
LAND MANAGMENT
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with your hosts Horntagger and Bassbuster |
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You may have to look around a little bit to find the free version, don't worry it is there. Look for the simple hyperlink small blue text that says. Install the free RealPlayer here |
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Interview with Steve Scott on 3-22-2002- With your host horntagger and bassbuster about whitetail clover, with the Vice President of Whitetail Institute - Steve Scott. |
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Wild Turkey Management Seminar with Mike Hubbard on 2-20-2001- With your host horntagger sitting in while Missouri Department of Conservation Wild Life Biologist give the first half of seminar - Dr. Mike Hubbard |
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Wild Turkey Management Seminar with Larry Heggemann on 2-20-2001- With your host horntagger sitting in while Missouri Department of Conservation Private Land Conservationist give the last half of seminar - Larry Heggemann |
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| Segment One | Segment Two |
| Segment Three | Segment Four |
| Need help working the ground?
Your local Department of Conservation office keeps a list of people that
are willing to take their tractor and do the work for you. Give them
a call and see what is available.
Want to Lease your land for hunting? List it on our Lease page |
This
section is dedicated to the needs of landowners. Where to get fish
for your ponds, seeds for your food plots, how to build blinds and stands.
It will also be the place you can let the world know you are interested
in leasing your land for hunting, fishing, or camping.
If you have
any interest in any of this Email
Us. |
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Articles about managing your land for more and bigger deer HUNTING
ORGANIZATIONS
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Forest nursery has quail cover
bundles
Plants that provide food and habitat for quail are among the wide variety of native trees and shrubs available from MDC nursery. LICKING, Mo. –This year's bumper crop at the Missouri Department of Conservation George O. White Nursery provides state residents with endless land management opportunities. Nursery Supervisor Greg Hoss says 2001 has been a very productive year for virtually everything the nursery planted. "The number of trees and shrubs available are as high as I have ever seen produced in a single year," says Hoss. "We have lots of oaks, pines, plums and many of the other popular species that are produced annually, as well as new species that can be used for everything from windbreaks to wildlife cover." The new offerings include a Quail Cover Bundle. Each bundle contains 10 wild plum seedlings, 10 fragrant sumac seedlings and 10 silky dogwood seedlings, 10 rough-leaf dogwood seedlings and 10 false indigo seedlings. Quail Cover Bundles also come with planting tips for maximum benefit to quail. Another new species available this year is the Norway spruce, an evergreen that makes great windbreaks and shelter belts for wildlife. One of the Norway spruce's most attractive features is that it is less attractive to deer than other evergreens. Those interested in wildlife management also may consider ordering roundheaded bush clover and slender bush clover. The species provide food and cover for turkeys and small game species. Landowners who have lost oak trees to oak wilt or oak decline have many options for replacing trees. The nursery has an abundance of several varieties of oaks. Most are sold in bundles of 25 that cost $3 to $10. Order forms, including lists of available seedlings and bundles will be available November 15 at Conservation Department offices throughout the state, or online at www.missouriconservation.org. Use the keyword seedlings to access the seedling order form. If you would like to be placed on the mailing list for an order form call the George O. White Nursery at 573/674-3229. Orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's best to order early. In addition to spelling out which plants you want, the order form allows you to specify when you want the plants delivered by mail, or whether you prefer to pick them up at the nursery. MDC sends you a notice two weeks before the delivery date stating what plants it can furnish. This notice also serves as a billing statement. Seedlings are shipped after payment is received. Deliveries take place from February through May. - Arleasha Mays -
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and tell them you got their number here in The North Missouri Sportsmen's Information Network. |
RR 2 Box 61A Hurdland, MO. 63547 660-423-5482 |
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Allen Morris
Land Management Editor for the North Missouri Sportsmen's Information Network About the Author
We figured if he can turn around a piece of Ozark rock and clay just think what his methods could do for your North Missouri property.
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Did you know? Your local MDC office usually holds a list of area farmers who are willing to hire out their services and equipment to help you work the ground, plant food plots, or what ever you might need done. Call your local MDC office and ask about help you might need.
WEEKEND
HUNTER/WILDLIFE/LAND MANAGER = WEEKEND WARRIOR FOOD PLOTS
By:
Allen “horntagger” Morris
DRIVING FACTORSEach
piece of land has it’s own special driving factors of how much manipulation is
necessary in management of wildlife. Driving factors can range from location of
the land, condition of the land, the current wildlife population, to human
preferences which the most influential driving factor out of them all. Since
in the current modern day environments, there is no true natural state any more
for the land or wildlife. Manipulation will be a must, but all of the driving
factors mentioned, all will determine how much. |
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HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
The
first question each landowner has to ask him or herself. What is going to be the
main animal they are going to manage the land for? This is where the human
relationship and one of the first and most influential driving factors starts.
This
human relationship even has different driving factors inside this most
influential driving factor. What the person enjoys watching, hunting, or even
has decided to try to make the almighty dollar on some type of wildlife and
wildlife management, which entails land management and manipulation of the
current situation.
The
human relationship and it’s manipulation of the land and wildlife is like
dropping a rock into water the ripples or what we call affects and the land and
it’s wildlife constantly move outward and onward. Never returning back to the
source.
This
part of the human relationship with land and the animals takes the least amount
of manipulation to the land, and requires the maximum manipulation of the
wildlife itself, which could cause the most negative impact on the wildlife if
not monitored.
With
the main purpose of viewing wildlife being the driving factor in the person’s
mind. A central location, such as a salt lick, feeding station, or water source
will be all that is required. This type of manipulation can make the lowest of
population of animals seem like a huge population. By bringing all the animals
to on central location for viewing. Other than free access to the central
location no other manipulation of the land is necessary.
This
can be seen with every bird feeder in the world. Which give bird watchers,
something to enjoy and even bring a little of the natural heritage of enjoying
nature back in to their lives. That may have been buried in the modern day times
of computers and work environments. This central location of a feeding station
can be enjoyed from the big city to the small farm.
The
more rural the location, the more wildlife that will be viewed from a feeding
station, salt lick, and watering hole, but with a cost. This type central
location is the most covenant for the person, but is the most un-natural state
in which all wildlife can exist. This type central location can increase
population to an un-natural state by providing food when no food may be
available. Can make wildlife dependent if not other food source is as easy to
consume. Can condense existing population in smaller areas to obtain this food
source.
This
type of human manipulation must be monitored to keep a balance, even if a
natural state can never be obtained, it still needs to be monitored to keep
negative effects from occurring.
Every
highway, road, city, building, school, subdivision and house in this modern day
has had an affect on the wildlife. The wildlife today has either been eliminated
because of social un-acceptance like large predators or has been condense to
smaller ranges.
Hunting
may be the closest thing to a natural state and the manipulation of the land and
its wildlife.
With
humans taking place of the natural large predators that have been eliminated
keep the current wildlife population in check.
Hunting
organization, license, and fees put money back into improving habitat for
wildlife which has manipulated some of the current wildlife population like
White-tailed Deer and Wild Turkey to populations over and beyond what biologist
believe ever existed.
The
effects that have to be monitored in hunting are age structures, sex ratio’s
and harvest totals of different wildlife species to make sure that they are in
balance with the current habitat.
When
land and wildlife managers use the current resources as a source of income. This
is when it becomes the most natural or un-natural state. Both the land and the
wildlife can be manipulated to an age structure, sex ratio or population that is
the most economically profitable. This may or may not be the ideal situation for
the wildlife or the land. With money being the driving factor, the wildlife
population can be made to surpass the habitat. The age structure can be skewed
to the majority of mature adults. Age structure can be adjusted that is the most
beneficial to the owners.
With
a monitored system that is in tune with the current habitat and the biologist
best guess at a natural state the wildlife and it’s land can be brought to the
closest natural state of age structure, sex ratio, and population. With money
still being the driving factor, and with ethics as an secondary driving factor
coming into play for a true wild state of existence. The human relationship can
in this case, be the best or worse and is a narrow road to follow.

Once
a road has been determined by the person about his land and the wildlife that
he or she chooses to manipulate on the land that they will have to manipulate
for the desire results. For example if the choice is, the manipulation of the
land and wildlife for hunting.
Under
the current environment of a busy lifestyle and social attitudes of instant
gratification that this has come out of this lifestyle. Being able to get back
to a heritage lost has come down to a few weekends here and there for eighty
percent of the hunting population. Weekend Warrior for the lack of a better
term.
Since
this human behavior of hunting on weekends is driving by modern lifestyle
factors and management attitude that benefits wildlife has instead of an
option a necessity for enjoyment of the hunting heritage. So enters the
manipulation of habitat to bring the highest population of animals in front of
the hunter in the shortest amount of time.
MANAGEMENT
TACTICS
Manipulation
of habitat to bring the highest population of animals in front of the hunter in
the shortest amount of time, take a certain type of management tactics that also
has to be accomplished on weekends.
The
NO. 1 question the hunter/wildlife/land manager must ask him or herself is. Why
does the wildlife need and want to be on their land? This question needs to
answered and ask multiple times. Until multiple food sources, mineral
requirements, water sources and cover are all in the answers. The objective will
always be just out of your reach, because every time you change something to the
habitat, the wildlife will adjust and then you will have to adjust. Along with
education of what the habitat will require.
MANAGEMENT
TACTICS - EDUCATION OF THE LAYMAN
In
today’s modern times most don't have a lot of free time due to family and
work.
Taking
books to work and reading over a lunch hour is the first part of educating
one’s self to what and the habitat will require. Most will be amazed how much
can be read and learned over time. These are some of the better resource for
food plots that will be required to bring in the most wildlife like deer for the
weekends when in today’s environment the hunter will be hunting.
GUIDE
TO ABUNDANT WILDLIFE, by Randall Rogers
QUALITY
WHITETAILS by Karl Miller and Larry Marchinton
WHITE-TAILED
DEER ECOLOGY and MANAGEMENT by Lowell Halls
FOOD
FOR GAME by Dan Moultrie and Tony Kinton
HOW
TO ATTRACT WHITETAILS by Larrry Weishuhn
GAME MANAGEMENT by Aldo Leopold
Also
Wildlife Organization like National Wild Turkey Federation, Quail Unlimited,
Quality Whitetails and the tons of other organization that are out there. All
have tons of free brochures on improving habitat.
Also
in today’s world there are ton’s of video’s on starting food plots, and
they will provide base to start with.
Along
with the Internet, which is a modern day biologist on-line. You can find
unlimited amount of information from, states game and fish agency including all
the other great Internet hunting and hunting organization sites.
MANAGEMENT TACTICS - LOCATION OF FOOD PLOTS
Which
leads us to the first step as a hunter/wildlife/land manager all wrapped up into
a weekend warrior. Food plots are by no means an over night fix but after a just
one year, most will probably start noticing a difference.
This
will improve weekend hunter chances when they get to hunt by concentrating deer
and turkey around a central location and improve the habitat by improving the
quality and quantity of the wildlife.
Late
Winter or Early Spring is a great time of the year. No leaves on the trees, no
ticks or chiggers to worry about and you can see a long ways through the woods.
Of course depending on what part of the country the landowner is in they will
have to adjust to the month that is best for them.
One
thing to look for are trails if you haven't seen the deer travel through your
area you should be able to find trails a little easier this time of year. Due to
the fact that leaves have been off of the trees for good amount of time, which
makes them, lay down more on the forest floor, so the paths are little easier to
find.
Taking
color-marking tape, which is used when tracking deer during the hunting seasons.
Find that area in the woods that is not to steep, and you believe to be next to
game trails. Don't make the trail part of your food plot make it next to it find
two parallel trails try to make it between them. Also rake the leaves away to
see if you have some soil to work with or rock not to.
Before
marking off the food plot. Now is time to decide how to remove the trees. The
best way is with a bulldozer, it removes the stumps, and is the fastest but cost
the most, shop around find out how much they charge per hour and their minimum
amount.
If
this works for you can have a little bigger food plot.
The
next way is with chain saws and limb saws. This is labor intensive and may take
a few of addition individuals to help. Small plots and may take a few weekends
to be ready to plant, one weekend to cut and remove trees, one weekend to rake
leaves to have to soil exposed to plant.
Either
way now it is time to mark off the trees, mark off the big one's to keep. Then
step two the next big tree to keep, the area that is going to be cleared, try to
keep the small trees in that area. Making a circle, semi-circle, figure eight,
L-shape and Boomerang shapes just always keep the orange markers in site which
will allow them to end where it started.
Stranger
the shape, better the deer like it. Also by keeping the bigger trees, that
produce acorns; will produce better due to less competition for water and light.
When cutting trees down or bulldozing. Make like a fence around the clearing, leaving opening in place you would like to hunt or fences that guide them to narrows on food plots for shooting lanes. These areas the first year will be like funnels into the food plots. The piles will also providing cover for the deer, turkey, rabbits and any other wildlife that needs cover. Why manage for one when you can manage for all in a good wildlife plan.
MANAGEMENT TACTICS - FOOD PLOT
Now
its time to plant, we plant around the end of February. Things like red clover,
which can take the heat and cost less. Ladino clover which the deer and turkey
prefer but cost more and does not like dry areas.
Planting
different seeds like Whitetail Clover, No – Plow, Red Clover, Ladino Clover,
White Dutch Clover, Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Milo, Sunflowers, Turnips, Winter
Peas, Biologic, Alfalfa, Lespedeza, Mr. Whitetail Products and Tecomate seed.
Each weekend hunter/wildlife/land manager – weekend warrior will have to
decide what works best for the area.
Helpful
hints ask some farmers if they have any seed left over, might just get some
cheap or free. Even if the seed is a last years or older, who cares most are not
trying to grow it for harvest, they are trying to draw in the wildlife to your
area. Also, you can get free seed from your Conservation Agents. Most of the
time it is first come first served. Along with Wildlife Organization have some
great seed prices.
Everyone
recommends testing the soil. But, sometimes only having the weekend to plant,
and don't have time to send off for test. Buying your own testers at local lawn
and garden stores.
Most
will not able to put as much lime or fertilizer as need but at least they know
if you need to add some. Lawn and Garden stores sell Pellitized lime that works
great. If you find an old metal bed frame that you can drag after seeding, that
will give just enough to cover for the seed to take hold. Don’t worry about
over planting between the birds and the turkey they will start thinning it out.
Then the deer will start eating as soon as it comes out of the ground.
Small
food plot under an acre, plant heavy the deer will and turkey will concentrate
on a small area food source.
Other things that can be planted like, Dwarf Apple trees in area without can provide additional food sources. Sooner they are planted then the sooner the wildlife will have another food source in a couple of years. Don't forget to put chicken wire around them or the rabbits and deer will eat the trees. Mulch will help the trees from drying out during the summer.
WEEKEND
WARRIOR EQUIPMENT
What
I use to do by hand that took several weekends to accomplish can be done in just
a weekend, with today ATV’s and ATV Equipment. Seeder that goes around your
neck and crank is can be replaced by the ATV seeder can now make planting even
faster. One of the most impressive pieces of equipment for ATV’s is the Heavy
Duty 64” inch Tandem Disc with Electric Actuator which is a must. With one
pass the ground is now something you can work with.
ATV
and equipment has gone beyond the weekend warrior dreams. Just to list a few,
Tandem Disc, 60” Rear Blade, 60 inch Cultivator, Trailer Sprayer, Spreader,
Utility Trailer, and Brush Cut Mowers. Most local area store’s do not carry
these items. So I will give you a place to get your start looking for what
you might need. WEEKEND WARRIOR www.weekend-warrior.com
or call 1-866-539-8944. I suggest you get a catalog
MANAGEMENT TACTICS - THE OASIS
Also
if you don't have any pine trees in the area which deer prefer to rub because of
holding their scent better. You can get them from the forestry division of the
conservation department for little to nothing.
Just
like apple trees if every year you say I need to plant these and don’t that is
one more growing season you have missed.
Adding
a water source in your area will be the best thing you could ever do after
establishing food plots.
Remember
a good watershed is needed to keep it filled and use sakcrete concrete to make a
little spillway. Then planting clover around it will be an added benefit.
This
watering holes become a drive through for most of the deer and turkey in the
area. This is even with Rivers a ½ mile away and a large pond ½ mile away in
the other direction. All this does is putting this in is now the deer and turkey
don’t have to travel that ½ mile to get a drink. Instead they come to a
little oasis. Just think about it this way, if gas is the same price would you
fill up next door or around the block if you had that choice.
This
will give the deer and turkey a reason to be in that area, something they can't
live without, food and water.
MANAGEMENT
TACTICS - FINAL THOUGHT
Food
plots are a trial and error project and it depends on the area of the country.
By getting a surveillance game camera, will tell if things are improving and can
hunt the 5 days most don’t get to. But if weekend hunter/wildlife/land manager
– weekend warrior don't try then they won’t succeed.
With
success will come the only weekend most have to hunt and most will get to watch
just one deer or turkey eat or drink the hard work within bow range will be the
most gratifying feel they will have as an weekend hunter/wildlife/land manager
– weekend warrior
ETHICS
IN MODERN DAY MANAGEMENT
Since
there is no turning back time and there is no true natural state of wildlife or
land because of human factors. Everything we do has to be driving by what we see
in the mirror. That is the draw to hunting and management of wildlife. It is not
a sport with fans cheering or booing, it is a heritage that is only celebrate by
what you don’t do or do when we as hunters/wildlife/land managers and human
care takers of the land do when stand alone in the woods.
Ethics
in management can not be forced, or in-forced with laws, it can only be taught
by example by one’s own actions. When one landowner shows improvement most
will follow. That is way it so important to start.
The
human relationship and it’s manipulation of the land and wildlife and the
ethics involved in doing so, is like dropping a rock into water the ripples or
what we call affects and the land and it’s wildlife constantly move outward
and onward. Never returning back to the source.
Hope
to see you in the woods or on the water. Horntagger.
Order Tree Seedlings Now
Conservation Department nursery encourages Missourians to go nuts.
LICKING, Mo.--Each year the Conservation Department's George O. White Nursery near Licking offers approximately 60 species of trees and shrubs for reforestation, wildlife habitat improvement, windbreaks, erosion control and other environmental uses.
Large-growing tree species available this year include 12 species of oak, black walnut, pecan, hickory, green and white ash, bald cypress and many more. The nursery also grows a variety of small trees and shrubs, including three species of dogwood, wild plum, redbud, aromatic and smooth sumac and hawthorn.
In addition, they offer three special bundles, each containing several species. This year, for the first time, the nursery is offering a bundle of extra-large nut trees. This bundle includes 15 pecan seedlings two feet and taller, and 15 black walnut seedlings measuring three feet or more.
Missourians can order seedlings from now through May 1. Most are sold in bundles of 25 that cost $3 to $12. Order forms, including lists of available seedlings and bundles, are available from Missouri Department of Conservation, 14027 Shafer Road, Licking, MO 65542, 573/674-3229, or you can order on line at www.conservation.state.mo.us/forest/nursery/ starting November 15.
Orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's best to order early. In addition to spelling out which plants you want, the order form allows you to specify when you want the plants delivered. The trees will be shipped to you or you may prefer to pick them up at the nursery from February through May.
-Jim Low -
WHAT MISSOURI CAN DO FOR YOU?
Private Land Ownership Program
By Allen "horntagger" Morris
My Best Guess
For the last several years' family and friends have helped me
cut in food plots with limbs saws, chain saws, bulldozers. Then we started
planting food plots with everything from Imperial Whitetail Clover, Suchtash,
Mossy Oak Biologic, Alfalfa, Wheat, Sunflowers, Soybeans, Corn, Milo, Regal
White Clover, and Medium Red Top Clover. Also added 8 apple trees and pine
trees along with 3 salt licks, 30-06 licks, and Deer Cane licks. Two years
ago we added an isolated watering hole and started supplement feeding during
fawning and antler growth periods of the year. All this is on my Grandma's
farm of 47 acres in Ripley County, Missouri.
All this was accomplished with the help of reading numerous books,
my best guess, camtrakker surveillance camera to see how many and quality
of whitetails using the area, a lot of trial and error, which cost me money
and valuable time in the long run.
A New Program
In 2000 the Missouri Department of Conservation announced the
Private Landowners Assistance Program. This peaked my interest.
So a few months into the year I e-mailed MDC and with a very prompt
reply they forward my name and number to Brad Mckee a Private Land Conservationist
who would be getting in contact with me in a short time.
Just before turkey season Brad called and we had a very nice talk over the phone about the MDC program and the farm in Ripley County and what my goals are for the wildlife. Brad noted that they had a few more weeks of training to do and of course a small break for Spring Turkey Season. I always appreciate a man with my same priorities. Brad said he would give me a call back as soon as possible so we could set an appointment. So in June, Brad called and we set July 8th at 9:00 a.m. as our first meeting.
Walking the Land
I did not know what to expect. But at 9:00 a.m. right on time
he showed up. Giving Brad a few general introductions of the history and
lay of the land and the surrounding the farm. We started the tour.
We walk to our food plot on the ridge, then to the food plot in the
valley that is now planted with white and red clover. Then we went by the
watering hole, pine trees, and apple tress and the supplement feeding area.
He asked a few general questions about our up keep and planting, fertilizer
and feeding routines.
He noted how well the food plots look and gave me the suggestion of
keeping the ph, potash, and phosphorous up to the needed levels and not
allowing other plants to compete to much. He also stated how some of the
Missouri Biologist recommend, instead of trying some marketed products,
mixed white and red clover works well in Missouri food plots. Something
that had taken me several years to figure out, he told me in about a minute.
Also, one part of the habitat I have known about but did not have any
experience in (and more than likely never will) is timber management. Brad
showed me an example in one part of the woods on how the small whiteoaks
are competing with other small trees and what could be done.
After about two to three hours of showing him the farm, pictures from
the camtrakker and meeting the adjacent landowner we parted ways. But before
Brad left he told me that he would gather some information together and
get it in the mail to me.
Follow Up
A few weeks later, I received a very nice letter and three Missouri
landowner management books that I had never seen before. I have read all
three and learned something from all of them. About a week after that he
sent a Deer Mineral Recipe from a Missouri Biologist which I have tried
and have had some outstanding results with the use of since August.
Also after the letter Brad dropped off a couple of bags of wheat, mixed
clover and lespedeza.
Also he has offered three times to come back over in the beginning
of 2001 and help with the marking of timber to cut, to help the white
oaks.
We have also talked on the phone a few times and have exchanged a few
letters and e-mail back and fourth. To the point I believe I have found
someone I can trust and call a new friend.
High Marks
I believe with people like Brad Mckee along with the Missouri
Private Land Assistants Program that Missouri Landowners and Missouri Wildlife
can do nothing but benefit from this program.
What I believe the Missouri Department of Conservation is going to
do for the landowner, is to cut the time and wasted money we all spend
by using their concentrated experience from their Conservationist, Biologist,
and other resources which we can not afford or do not have the time to
acquire.
Bonus (Deer Mineral Information from Don Smith to Brad Mckee to Allen Morris and now to my friends Missouri Deer Hunters)
Here is a little information I put together on this deer mineral and minerals in general. This recipe mix was given to me by Don Smith, Wildlife Management Biologist out of West Plains. As for credit, I'm not sure who came up with this first since I've seen this recipe on the web since we started talking about this. I guess what I'm saying is don't give us credit in the article for coming up with this mix, were just passing on the info.
Thanks,
HOMEMADE DEER MINERAL RECIPE
by Allen “horntagger” Morris

| This was passed to me from
a private land conservationist from Missouri Department of Conservation
in the county I have land in. This is just one example of how working with
any game and fish department can benefit you. So now I am passing it along
to you. You will be amazed on how well this works.
The ultimate goal of mineral supplements in deer management is to increase antler size and improve overall health of deer herds by providing minerals or trace minerals that may be lacking in a given area. Although the jury is still out on effects of mineral supplements on wild deer populations since most studies have been on pen raised deer. Studies on wild population have been inconclusive and to a degree the same on pen raised deer due to other variables such as supplemental feeding that takes place in these areas. The direct benefits will probably be far greater in certain regions that lack certain trace minerals in the soil and plants. One mixture or home recipe of deer minerals we recommend to landowners is a mix of one part Dicalcium Phosphate, 2 parts trace mineral salt (loose), and 1 part loose stock salt. All of these are available to purchase at most local feed and farm supply stores. Just to give you a little background on these minerals and what they are designed to do lets start with the Dicalcium Phosphate. |
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Dicalcium phosphate is used primarily as dairy cattle
feed additive and other animal feeds. It promotes feed digestion, weight
gain, and milk production, which is obviously beneficial to a lactating
doe deer. Dicalcium phosphate contains roughly between 18 and 21 percent
phosphorus and 19 to 23 percent calcium.
You're probably asking why this is important by now.
Well if your talking about growing antlers on deer you need to take a look
at what is the make up of a deer antler.
Hardened antlers contain 40 to 50 percent organic
matter from mostly proteins while the most abundant minerals consist of
calcium and phosphorus. The demands for these minerals on a daily basis
can be significant for antler production.
In
addition, a lactating doe's milk contains high percentages of both calcium
and phosphorus to pass on to their young, also causing a significant mineral
drain on the doe. What makes all this significant is the fact that phosphorous
cannot be synthesized by the body so it must be provided in needed levels
in the animals diet. This is where a mineral mix such as this could be
very valuable if an area is lacking in these naturally.
August 18th, 2001 |
Trace mineral salts do two things for deer. The
first and foremost is it does have the salt/sodium to attract the deer
and promote the use of the mineral. Secondly, it provides the trace minerals
such as magnesium and potassium that are very important to herd health
but are not found in significant quantities like others.
Stock salt is again like part of the above. It has
the sodium to attract deer to the minerals. Most mineral mixes have salt
as their most abundant ingredient since a mix of just phosphorus, calcium,
and other trace minerals have little attraction to deer once mixed with
the soil.
As for directions of use we suggest using a 3-pound
coffee can to measure out 1 part dicalcium phoshate, 2 parts trace mineral
salt, and 1 part stock salt. Mix all these together once ready to use but
keep components separate during storage. Dig a hole in the soil about 36
inches wide and 6 inches deep and mix the mineral well with the soil. This
should be replenished after 6 months and then once a year thereafter. Most
use seems to be during the spring and summer months on mineral licks. It's
a good idea to keep these areas replenished and stocked in the same spot
to maintain use.
Because of shedding of the summer coat begins this
time of year, the deer need the salt, and maybe next year you will get
this out early in the year to help with antler growth and fawn health.
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Mineral Lick November 14th, 2001
WHITETAIL
DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE
Printable version
Ingredients: Makes 200 lbs. for about
$23.00
1 part Di-calcium phosphate,
this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores.
Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need
one bag.
2 parts Trace mineral
salt, the red and loos kind without the medications.
Comes in 50lb Bags at around $5.00 you need
two bags.
1 part Stock salt, ice
cream salt.
Comes in 50lb Bags at around $2.00 you need
one bag.
Directions:
-Use a 3 pound or similar size coffee can to use as your measure for each part of the mix.
-Mix all together well but not until read to use, keep ingredients separate until ready to put to use.
-Dig or tear up a circle in the soil about 36 inches wide and about 6 inches deep.
-Mix your mineral mixture with the soil.
Maintenance:
-Replenish in 6 months with fresh supply of mineral, and then each year there after.
Hope to see you in the woods this weekend. horntagger
This picture was taken June 30th of 2001 - The homemade mineral had been in this since late fall of 2000. |
This picture of the same homemade mineral lick was taken August 18th, 2001. |
Scroll back up and look at the two pictures. The condition of the barb wire
is getting worn down.

Full Moon – 19%
First Quarter – 29%
Last Quarter – 33%
Now
if we add the year 2000 to the percentages of the daytime movements the
percentages change but the moon phase don’t.
New
Moon – 14 %
Full Moon – 16%
First Quarter – 33%
Last Quarter – 39%
Now
what I find interesting about the numbers above is that 188 deer sighted
only account for 20% of the deer movement. The other 80% occur at night.
When firearms season starts the daytime movement goes down to 10%.
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Chufa is a sedge, a native of Africa and Southern
Europe. Its leaves are grass-like and grow 18-24 inches high.Chufa
produces small, sweet, underground tubers, commonly called nuts, usually
not over ½ inch in diameter and one inch in length.They
weigh 44 pounds per bushel.Yields
vary from 1,000 to, rarely 5000 pounds per acre.
Varieties: There is only one commercially available.
Uses: Wildlife. Tubers are a choice of geese, and
ducks, wild turkey, deer, raccoon, and squirrels.The
seeds have little or no value as wildlife food.
Soil adaptation: Well drained to poorly drained soils.
Cultural Specifications:
Methods of establishments:By
planting the tubers.
Fertility requirements: Moderate, chiefly nitrogen.Fertilize
with 200-300lbs. 13-13-13.
Calcium need: Low
Best Planting Time: May-August.
Rate and spacing to plant:30
to 40 pounds per acre, in rows 2 ½ to three feet apart at six to
11 inch spacing in the row, or wider, with several tubers per hill. If
broadcast, plant 40-60 pounds per acre.
Cultivation: Keep clean as for any row crop. Land
may be rotated with other crops.
Maintenance of planting: Some
volunteering will take place on larger planting for one or more years but
replanting is advised for continual crops. Rotate
to new site after three to four years.
Size of planting for wildlife: Plantings
less that three acres in size are often destroyed by raccoons. Turkey,
deer, and other wildlife dig the tubers. Chufa
planting is not recommended near large raccoon populations unless control
programs are carried out unless your are managing for raccoons.
Chufa are highly used by turkeys, but Chufa are usually eaten by the time the spring turkey season rolls around.


in a place we have never hunted before or cannot scout before we hunt. That
now has become the job of the surveillance game cameras on our own land.