Tag-Out
should be applied immediately and kept active in order to pattern
deer to your Tag-Out holes. With time, more and more deer will find
the site and change roaming patterns to accommodate it.
We encourage using trail cameras in conjunction with Tag-Out to document
herd growth and Tag-Out hole activity. Tag-Out is a year-round mineral
supplement; however deer consume different amounts of Tag-Out during
each season of the year. Here are some trends we have found:
Early Spring - Tag-Out hole activity
by does carrying fawns, and bucks building up mineral
reserves needed for new antler growth after their
antlers drop
Spring - Tag-Out hole activity by lactating
does, and by bucks using up mineral reserves growing new antlers.
Summer - Tag-Out hole activity by both does
and bucks, to aid in several areas including digestion and antler
development.
Fall - Tag-Out hole activity continues through
the fall as deer begin preparing for cold weather.
Winter - Tag-Out hole activity continues throughout
the winter, however, during the rut doe activity should stay steady,
but buck activity may decrease. Tag-Out holes are often used by
rutting bucks as a scrape as they look for the does that have frequented
the hole.
The minerals in Tag-Out play a significant role in deer body mass
and antler size. Deer antlers contain several different minerals;
and two of these, calcium and phosphorus, make up approximately 30-35%
of total antler weight. The amount of phosphorus in a deer's diet
is also directly related to its body size.
Therefore, providing a year round supplement of these important minerals
will, over time, help you produce the biggest bucks with trophy racks.
Choosing The Right Location
Picking
the right location for your Tag-Out hole is important to site success.
Deer constantly try to conceal themselves, so shaded areas along the
edges of deer crossings seem to be optimal.
We recommend staying at least 6-12 feet off normally active deer
trails. The more secluded a Tag-Out hole is, the more comfortable
the deer will be, and they will stay longer in the hole consuming
the minerals.
To determine the number of Tag-Out holes to establish, we recommend
one Tag-Out hole per 100–200 acres. Since the peak use of the
Tag-Out is during spring and early summer, Tag-Out holes should be
established during late winter or early spring when possible, but
anytime you can start a Tag-Out hole is a good time.
Choosing the Right Soil
Tag-Out
works in a most types of soil, but heavier clay soils
hold the minerals for a longer period of time, and increase the evaporative
concentration of the minerals. If you are in a sandy area, we recommend
establishing your Tag-Out hole next to a tree or stump with a decent
root bed that holds the soil together a little better. Tag-Out holes
in acidic soil have proven to generate heavier deer activity than
alkaline soil sites.
