Sweetlix Rack Deer Mineral
Why Should I Supplement?
Most soils in the United States are deficient in one or more nutrients. When the soil is deficient in nutrients, the plants growing on these soils are also deficient in nutrients. Therefore, deer that rely on the plants for food will not receive needed amounts of these deficient nutrients. Nutrient supplementation can improve the overall health of the deer herd by boosting immunity, growth and reproductive traits of the deer population in your area. Rack™ Deer provides minerals necessary for optimum antler development, milk production, bone growth and overall health, including: phosphorus, calcium, copper, selenium and zinc. Proper levels of each of these minerals are necessary for deer to reach their true genetic potential. Rack™ Deer is also fortified with vitamins A, and D. These vitamins are essential for immunity, eye integrity and bone growth. Vitamins are very useful in times of stress to help bolster immunity and help deer survive natural stresses such as parasites and feed shortages.
Antler Growth
Besides improving the overall health of the deer herd, supplements can help maximize antler growth through good nutrition. Antler size and shape are affected by genetics, age and nutrition. While genetics are out of your control, you can manage the age and nutrition of your deer herd for rack size. Deer need to be allowed to mature in order to develop trophy racks. Manage deer numbers to allow enough young bucks to survive to maturity (4-5 years). Nutrition is another factor that you can easily control. As soon as last year's antlers are shed the buck's body is preparing for new growth by mobilizing minerals in its body and changing its eating habits to recover from the rut and consume the nutrients needed for weight gain and antler growth. Supplementing your herd can help deer reach their true genetic potential for antler growth.
When to Provide Supplements?
Mineral and vitamin nutrition is important year-round, however it is most important to supplement deer during the spring and summer. This is not only the time that bucks are in velvet and growing antlers, but also the time that does are providing milk and fawns are rapidly growing and building up reserves for their first winter.
How to Use Rack™ Deer?
A suitable location should be chosen. This may be on or near a trail, or near a water source or bedding areas. Do not choose areas that are accessible to livestock or have high human traffic. When placing supplements, be sure to consult local hunting regulations, because hunting over salt/mineral licks is considered baiting in many states and is therefore illegal. Pour the supplement directly on the ground, place it in a hollowed out stump or dig a shallow hole (about 3' X 3' and 6" deep) and mix the supplement with the loose soil. Try not to allow deer to run out of mineral or they will look elsewhere for nutrients and may not return to the current location.
