Building a water source for deer property.

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

I'm thinking of building a water type trough for deer this spring. I was watching NAW (North American Whitetail) show and Dr deer suggested best thing for many hunters managing their area is a water source. I'm thinking I may put in a tank (I have those) or build something during drought years there is nothing in my creek. I have several of those IBC totes. Maybe cut it down to half size and truck water to it once/twice a week. It's an hour drive from my house and I would probably use my mule to put in 25-50 gallons when I do it.

This plot is 36 acres had great bedding areas, working to make the food plots better. Looking for an advantage. I have good/great bucks come through and bedding on the property as well as does.

Was wondering if any of yall have experience and experiences around this. Do wild life use these ok?

 

[EddieWalker]

A reliable year round water source will bring them in and keep them around if there isn't other sources of water. What are they drinking now?

I enjoy looking at game camera pictures and it seems that a lot of them are set up at water tanks on large ranches for cattle. Wildlife uses them all the time and there are some great pics of massive bulls, bucks and rams at them.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Usually there is at least some water in the main creek ( a discharge from a large pond). This year not so much. Its not flowing like it did due to the drought.

I too enjoy watching the game cameras to see what comes by.

 

[Highlandr]

Do wild life use these ok?

They do.

That kiddie pool is about 900 feet from an undeveloped shoreline of High Rock Lake. So it's not like they don't have access to water.

I also have video of a gang of raccoons having a pool party after dark.

 

[Bearsixty7]

Maybe not cheap, but might be less work in the long run, why not have a small pond made that the creek can run into and once full the water just flows down the creek instead?

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Hmmm. Liking the pool idea. Wide would catch some rainwater so less having to fill it up. I want to put this in bow range, and by chance I have this almost exact same pool under my car port. Bought it to let my ducks have a play area but hadn't used it yet. Thought about how I could deliver the water to it, I have a 55 gallon bait tank I built. USes 12v pump at a 500 gph rate and I can load it into my mule then fill it up at the house (an hour away). Watching the frequency to determine how long that much water would last.

Not totally against the pond idea. The ground is real rocky there but I could rent an excavator and dig it out. Maybe just plan to dam up the creek some and have spillway pipes for overflow. Just don't want to cause it to wash away in a flood situation. We do get that there all along. Not totally ruling this idea out though.

I think I am going to have to hit the easy button on this for now.

 

[jk96]

Hauling in water sounds like a chore to me. I just would not see myself keeping up with this. Also the issue of water going stagnant. If it were me I would find the area that your water runs through, dig below grade, add a rubber liner, sand, then dirt. Any natural flow will replenish it and help keep it fresh. You can still haul during droughts if you feel like it, and no dam to wash out during floods. You may have to dig it out every few years depending on flood debris so make it deep enough you can muck out a bit without getting into the liner.

 

[zzvyb6]

My deer don't like walking in the pond, but a year 'round water supply is available to them from a tank at the tower. Ground water temperature and some goldfish keeps the water acceptable to them. Pound in a well pipe.

 

[Cycledude]

My deer don't like walking in the pond, but a year 'round water supply is available to them from a tank at the tower. Ground water temperature and some goldfish keeps the water acceptable to them. Pound in a well pipe.

Goldfish help keep groundwater clean ?
I never heard anything like that before.

 

[fishin coyote]

Have any wet spots where the water lies after it rains? I just used my loader and scraped out a 2-2.5’ deep hole. Holds water 99% of the time although we don’t get drought conditions like a lot of areas do.

 

[zzvyb6]

Goldfish help keep groundwater clean ?
I never heard anything like that before.

Goldfish eat the algae that will form in the water tank in Summer and keep water from freezing in Winter. Horse owners do this too.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I agree if you dig out the creek, or a spot beside that can fill with water, deeper than the existing creek bed ... Unless you plan on A LOT of money, building a dam is just gonna be a waste of time when you get a gully washer in the spring ... The power of running water is quite awesome ...

 

[ponytug]

I'd vote for a buried well point upstream that feeds a small, shallow channel lower down. There are a variety of plans for in-ground watering systems for wildlife, and cattle. There are some easy ones with a shallow "V" in wide concrete surface for good footing. You want the water to move along to keep debris to a minimum, reduce mosquito breeding, and make it safe for small animals to get back out if they slip in.

All the best, Peter