How to Tell If Your Deer Mineral Site Is Working: Signs to Watch For

If you've put time and effort into setting up a deer mineral site, one of the first things you probably wonder is, “Is this actually working?”

You may not see deer standing there every time you check it, and that doesn't necessarily mean they're not using the site.

There are several things you can look for that can tell you whether deer are finding and using your mineral site.

Look for Tracks Around the Site

One of the easiest things to check is the ground around your mineral site.

Fresh deer tracks can be a good indication that deer are visiting, especially if you start seeing tracks regularly.

Pay attention to the size and number of tracks too. Over time, you may start noticing that more than one deer is visiting the area.

If the site is in an area with plenty of other wildlife, you may see tracks from other animals as well. That's another reason it's helpful to pay attention to what you're seeing each time you check it.

Check Your Trail Camera

If you have a trail camera near your mineral site, it can tell you a lot more than just whether deer are showing up.

You can see what time they're visiting, how often they're coming through, and which deer are using the area.

You may even discover that deer are visiting at times you wouldn't expect.

A camera also gives you something to compare over time. Instead of relying on what you remember from your last visit, you can actually look back at the pictures and see how activity has changed.

Don't Expect Results Overnight

One mistake hunters can make is checking a new site once or twice and deciding it isn't working.

Deer don't always find a new site immediately, and every property is different.

Give the site some time and continue watching what happens.

If you're seeing fresh tracks, camera activity, or other signs of deer using the area, that's information worth paying attention to.

Watch What Happens Around the Site

Sometimes the signs aren't limited to the mineral site itself.

Look at the surrounding area for trails, tracks, rubs, and other deer activity.

You may begin to notice that deer are approaching the site from a particular direction or using a certain trail more often.

That's useful information because you're not just learning whether deer found your mineral site—you're learning more about how deer use your property.

What Are You Using at Your Mineral Site?

Once you've found a good location, you'll want to use a mineral product that fits what you're trying to accomplish.

There are a lot of different products available, so it's worth taking a look at what you're using and how it's intended to be used.

At Hunting Game Supplies, we carry Fat Rax, a deer mineral designed for use at whitetail deer mineral sites.

If you'd like to take a look at it, you can learn more about Fat Rax here.

That's really all the product talk I'm going to give you in this article. The important thing is knowing what to look for once you've put your site together.

Keep Watching and Learning

One of the best things about having a mineral site is that it gives you another opportunity to learn what's happening on your property.

Don't worry if your results aren't exactly what you expected right away.

Keep checking your camera, look for tracks and other signs, and pay attention to changes over time.

Every property is different, and deer don't always follow the schedule we think they should. That's part of hunting.

The more time you spend learning your property, the better you'll understand the deer using it.

Have you ever set up a mineral site and been surprised by what your trail camera showed you?

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