Why Deer Lick Salt - Benefits, Strategies, and Considerations

Introduction to Deer Licking Salt

Deer require salt as an essential mineral to maintain proper health and body functions. While deer obtain some sodium and chloride from natural forage, their salt needs are not fully met from plants alone. This drives deer to actively seek out sources of salt through natural salt licks or man-made salt supplements. Understanding why deer lick salt, the benefits they receive, and how to properly supplement salt for deer can help enhance habitat management and hunting strategies.

Why Deer Lick Salt

Deer lick salt to fulfill several important nutritional and physiological needs:

Electrolyte balance

Salt provides essential electrolyte minerals sodium and chloride which help deer maintain fluid balance, nerve transmission, and muscle function.

Antler growth

Salt supports antler growth in male deer before mating season by providing minerals used to build bone. Large antlers are advantageous for establishing dominance.

Lactation

Sodium and chloride in salt are excreted in milk to support nursing fawns. Doe milk can contain over three times the salt of cow milk.

Thermoregulation

Salt allows deer to retain water and avoid dehydration in summer while also helping balance electrolytes lost through winter panting and sweating.

Digestion

Proper sodium chloride levels improve digestion and nutrient absorption from the gut.

Insect relief

Natural and manufactured salt licks may contain sulfur, cobalt, copper, and other minerals that relieve insect harassment.

Natural Salt Lick Sources for Deer

Before manufactured mineral supplements, deer relied on several natural sources to satisfy their drive for salt:

Soil licks

Deer consume dirt, rocks, or clay containing mineral salts. This may impart trace nutrients but provides little sodium.

Plant sources

Some plants can concentrate salt from soil and water. Examples include asters, goldenrods, lupines, clovers, mountain sorrel, and alpine pennycress.

Water sources

Saline spring water and salt-encrusted lake edges provide available sodium and other minerals.

Salt marshes

Coastal wetland plants like saltgrass and sedges absorb seawater and concentrate salt in their tissues eaten by deer.

Road salt

Salt used for winter road deicing may attract deer to roadsides though ingesting excessive amounts can be toxic.

Salt deposits

Natural salt outcroppings like ancient seabeds provide concentrated salt licks where deer aggregate.

Benefits of Salt for Deer

When adequately supplemented, salt provides deer several key benefits:

Increased antler growth

Salt aids bigger antler size prior to the fall rut, which can improve chances in battle and breeding.

Higher body weights

Salt supports fluid retention, digestion, and nutrient absorption helping deer achieve greater body mass and strength.

Improved lactation

Salt enables nursing does to produce more milk with greater electrolyte, mineral, and immunoglobulin content for healthier fawns.

Better antler hardness

The high mineral content of salt contributes to increased bone density and hardness of antlers as they grow.

Healthier overall

Salt supplements deer nutritional deficiencies allowing them to avoid malnutrition health impacts.

Increased water intake

Salt prompts deer to drink more water for better hydration, circulation, and thermoregulation.

Types of Deer Salt Licks

There are several types of manufactured mineral supplements used to attract deer and provide needed salt:

Salt blocks

Compressed blocks of salt with added minerals are long-lasting but limit access compared to loose supplements.

Loose granulated salts

Granular natural salt mixes are inexpensive but may dissipate quickly with exposure to moisture.

Liquid salts

Liquid salt solutions can be sprayed on the ground or vegetation to provide highly bioavailable minerals.

Salt and protein mixes

Products blending salt with soybean meal, cottonseed, or other high-protein sources provide an energy boost.

Mineral and vitamin mixes

Specialized powdered supplements add phosphorus, calcium, vitamins, yeasts, and flavors beyond just salt.

Salt licking branches

Tree branches soaked in salt solution offer both minerals and attraction from chewing and rubbing behaviors.

Providing Salt for Deer

Several strategies can be used to effectively provide supplemental salt licks for deer:

Place near trails or feeding areas

Locating salt licks along existing deer trails or foraging sites targets areas deer already frequent daily.

Use enough supply

Provide plentiful salt to satisfy needs of all deer in the local herd and minimize competition.

Replenish regularly

Check and replenish salt licks often, especially before peak seasons like summer stress or antler growth.

Use weather protection

Shelter salt blocks under roofs or branches to prevent dissolution from rain, snow, and wind exposure.

Provide multiple locations

Distribute salt licks widely across a property to make them accessible to all deer in the area.

Select palatable products

Test different salt lick options to determine which flavored, textured, or loose products deer prefer at your site.

Hunting Considerations with Salt Licks

Strategic use of deer salt licks can potentially improve hunting success by:

Increasing deer presence

Salt licks routinely attract deer to a particular area, increasing odds of deer being present during hunts.

Providing mineral nutrition

Adequate salt improves antler growth and body condition for healthier and heavier deer.

Drawing in bucks

Salt appeals especially to male deer growing antlers pre-rut and dominant older bucks.

Lengthening feeding times

Deer may linger longer at salt licks than quick plant feeding, extending exposure.

Funneling deer movements

Salts can strategically divert deer toward specific trails or food plots to predict movement.

Dangers of Excessive Salt Intake

While proper salt supplementation benefits deer, risks from overconsumption include:

Dehydration

Excess salt prompts fluid loss that could lead to dangerous dehydration if water intake does not increase.

Salt toxicity

High sodium levels may result in neurological impairment, seizures, coma or even death in extreme cases.

Bloat

Overeating salts can cause gas, abdominal distension, and life-threatening bloat.

Osmotic diarrhea

Ingesting very high salt concentrations draws fluid into the intestines causing potentially fatal diarrhea.

Kidney damage

Excess salt strains the kidneys as they work to excrete the overload from the body.

To avoid health issues, deer should ideally regulate their own salt intake based on need from provided supplemental sources.

Regulations on Deer Salt Licks

State laws regulate deer salt lick practices in several ways:

Hunting over salt licks

It is illegal in most states to hunt deer directly over an active salt lick as this offers an unfair hunting advantage.

Minimum distances

Salt licks must be placed a minimum distance, typically 50-200 yards, away from deer hunting stands or blinds.

Placement dates

Many states prohibit placing or replenishing deer salt licks during hunting seasons to avoid unfairly baiting game.

Permit requirements

Some states require special permits to place salt licks while others prohibit their use altogether. Always check regulations.

Ethical Considerations

While salt licks can increase deer presence, ethical hunters should also weigh potential downsides like:

Dependency

Deer may become habituated to rely on artificial salt sources to meet needs versus seeking natural forage diversity.

Competition

Dominant deer may monopolize and aggressively defend lick sites, limiting access to weaker deer.

Disease transmission

Congregating deer at salt licks could increase contact and parasite/disease transmission risks.

Non-target species

Salt licks could attract and endanger livestock, pets, or wildlife drawn to the salt who face hunting risks.

Weighing pros and cons allows for ethically sound decisions on proper supplemental salt lick practices.

Key Considerations

In summary, key considerations when providing deer salt licks include:

Judicious placement

Strategically locate salt licks close to deer areas and travel routes but away from hunting sites per regulations.

Adequate supply

Provide plentiful salt licks frequently replenished to satisfy needs of the entire local deer population.

Weather protection

Shelter licks from direct sun, wind, rain, and snow to avoid depletion.

Ethical usage

Weigh pros and cons, avoiding overuse that leads to dependency or unfair advantage.

Local laws

Follow all state and local ordinances for deer salt lick placement and practices.

When properly implemented, salt licks offer a legal, ethical way to nutritionally supplement deer while potentially improving hunting success rates.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.