When it comes to controversial topics in the whitetail world, baiting is near the top of the list. And when most hunters hear the word “baiting,” they think about dumping corn on the ground or using a feeder to dispense it, then hunting within shooting range of the spilled corn.
Of course, deer hunters can legally bait in some states while it is prohibited in others. So hunters must CAREFULLY read their state’s hunting regulations to ensure they aren’t breaking the law. But unfortunately that’s much easier said than done.
A couple examples: In Minnesota, mineral and salt are NOT considered bait (best I can decipher from looking at the regs online); you can’t hunt over bait in Minnesota. In Wisconsin, mineral and salt ARE considered bait; you can legally bait in some counties and can’t in others. In those counties where baiting is legal, you can’t place it prior to hunting season — so dumping it in the woods to capture pics of summertime bucks is illegal.
I can’t stress this enough: Check out your state’s hunting regulations before placing mineral in the field, and I’d advise going one step further by contacting your local conservation officer: Ask him or her directly if, when and where you can legally use mineral. Better safe than sorry.
Okay, now that I have this disclaimer out of the way, let’s assume it’s legal for you to place mineral in the field, at least during summer to help supplement a whitetails diet. Two solid choices are Legit and Dig It from Big & J.
Big & J Legit
As it says on the Big & J website, there are many mineral products on the market, but most are glorified salt. Legit is different. It’s a true mineral and has an intense apple aroma, which helps it draw deer from a distance. Legit’s high calcium/phosphorus content promotes healthy bone/antler growth and meets the deficiency in the natural habitat. It also includes trace minerals that are essential to a doe’s reproductive function. MSRP: $12.99/5-pound bag
Big & J Dig It
The attractant Dig It is an excellent source of sodium, which is needed for cellular function including amino acid (building blocks of protein) transport. Dig It also has the addition of bioavailable trace minerals zinc, manganese and copper, which have greater absorption rates when compared to traditional sulfate mineral sources — meaning it gets where the body needs it instead of being excreted by deer and wasted. MSRP: $12.99/4.5-pound bag
In-the-Field Observations
I’m not a wildlife biologist, so I can’t speak to the nutritional science behind Big & J’s Legit and Dig It. What I can tell you is I dumped a few bags of each (legally!) in the whitetail woods and summertime bucks, does and fawns devoured it.
I’ve placed salt blocks in the field before and while they worked okay, those blocks didn’t draw and hold whitetails like the Legit and Dig It attractants. It was striking to see how the whitetails consumed not only the attactants themselves, but also the dirt that absorbed the mineral, especially after periods of rain. In two of my clover food plots, the spots where I dumped Legit and Dig It look like mini craters — a significant amount of dirt is gone!
Another advantage: If you live in an area with black bears, they have a tendency to walk away with salt/mineral blocks, which is impossible with granular attractants such as Legit and Dig It. (Black bears don’t like to share.)
Of course, my selfish reason for placing Legit and Dig It in the field was to gather trail cam pics of the local whitetail herd. It’s fun watching the miraculous antler growth of whitetails, hoping the bucks you saw last year are back — and bigger! — this year. And I certainly feel good placing a healthy/beneficial mineral attractant to lure whitetails; it’s a win/win for me and the deer.
As I stated earlier, check your local hunting regulations regarding placing mineral for whitetails, even during summer. If it’s legal to do so, I highly recommend Big & J Legit and Dig It. It’s literally been five months since I dumped it on the ground (late June), and whitetails are still visiting those sites daily. Amazing!
