Natural deer and elk lick - maybe?

[patience]

While scouting last weekend my dad and I came across a wide gulley up in the hills and in the bottom was a lot of hard dirt/ground but with lots of tracks all over and strange sized holes.

I should have taken pics. They didn't appear to be dug by an animal with paws, (dog, cat, badger, etc..) it looked as if a hoofed animal had stomped the holes. Also, many of the larger rocks around the holes were darker on top, maybe from licking?

What do you guys think? This continued for a 1/8 mile down the gulley. Tracks everywhere!

 

[NickW]

It's called a LICK!
Natural deposit of salt/mineral composition that brings the animals in to literelly eat the dirt!
I've seen some that were four feet deep and eaten away under the edges back as far as an animal could get their head.

 

[patience]

Thank you sir. So an 1/8th mile lick just below a major saddle. I'm suddenly in a better mood.

 

[NickW]

You didn't happen this lick up the West Fork of the Bitterroot River in Montana,did ya?

 

[patience]

Nope, SW Idaho.

 

[Gator]

Those licks will draw animals year around.


"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".