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mineral question

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Thinkin Rut

Thinkin Rut

PMA Member
Has anyone ever let a mineral station go dead? I am curious as to how long it takes for the deer to stop hitting it. Thanks for any input.
 
I have several that haven't been treated in at least 5 years and there is still a big hole with fresh tracks in late summer when they hit them the hardest. Some are in areas impossible to get skid loader into to dig out so not sure how I will clean them up - i guess I need to try to find a shovel that fits my hands and manually dig them out and refill?
 
gunrunr said:
I have several that haven't been treated in at least 5 years and there is still a big hole with fresh tracks in late summer when they hit them the hardest. Some are in areas impossible to get skid loader into to dig out so not sure how I will clean them up - i guess I need to try to find a shovel that fits my hands and manually dig them out and refill?
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i havent ever found a shovel that has fit my hands yet- been looking but noone seems to make them in Iowa???
 
A long long time. One farm I hunt another guy had one going in what was a CRP field. When it went back to crop the deer were still working it to some degree or another for years.
I have one I wish I never started. Don't know how I would get ride of it. I have not added to it in 4 years and they still flock to it. I've been thinking about asking my CO if I could cover it in some way to make hunting the area legal.
 
mplane72 said:
A long long time. One farm I hunt another guy had one going in what was a CRP field. When it went back to crop the deer were still working it to some degree or another for years.
I have one I wish I never started. Don't know how I would get ride of it. I have not added to it in 4 years and they still flock to it. I've been thinking about asking my CO if I could cover it in some way to make hunting the area legal.
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FWIW, I was on someone else's farm a couple of years ago and they were faced with the same issue. After consultation with their local CO, they physically covered the mineral spots with 2" rigid foam insulation during the hunting season and then put rocks on the insulation to keep it from blowing off. The mineral, and the crater, was still there, but it was physically blocked off.

This was in Decatur County, if you were go this route, I would recommend asking your CO though, because not all of them have the same ideas about what is acceptable and so forth.
 
I was told by 2 different CO's in northern Iowa as well as SW Iowa that covering up a site isn't always good enough. Mineral obviously has a residual and has leeched into the soil. Only way to be clear of that mineral is to dig up enough dirt around the site and replace it with new. Pain in the butt but I've had to do it before on multiple farms. Both cases was from stupidity on my part and not realizing how much of the mineral actually stays in the soil and how the deer are able to find it is unbelievable too.
 
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If I ever decide that I want to hunt "near" a mineral site, I'll cover it with a couple sheets of metal siding followed by a couple cubic yards of dead leaves. Then I'll be real careful not to shoot anything big enough to get anyones attention. :rolleyes: I lotsa times drive 73 in a 70 zone too... :D
 
HorseDoctor said:
If I ever decide that I want to hunt "near" a mineral site, I'll cover it with a couple sheets of metal siding followed by a couple cubic yards of dead leaves. Then I'll be real careful not to shoot anything big enough to get anyones attention. :rolleyes: I lotsa times drive 73 in a 70 zone too... :D
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This post nailed it!
 
Just don't do it. I don't think mineral sites provide all that much anyway, and if you can't take "inventory" of your herd over soybean, green fields etc then the deer win. How many advantages do we need to pick our shooter??
 
Jdubs said:
Just don't do it. I don't think mineral sites provide all that much anyway, and if you can't take "inventory" of your herd over soybean, green fields etc then the deer win. How many advantages do we need to pick our shooter??
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I personally do it for herd health. Taking inventory is just a bonus
 
Not sure if it will happen or not, but I talked to a legislator yesterday that just introduced a bill to allow baiting on private land.

I am not an advocate of baiting at all, but that would then make minerals legal. I think a better solution would be to do like MN and just stop considering mineral "bait", but he stated the reason he introduced the bill was because its going on anyway, so now the DNR cant use that as a reason to come on your property, since in his opinion, they have way too much authority.
 
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Droptines said:
Herd health?? How on God's green earth did deer go from near extinction before 1950 to multiple doe permits in recent years? Mineral blocks?
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Really? Reproducing with lack of hunting pressure and herd health are different things. With the number of deer we have today, heard health is more important than ever
 
Baiting? Oh No! That cant be allowed!! Oh wait,,planting a corn field just to feed deer could that be "baiting"? Plantng Turnips just for the deer,,could that be considered baiting? Growing apple trees that drop apples,,could be bait? Gee,,I think baiting is already allowed...IMO.:)
 
Droptines said:
Herd health?? How on God's green earth did deer go from near extinction before 1950 to multiple doe permits in recent years? Mineral blocks?
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Why do you feed mineral to cattle and other domesticated animals? Better overall health. It's just a small part of a big picture
 
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