After another stellar year of drought and rock hard redclay...ive decided to kick the rain gods in the taint and add a bunch more water tubs/holes. Has anyone had any luck with TSC stock tanks or have a better suggestion? How about orientation on a property for best use?
Waterholes
- Thread starter gjs4
- Start date
I bought a 50 gallon landscape tank from menards and buried it flush. Drew in a lot of wildlife this fall.
Sgt Fury
Sgt. Spellchecker
I put one of these about 150 yards behind my house, connected a bunch of 100’ garden hoses and secured the hose to the top. Ran it to a spigot and fill it when needed. If it’s not close, you can haul water there with a quad. Be sure to place a tree branch in it for the mice, chipmunks ect., that will fall into it. Not a good feeling walking up to it after a couple weeks in the summer and seeing a decomposing carcass at the bottom.
Big_Holla
Senior Member
Curious how often you had to fill that before it ran dry, if it did go dry that is?
I this is on my To-Do List at the farm this year. I'd like to add water to the ridges in 2 spots. I suspect I'd see some great return on my investment.
Besides maybe in extreme drought years, water is very rarely the "limiting factor" for a property to hold deer in Ohio. My only suggestion is that if you are going to bury any type of tank, please consider placing getaway rocks or wood so the small critters can get out once they fall in. Those plastic straight wall sides full of water at the bottom are a death pit for small critters, and not only can it kill them unnecessarily but also leaves a stinky cess pool for deer to drink from.
at1010
*Supporting Member*
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I agree with @LonewolfNopack here! Deer get like 80% of their water needs from green forage in the growing season. Although adding a water tank isn’t a bad idea - it would be way down on my list of tasks. I’d be looking at timber mgt first and foremost. I’d also consider planting foodplots in ways that put you in a better position against drought - if you want to move the needle on reduce stress on your local deer herd during drought periods.
if all the above is done and you want to add some water - go for it but definitely give small critters a place to escape.
if all the above is done and you want to add some water - go for it but definitely give small critters a place to escape.
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I can honestly say this must work. We tracked several deer this year that were shot at home made water holes.
For me, it's a simple task given the equipment I have on hand, so it's a minimal investment to add another amenity to one of my manicure locations. We have a pond, so water isn't a huge need, but I have old stock tanks at my disposal, so why not?
Stressless
Active Member
Jeff has playlist with what he's seen, ref waterholes. He started with ones too small and upped his size. Hope this helps bud.
Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmV8IlexgmheLhfSxnVnHDLw-bgVvyPQ2
Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmV8IlexgmheLhfSxnVnHDLw-bgVvyPQ2
I was adding 25 gallons to it about once a week this fall.
Gonna be forthright here and say this is definitely more about hunting opportunities than it is keeping everyone hydrated. Figured the same on their hydration coming from green plant tissue....and like xbowguy, i know too many folks that swear by it (like even being better than plots, etc)
triple_duece
Ragin Cajun.
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Can’t go wrong by putting in more watering areas. During hot times or droughts it will create a travel pattern that can be used to kill.
Big_Holla
Senior Member
I used to think we had plenty of pools of water in the creeks to keep the deer hydrated and all. Problem is most of those spots are near impossible to hunt undetected as they're in the bottoms. I recall a buddy mentioning water up top where we hunt and I poo-poo'd the idea but now I am thinking he was right, what could it hurt?! Especially anywhere near a stand with favorable wind directions. Our problem would be filling them though. Been thinking it would be cool to put them near some of the shacks and rig up a gutter system off the roofs to fill them, even if only 10 yards or so away.
Wiley E Coyote
Active Member
If you have four wheeler access I've seen guys strap a 120qt cooler on the back and a 60qt on the front. Pull up and open the drain. Pretty slick way to get water in deep
I just clean out my 25 gallon sprayer real good and use a short section of garden hose attached to the tank drain. Open the valve at the drain and gravity fills the tank.