Ideal entry routes for hunting near a mineral site?

Understanding Mineral Sites and Deer Behavior

Mineral sites are areas where deer gather to lick or rub against mineral-rich surfaces, such as rocky outcroppings or mineral deposits. These sites often attract deer during the fall and winter months when other food sources are scarce. To take advantage of this behavior, hunters should focus on identifying the most active mineral sites within their hunting area and develop a plan to intercept deer as they move to and from these sites.

Trail Camera Placement Strategy

To effectively monitor deer movement patterns around mineral sites, hunters should set up trail cameras along the most used entry routes to the site. This can include existing game trails, such as those that follow ridges or valleys, as well as any trails that may have been created by deer as they move to and from the mineral site. When placing trail cameras, hunters should aim to capture images of deer during the peak rutting season, when deer are most active. For this reason, cameras should be set to take photos at 10-15 second intervals, and hunters should consider using cellular cameras that can transmit images to their smartphones in real-time. This will allow them to quickly identify and respond to any changes in deer movement patterns.

Mock Scrapes and Entry Routes

In addition to using trail cameras, hunters can create mock scrapes near the mineral site to lure deer into the area. Mock scrapes involve creating a shallow scrape in the ground, often with scent attractants such as doe urine or buck scent, to mimic the appearance of a natural scrape. By placing mock scrapes along the most used entry routes to the mineral site, hunters can increase the likelihood of intercepting deer as they move to and from the site. Hunters should aim to create multiple mock scrapes, spaced 10-20 yards apart, to create a “string” of attractants that will encourage deer to follow the trail and increase their chances of taking a shot.