Salt Licks: Salt and minerals for roe deer and red deer on your ground

Salt Licks: Minerals for deer all year round

Especially in spring, when fresh green growth holds a lot of water, roe and red deer actively seek out salt. A salt lick in a quiet spot meets this need and is often used for years. Here you will find licks made from rock crystal salt and natural rock salt, from a handy block with a hanging rope to the large 25 kg Bergkern, plus salt paste in a tub.

Natural salt or pressed block

The Leimüller Bergkern salt lick is an unprocessed lump of natural rock salt that lasts a long time and weathers slowly. The Kerbl rock crystal salt licks come pressed in a pack of four or as a 1.75 kg block with a rope that you can hang from a post or branch. You spread the salt paste from the 2 kg tub onto tree stumps or posts, where the rain gradually draws it into the wood. That creates a lick that deer return to eagerly and persistently.

Setting up a salt lick properly

Choose a quiet spot on the edge of cover, with a good view and away from paths. Many hunters set the block on a sharpened post or into a hollowed out stump, so the rain carries the salt into the wood. This way the deer keep visiting the lick long after the block itself has gone. Check the spot regularly and top it up in good time. Whether and where salt licks are allowed varies by region, so it is worth looking at the hunting regulations that apply in your country.

Frequently asked questions

When do roe deer use a salt lick most?
Their need for salt is highest in spring and early summer, when the vegetation is lush and full of water. So it is best to set up the lick in late winter. It can take a few weeks before deer start using a new site regularly.

How do I fix a salt lick in the woods?
A hardwood post that the block sits on or is set into has proven its worth. Licks with a rope can simply be hung from a branch or post. The important thing is that the block does not lie on the ground, so the salt soaks into the wood rather than the soil.

Can a horse salt lick also be used for deer?
Pure rock crystal salt without additives is taken just as readily by roe and red deer as by horses. Make sure it contains no flavourings or additives that are not intended for wild animals. For a salt lick on your ground, natural blocks are the simplest choice.