Deer hunters and managers know the importance of providing high-quality supplements to whitetails. Studies have shown deer require a variety of minerals, vitamins, and protein for many physiological functions like antler growth, fawn development, milk production, digestion, and overall health. Supplements give deer the nutrients they need and help keep them on a property for longer, helping you assess overall herd health and target specific bucks for harvest. Let’s look at what makes supplements high-quality, what to look for when choosing supplements, red flags found in ingredients to avoid, and other considerations when purchasing supplements.
What Makes Supplements High-Quality
High-quality supplements provide deer with a good mix of minerals, vitamins, and quality protein. Critical minerals whitetails require include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and micronutrients like copper, zinc, and selenium. Supplements also need to contain essential vitamins like A, D, and E, and high-quality protein in the range of 10-22%. Look for these key ingredients when selecting supplements.
Red Flags and Green Lights
When reading the nutritional labels of supplements, look for markers that tell you to go with the supplement – and red flags that indicate you should avoid purchasing the product. While all supplements contain marketing language aimed at swaying customers, steer clear of products that make miraculous or unsubstantiated claims about their supplements. Labels should also be transparent about what ingredients the supplement contains and where it is produced or sourced. And just because a supplement has been “scientifically tested” or studied does not mean any scientific evidence was found that the product grows bigger antlers or improves deer health. Also, look for supplements that offer clear guidance on contacting customer service. Go online to read customer reviews, as they provide honest ratings and even tips on how to get the most out of a supplement.
Seasonal Needs
While it is important to give deer minerals year-round, match deer supplements to the time of year, as whitetails have different nutritional needs at different stages of their life cycle and with the changing availability of natural forage. In spring and summer, supplements containing high protein, calcium, and phosphorus are needed for antler growth and lactation. In the fall and winter, deer need more high-energy supplements and those containing higher fat content, particularly in the post-rut, when bucks lose up to 25% of their body weight, finding and breeding does.
Big & J vs. Gimmicks
Just like humans, whitetails need a well-rounded diet throughout the year. Unfortunately, many products on the market make big promises about what they can do for deer but contain little more than sodium and low-quality protein. They are little more than marketing gimmicks aimed at making cash registers ring while falling far short of giving whitetails the nutrition they need. In contrast, Big & J attractants contain high-quality protein, important minerals, and vitamins that deer need throughout the year. They also have a total digestible nutrition level, or TDN, higher than virtually all other deer attractants, enabling them to efficiently process the protein and other quality nutrients they need throughout all life stages.