Artificial Mineral Licks: Longevity, Use and Attitudes
We studied longevity, depletion rate, and peak periods of use by white-tailed deer {Odocoileus virginianus) of minerals at artificial lick sites on a clay soil in the Georgia Piedmont in 1990 and 1991. We also surveyed attitudes among southeastern state wildlife agencies about providing mineral supplementation for deer. Results indicated a rapid loss of sodium (Na) to leaching. Leaching rates for calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and zinc (Zn) were low. Pure salt (NaCl), rather than a more expensive mineral mixture, can be applied in...
