By now, most hunters have shifted into offseason mode. The food plots are planted, turkey season is behind us, and deer season still feels a long way off. But if you're serious about managing your property and keeping tabs on your deer herd, summer is one of the most important times of the year.
One thing I make sure to do every summer is refresh my mineral sites.
As temperatures climb across the South, deer are putting a lot of stress on their bodies. Bucks are growing antlers at an incredible rate, does are nursing fawns, and every deer on the property is dealing with the heat. During this time of year, deer are naturally seeking out minerals and other nutrients to help support those demands.
I've noticed that once the weather settles into that hot summer pattern, mineral sites can become some of the most active places on the property. It's not uncommon to check a camera card and find hundreds of photos from a single site.
That's one reason I like maintaining them this time of year.
Of course, there's always a debate about how much minerals actually contribute to antler growth. Everyone seems to have an opinion. What most biologists agree on, though, is that overall nutrition plays a major role in herd health. Minerals aren't a substitute for quality habitat or good forage, but they can be another piece of the puzzle.
For me, the biggest benefit may actually be the information they provide.
Summer is when I start getting excited about deer season again. Bucks are in bachelor groups, velvet antlers are growing every day, and trail cameras start revealing what survived the previous hunting season. A well-placed mineral site can give you a front-row seat to all of it.
Some of my favorite trail camera photos every year come from mineral sites in June, July, and August. You get to watch bucks change almost weekly as their antlers develop. A deer that looks average in early June can look completely different by the end of July.
If you're planning to establish a mineral site, keep it simple. Find an area deer already frequent and refresh the site according to the product directions. I like locations that are easy to check with minimal disturbance, especially during the summer months when deer tend to follow predictable patterns.
One thing every hunter should remember is to check local regulations. Rules regarding minerals and attractants vary from state to state, and it's important to know what's legal where you hunt.
The bottom line is this: summer is not the time to forget about your deer property. While it may be months before opening day, the work you do now can pay off later. Refreshing a few mineral sites takes very little time, gives you another tool for supporting your herd, and provides a great excuse to spend an evening checking trail cameras.
Before long, those velvet bucks will shed, temperatures will start to drop, and deer season will be here again. Until then, a bag of mineral and a trail camera can help make the wait a little easier.
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