Best Salt Block and Lick for Deer

Salt can play an important role in a deer’s diet, especially at certain times of the year, and acts as a superb attractant. Much like humans, deer crave salt very much.

The salt blocks listed on this page all contain very high levels of salt, ranging from 81%-99.9%. Some contain supplementary minerals to aid a deer’s diet while others are all about the salt content. Either way, there will be a salt lick that will meet your needs, and all are able to attract deer and won’t easily dissolve in the rain.

Note: Click the following link if you’re looking for the best mineral block for deer. The difference is that the blocks on this page have a much higher salt and generally much lower mineral content.

Best Salt Block and Lick for Deer

Best for Salt Content: Champion’s Choice White Salt Block

If you’re looking for a pure salt block for deer, the Champion’s Choice White Salt Block is the one to get.

It features a minimum of 95% to a maximum of 99.9% of salt, making it an economical and efficient means for introducing salt as a nutrient into a deer’s diet, and as an attractant.

Salt blocks tend to have a harder time than mineral blocks to being resistant to the rain. However, the Champion’s Choice Salt Block manages to do an excellent job in being weather resistant and won’t disintegrate at the first sight of rain.

A very inexpensive salt block that is weather-resistant, doesn’t contain any nasties and will last months for under $10. What’s not to like?

Best All-Rounder: Himalayan Nature Salt Block

Himalayan Nature Salt Block is another pure salt option. However, this is no ordinary salt block. What makes Himalayan salt unique is in its name – it comes directly from the 50-million-year-old Himalayan mountain range.

Himalayan salt contains over 84 minerals, ensuring deer will get all the minerals they need in their diet.

Comparatively speaking, it’s more expensive than others. But its unique composition and color mean that deer will easily locate it, it’s extremely tolerant to the changing weather conditions and has more minerals than any other block – mineral or otherwise.

Best for Added Minerals: Champion’s Choice Trace Mineral Salt Block

Ever so slightly more expensive than the company’s white salt option, the Champion’s Choice Trace Mineral Salt Block is a good choice if you want to add a few minerals to a deer’s diet.

You’ll immediately notice the different color of this block thanks to the minerals that include zinc, iron, manganese, copper, iodine, and cobalt. Salt content measures 94-99%.

It has all the same qualities as Champion’s Choice white salt block that has made it a firm favorite, including its value, size, lasting power, and ability to withstand rain.

Most Mineral Content: Trophy Rock All-Natural Mineral Lick

While the Trophy Rock All-Natural Mineral Lick still has a high level of salt content (81%), it is the one to get if you want deer to additionally get all the minerals they need.

Mined in Utah, USA, and containing nothing but natural ingredients, this block contains more than 65 minerals, including the all-important calcium and phosphorus minerals. These two minerals are important because they have been shown to aid in optimum antler development and body growth.

No need to worry about the block dissolving or melting away either.

If you want a block that primarily consists of salt along with all the minerals a deer needs, you can’t go wrong with Trophy Rock or Himalayan salt. Trophy Rock is the slightly cheaper option, though.

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Important Features to Consider When Buying Salt Block & Lick for Deer

Trace Mineral Content

Decide if you want a salt block consisting of close to 100% sodium chloride or one with some level of mineral content. Unless you’re buying a pure salt block there should usually be minerals like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, and others included. These minerals are beneficial to a deer’s diet, as they are not always able to get all the minerals they need naturally in their environment. The amount of these minerals may vary.

As mentioned at the start of the article, if you want deer blocks with more mineral content click on the link.

Lasting Power

Any salt block you buy should be able to withstand weather conditions. Lesser salt blocks can dissolve and melt in the rain greatly reducing their lasting power. It’s not unheard of for some salt blocks to last months, and others to dissolve overnight in the rain.

Having said that, not all is lost. The salt may dissolve into the soil and deer can consume it that way.

Flavor

Some manufacturers add flavorings to their salt blocks to make them more attractive to deer for their more potent taste and smell. This isn’t strictly necessary but if done right can act as a better attractant than plain salt blocks.

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FAQs

What is the purpose of salt block for deer?

The main purpose of putting out a salt block is to attract deer. Everyone has their own reasons for wanting to do so.

Perhaps you are a hunter who wants to attract deer to the area, or maybe you just love to catch a glimpse of deer coming into your backyard.

Maybe you are a photographer who wants to catch a great shot of deer, or a farmer who wants to ensure a healthy herd.

Perhaps you are none of these things, but greatly care for deer and want them to be as healthy as possible.

Are salt licks good for deer?

Salt alone (with the exception of Himalayan salt) doesn’t contain all the minerals deer need for optimum antler development, body growth, and condition. However, salt is still necessary for a deer’s diet. This is especially true in summer where a diet high in water and potassium can create a salt deficiency.

In any case, it’s common to see salt blocks also contain trace minerals, so deer can get the minerals they need in their diet. Mineral content varies by brand.

Do deer prefer salt or mineral blocks?

Deer like both salt and mineral blocks. It isn’t necessarily a question of which one they prefer because they will lick both. Sometimes you will find that if you put both a salt and mineral block out, the salt block will be gone quicker one time, and the mineral block faster the other time. It depends on several factors that aren’t necessarily in your control.

Therefore, think more in terms of what the purpose of each block is. Mineral blocks are useful to help deer get all the minerals they need in their diet. If we’re talking purely about salt blocks that have very little to no mineral content, these still have some benefit to a deer’s diet, but not as much as a block with minerals. They are typically the cheaper option while still being able to attract deer.

Can deer smell a salt block?

Deer have a very keen sense of smell that is much stronger than humans. While the smell of a salt block may not be very strong to us, deer and other animals are able to smell it. Salt block manufacturers may also infuse their blocks with flavorings like apple to enhance both the smell and taste.

Where should you put out the salt block?

Wherever you put out the block, even in remote locations that deer usually don’t frequent, they will still manage to find it. However, it’s best to place blocks in high-traffic areas that are easy to get to.

These places may be near a water source and where deer can feel safe. In other words, somewhere they are unlikely to be disturbed and with easy escape routes.

It’s best to place salt blocks on a stump or another flat rock. Placing blocks in the ground, so it can also leach into the soil is another option.

How can you tell if deer are licking the block?

There are a few ways to tell.

You may be able to see tracks around the block, a camera pointed at the location will tell you if deer (and other animals) are enjoying the block, and there will be lick marks.

The way to tell the difference between lick marks and rain disintegrating the block is that lick marks will leave grooves in the block. Rain tends to dimple the block and smooth the edges instead of the entire block.

See Also:

Best Mineral Block for Deer

The Best Deer Protein Feed and Pellets