blocks, I truly believe they add no value and are really only a gimmick for us silly hunters"

Never the less, @severn don - you need to get a trail cam, whats the point of having a salt lick out if you can't monitor whats hitting it?