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I am in the process of two experiments I got off the supposed deer expert Ficuccia in his seminar at the Rockland show.
One is to pick a particular white oak tree and fertilize it. It is to be done in the spring and fall. The idea is that the tree with more nutrients will produce more, larger & better tasting acorns than the surrounding trees. I purchased fertilizer spikes and put the spikes around the drip line of a tree during turkey season. I plan to do the same tree again in the fall. Supposedly it will not make a difference for a year or two. The beauty of it is, if it works, that you can do it on public land and other hunters will not notice unless they are super good at scouting.
The second experiment is with the Deer Caine Black Magic. I made a mineral lick with this stuff in the spring and have been replenishing it every few weeks. I will continue to deposit the minerals at least until muzzleloader season. The lick is 60yards below one of my favorite muzzle loader spots. This Black Magic stuff has a sweet odor that is supposed to attract the deer. Based on this smell I think it will just as likely attract bears. The first time I deposited it I spilled a bunch of it in my backpack. I was watching behind me on the way out expecting a bear to pick up the scent.
I will periodically report on these experiments
One is to pick a particular white oak tree and fertilize it. It is to be done in the spring and fall. The idea is that the tree with more nutrients will produce more, larger & better tasting acorns than the surrounding trees. I purchased fertilizer spikes and put the spikes around the drip line of a tree during turkey season. I plan to do the same tree again in the fall. Supposedly it will not make a difference for a year or two. The beauty of it is, if it works, that you can do it on public land and other hunters will not notice unless they are super good at scouting.
The second experiment is with the Deer Caine Black Magic. I made a mineral lick with this stuff in the spring and have been replenishing it every few weeks. I will continue to deposit the minerals at least until muzzleloader season. The lick is 60yards below one of my favorite muzzle loader spots. This Black Magic stuff has a sweet odor that is supposed to attract the deer. Based on this smell I think it will just as likely attract bears. The first time I deposited it I spilled a bunch of it in my backpack. I was watching behind me on the way out expecting a bear to pick up the scent.
I will periodically report on these experiments