Tag-Out Mineral Supplement

When to Apply Tag-Out®

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. 

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 approx. 100 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.

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.

    For Best Results:

We recommend applying Tag-Out directly on a stump since stumps naturally hold and retain a lot of water. 

You can also apply Tag-Out directly on the ground as long as you select a location that has a heavy clay base that holds and retains rain water in a puddle form for at least 3-4 days after it rains.

Select a stump that has never had any other minerals or salt licks applied on it. 

If you select a newly cut stump and have a chainsaw, we usually cut a couple of grooves in the top of the stump to help the water penetrate into the stump better.

Take a gallon jug of non–chlorinated water along with you.  We recommend using natural spring water or water from a creek or pond.  Straight well water that is not treated will also work.  Make sure that your container is clean and free from any chemical residues that may have been in it previously.  We use an empty Tag-Out jug.

If you have some small stones available that will EASILY drop down inside the jug, bring them along. This will help mix the Tag-Out when you add the water and shake it up.

Clear away any leaves or big rocks around the base of the stump.

Mix about ¾ of a gallon of water with the Tag-Out when you are at the stump location. 

NOTE: THE TAG-OUT WILL GET VERY HOT WHEN YOU ADD THE WATER AND START SHAKING IT UP!  THIS IS NORMAL!

Mix by shaking the jug for roughly 30 seconds, or until it looks like it is mixed well. 

Pour the Tag-Out mix directly on top of the stump, and in about a 2 foot diameter circle all around the stump directly on the ground where the roots of the stump go into the ground.

Pour the remaining ¼ of a gallon of water in the jug to mix up the remaining Tag-Out to rinse out the jug.  Pour it on the stump as well.

Tag-Out should be re-applied every 3 months.

If you have a trail camera that you feel comfortable setting up, you will see all of the deer activity around the site.

Note:  Check your local game laws if using during the hunting seasons.  Some states require that you not apply Tag-Out or any other type of minerals or feed within 30 days prior to deer season.