There was a place the old timers called a salt lick. This one was on Sugar Creek and deer and other game would go there to get salt. The old timers would go there and build a fire and wait for darkness. When it got dark deer and other animals would come to the lick. The eyes of the animals would shine with the firelight and the hunters would shoot them.
One night Burrhead and a friend were to meet at the salt lick. There was a big hollow tree that hunters would hide in so the animals couldn’t see them. When Burrhead got there late, he backed into that hollow tree. He felt something pinch him, and he thought it was his friend. He felt the pinch again, harder than before. He said “Stop! a deer is coming.” In a short time he felt another pinch, so he surged back as hard as he could. A big black panther jumped past him and ran off into the darkness!
Burrhead told of another hunting trip. “I was sitting on the ground watching for squirrels to come into a hickory tree. I kept hearing a rustling in the leaves but couldn’t see anything. Finally I did discover what was making the noise — it was a panther pushing a big pile of leaves down the hill behind me. That cat was using the leaves to shield him while he was stalking me!!”
Wow! The ‘oldtimers’ really had some wild experiences, didn’t they? Do you know what exactly the salt lick was? There is a place still named that today.
A salt lick is a naturally occurring salt/mineral depost that animals are drawn to for nutrients. They will come for miles to lick the salt… hence the name. So apparently there is (or was) a large one there on Sugar Creek. I wonder if it is still there, or if the name just survives. I suppose it is like coal, gold, silver, whatever, and depends on how big the streak or vein or deposit. The salt lick would be exposed by weather.
how interesting!! do animals still go to a salt lick? wow
Yes, dear. They have to have minerals in their diet same as us. So they will find the salt just like they will find the water. Interesting how God made them, isn’t it?