Late Summer Mineral Licks

[Elitebowhunter]

I run about a dozen trail cameras on my farms. I only have one mineral lick and it is in a timber by a river. During the spring I would get all kinds of pictures. Now that we are in July I am not getting near the pictures. Is this because all the deer are moving out of the timber into the corn? Now most of my buck pictures are coming from hay fields. Any reasoning?

Thanks

 

[Elitebowhunter]

Oh and I only check my cameras the first saturday of every month. So I doubt that it is me scaring the deer out of the timber.

 

[jjohnson]

I think your probably right. It's usually cooler in the corn. Also this heat has them sticking real close to water.

 

[Daver]

Now most of my buck pictures are coming from hay fields. Any reasoning?

Thanks

I am going to step out there and say that there are more bucks around your hayfields!!

But seriously, I believe that deer will bed in areas during the summer that get them out of the direct sunlight and away from pesky horse flies/etc. I will see deer bedding in more wind swept areas, even open fields, as long as they are out of the direct sun.

I routinely will jump deer, especially bucks it seems, out of a good stand of grass. I think the grass is tall enough to shade them and the open field has more wind to keep the bugs down too. Standing corn also works, as it can be several degrees cooler on the bare dirt, under the corn leaves too.

 

[JNRBRONC]

Oats, alfalfa and soybeans are attractive as forage right now. I'll second the suggestion that the deer are trying to get away from the bugs.

 

[bearcatbaseball10]

they are the same as us, when it gets hot, they want food, water, and shelter with the most minimal movement possible. ESPECIALLY in the corn...big cornfields will hold all sorts of deer this time of year.

 

[Liv4Rut]

I know if I eat and drink salty stuff it makes me more thirsty when it is hotter than heck out. Sunflower seeds especially. I don't think they like the salt as much when it is super hot out. Plus I agree with what everyone else says.