When to Put out Salt Blocks For Deer

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Ethan Smith
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Video when to put out salt blocks for deer

Often when putting out a salt block or mineral block, it’s for the best interest of the deer, even if you are using it as part of your baiting setup.

For this reason, we have come to discover that early spring is the best time to put out your salt block.

Regulations

Before putting out a salt block, the first and most important thing you need to find out is whether it legal in your area.

Often, the regulations will tell you when you are allowed to put out salt blocks, if at all.

In some states, salt blocks are allowed for herd maintenance and not for baiting, which means they have to be brought in during hunting season.

In other areas, you cannot put out salt blocks at all.

When to Put out Salt Licks

When to Put out Salt Blocks For Deer

Once you have checked your regulations and determined you are allowed to put out salt blocks, you can strategize where to put them.

However, the right timing is also crucial; we want to get the salts and minerals to deer when they need them most.

Early Spring

The best time for putting out your salt block is early spring, around March; this is a crucial time for deer.

Deer have just overcome a harsh season and will be looking to replenish nutrition through eating plenty and mineral consumption.

During this time, bucks have started growing new antlers and does are nursing or birthing fawns.

The nutrition requirement for both of these activities is large. By putting out your salt block in spring, you are ensuring bucks grow a healthy rack, and we know nutrition is the number one contributor to rack size.

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You are also ensuring that fawns get a good start on life, hopefully growing up to be a healthy adults and thus strengthening the overall herd.

Summer

If you missed putting the salt block out during the spring, summer is the next best time to put it out.

Summer is still a growing phase for all deer. Does are still nursing, and bucks are still growing antlers up until August.

Another reason for salt blocks this time of year is to help with digestion. Deer eat the largest quantities of food this time of year.

The additional salt helps form hydrochloric acid, which helps aid the breakdown of food.

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Fall

Not only do deer not use salt blocks much during the fall season, but it may also be illegal this time of year.

Some states require that salt blocks need to be removed before hunting season; these states only allow salt blocks as a herd management tool and not as a means of baiting.

If you are in one of these states, you are not missing out on much. From our observations, the use of salt blocks really starts to die off from around August, which makes perfect sense.

August is usually when antlers stop growing, the blood cells are starting to dry up, and the velvet is starting to dry out.

Bucks this time of year have consumed as much food and nutrition as they need to aid in antler growth and overall health.

Similarly does do not need as much nutrition either. Typically does give birth around April and June. Does will wean the fawn at 3 to 4 months old.

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Now you may be thinking then it will still need salt in early fall. However, we have to remember that before the fawn is completely weaned, it needs to be already eating forage on its own.

This means by late summer; the fawn is already consuming less milk and more forage, therefore putting less nutritional requirements on the doe.

Winter

It’s a common misconception that deer need sale licks during winter. However, deer generally do not need salt in the winter.

Most deer have enough weight put on for the winter, and that is enough to get them through this time of year.

Bucks have not started growing new antlers yet and does are not heavily pregnant.

It’s also worth noting that deer like salt because it helps aid in hydrochloric acid, which helps break down food.

Deer are not consuming so much food during the winter that they would need extra help in breaking it down.

Public Land vs Private Land

Some states and counties have regulations regarding putting out salt licks on public land vs private.

In some areas, salt licks are allowed on private land but not on public land.

Many people with private land leave salt licks out all year round, and there is nothing wrong with this once it is legal in your area.

However, you are likely to see the same pattern as we did. Deer will be very active around the sale lick from around March to late August, and then the activity will die off.

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[Click Here to Shop .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire Ammo]What we can do is provide a framework to understand what average conditions might look like, and whether those are reasonably viable for a shot from the average shooter to harvest a whitetail deer in the fewest number of shots possible, i.e., ethically. Let’s dive right in. In the question of “Is the .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire within the ideal range of suitable calibers for whitetail deer hunting?” our answer is: No, the .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire is UNDERKILL for whitetail deer hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding bullet, and with correct shot placement.Let’s look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. Assumption Value Caliber .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire Animal Species Whitetail Deer Muzzle Energy 250 foot-pounds Animal Weight 210 lbs Shot Distance 150 yardsWhat is the average muzzle energy for a .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire? 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Thus, a caliber that is effective from 50 yards may not have enough stopping power from 200 yards. With that said, we have assumed the average hunting distance for whitetail deer to be approximately 150 yards. What about the other assumptions? We have three other primary assumptions being made here. First, the average bullet weight is encapsulated in the average muzzle energy for the .17 HMR Hornady Magnum Rimfire. The second important assumption is ‘slightly-suboptimal’ to ‘optimal’ shot placement. That is to say, we assume the whitetail deer being harvested is shot directly or nearly directly in the vitals (heart and/or lungs). The third assumption is that a projectile with appropriate terminal ballistics is being used, which for hunting usually means an expanding bullet.Various calibersA common thread you may encounter in online forums is anecdote after anecdote of large animals being brought down by small caliber bullets, or small animals surviving large caliber bullets. 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Disclaimer: the information above is purely for illustrative purposes and should not be taken as permission to use a particular caliber, a statement of the legality or safety of using certain calibers, or legal advice in any way. You must read and understand your own local laws before hunting whitetail deer to know whether your caliber of choice is a legal option.Foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor gear online.We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. 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Final Thoughts

To get the most out of your salt licks and do what’s best for the deer, you should be putting your salt lick out around March.

Deer have just overcome a hard period and will need to start consuming as much food and nutrition as possible.

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Ethan Smith
Ethan Smith is a seasoned marine veteran, professional blogger, witty and edgy writer, and an avid hunter. He spent a great deal of his childhood years around the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. Watching active hunters practise their craft initiated him into the world of hunting and rubrics of outdoor life. He also honed his writing skills by sharing his outdoor experiences with fellow schoolmates through their high school’s magazine. Further along the way, the US Marine Corps got wind of his excellent combination of skills and sought to put them into good use by employing him as a combat correspondent. He now shares his income from this prestigious job with his wife and one kid. Read more >>

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