Help Your Hunting with Big & J Attractants
Know where and when to use minerals and supplemental feed for year-around deer herd health
Baiting is a common tactic in many states, and there’s no doubt it’s effective. But are you using attractants and feed to their full potential? Furthermore, as a Big & J user, are you reaching maximum potential with their products?
We’re satisfying the nutritional wellbeing of the animal. We’re filling the nutritional holes with scientifically proven products. We’re using a lot of data and information to keep animals healthier. This goes for all of our mineral and feed products, and is relevant to all deer hunters.
This is your guide to achieve both, courtesy of Big & J Ruminant Nutritionist Will Griffin.
Josh Honeycutt photo
Where to Feed: Near water sources
When to Feed: Winter through summer (where legal)
MSRP: $12.99-29.99
Mineral is good for deer. That’s why we give it to them. But they don’t need candy. Give them the real deal.
“Legit is a true mineral formulated to satisfy all mineral needs: calcium, phosphorus, trace elements, vitamins, etc.,” Griffin said. “You’re throwing the kitchen sink at them with this. But they start backing off of it when the foliage starts going dormant. It might even be as early as late summer or early fall. That’s because, at that time, the natural environment is doing a better job at supplying those elements.”
But remember, mineral won’t get consumed as quickly as feed (such as corn or BB2). People don’t eat a whole bag full of salt in one sitting. Deer don’t either. They can only consume so much at a time.
Josh Honeycutt photo
Where to Feed: Near water sources
When to Feed: Winter through summer (where legal)
MSRP: $10.99
Meltdown is a mineral-based product with added attraction. Because of that, deer generally continue consuming this long after they leave the Legit product.
“With Meltdown, you’re really drawing in deer based on their need for sodium and helping with cellular fluidity,” Griffin said. “This is where this product fits into meeting a deer’s mineral needs. You have to keep sodium available to that animal.”
If using for hunting purposes, use this over Legit.
“For hunting purposes, during hunting season, I shift from Legit to a Meltdown or Headrush product,” Griffin said.
Josh Honeycutt photo
Where to Feed: Near water sources
When to Feed: All year (where legal)
MSRP: $24.99
“Headrush is primarily a salt-based product that deer eat year-round,” Griffin said. “It’s more of a draw because deer have a natural taste for salt. But what separates our product is we’re bringing in some of those trace elements that deer can absorb. This is better than just setting out a salt block.”
Josh Honeycutt photo
Where to Feed: Staging areas (between bedding and feeding destinations)
When to Feed: All year (where legal)
MSRP: $12.99-36.99
This is where we get into the heart of the feeding program. BB2 is a proven feed additive that attracts, holds and improves the health of deer.
“Aside from its value as an attractant, BB2 is over 90% digestible, which is greater than corn,” Griffin said. “In addition, the energy comes primarily from digestible fiber and fat instead of starch and fermentable carbohydrates. This leads to a near zero chance of acidosis or digestive upset.
“The protein content is guaranteed to be 18% as a minimum and is comprised of approximately 70% UP (undegradable protein) and 30% DP (degradable protein),” Griffin continued. “Undegradable protein is more than likely a limiting factor when considering feedstuff availability vs. requirements of deer.”
Big & J photo
Where to Feed: Staging areas (between bedding and feeding destinations)
When to Feed: All year (where legal)
MSRP: $24.99
The nutritional benefits of BB2 in granular form are in the cube, too. It’s essentially the same thing in condensed form.
“Given the energy and protein content, BB2 is the total package in attractant form,” Griffin said.
Josh Honeycutt photo
Where to Feed: Staging areas (between bedding and feeding destinations)
When to Feed: All year (where legal)
MSRP: $12.99-24.99
Want to top off your corn pile with something extra sweet? Need a lighter product to pack in with you on the day of the hunt? Use Deadly Dust.
“This is sweet-corn based to throw a little variation into the feed pile,” Griffin said. “You don’t eat the same thing every day. Neither do deer. When the feed pile gets a little stale, sweeten it up with deadly dust. It changes the palatability profile to keep deer interested. Deadly Dust consists of 10% protein that’s approximately 60:40 UP to DP. It has about 90% digestible energy.”
Bone Collector photo
Where to Feed: Staging areas (between bedding and feeding destinations)
When to Feed: All year (where legal)
MSRP: $12.99-24.99
Lastly, To Die For is another option for variety and ease of placement.
“To-Die-for provides the nutritional supplementation deer need in a taste they will love,” Griffin said. “Guaranteed to be 20% protein and 7.5% fat, it offers a great combination of digestible protein and energy in one product. Its calcium and phosphorus content nearly meets a deer’s requirement, maximizing herd health and growth potential.”
All in all, Big & J helps deer. A veterinarian might recommend one thing. But what does a vet do? They take care of something after it gets sick. We’re focused on taking care of that animal, so it doesn’t get sick and reaches its genetic potential. Diet is our wheelhouse and we have the scientists, such as Will Griffin, to back it up. And if deer didn’t need or like it, we wouldn’t have all of these trail camera pictures of whitetails eating it every year, would we?
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