I just saw ten deer, does and their youngins, in a dried up stock tank, pawing at the dirt and eating something. Think there's some minerals in there that they're after, or something else?

Diggin for water

Deer have to eat a certain amount of dirt for their digestive system to work right. My guess is the soil in the dry tank was just softer and easier access. I have also seen them eating dirt on the edges of fresh plowed fields.

They'd have a long ways to dig.

That makes sense. There's not much but rock out here.

My guess without seeing the bottom of the tank is that there are some winter weeds/grasses growing in the bottom. If there was any run off into the tank that bottom would hold water the longest before it went dry. When I hunted in Stonewall and Kent counties we had several dirt tanks that were put at the top end of those red washes to slow water and erosion. They held water for a while. They always had green growth and deer in December when I hunted there if they had enough rain to run some water into them.

They were all over the tank, but mostly on the top or near the top of the dam. Also, I saw deer out all day today.

That may very we'll be if there was some green sprouting up. I have seen some wild rye coming up around here in the draws and dry creek bottoms.

Glad to hear the deer were moving. I'll be varmint hunting this weekend and wouldn't mind seeing some of what made it through last year.

I wonder if there is some dry duckweed in there?

Never heard deer "had to eat dirt"

I have seen fawns eating "dirt" before. I was told they eat it to help build their immune system.

I watched a doe chewing on a rock for almost half an hour once.

And then I shot her.

I never knew this.

^^^^^^^
Thought this was a dove thing only not a deer thing...

Gotta remove those genetics

Seems like that could be a dangerous deal in anthrax country no? Doesn't it stay in the dirt?

From what I have learned, cervids, deer, elk, moose will eat dirt bone brouse based on
Essential vitamins and minerals there are in need of. On serveral occations I have witnessed
Bone and dirt eating by deer and elk. My best answer

DON'T CHEW ROCKS AT CAMERONS PLACE!

You have been warned!