Seems to me I am seeing more and more people with a home made water hole. Thinking about it, I know mineral sites are best when within a few hundred yards of water. So on my small 8.5 acre wooded lot I thought there was a small creek not too far into the wooded lot/farm behind us but it's apparently dried up. My property is fairly flat but has a ridge line across the back that drops off to the other wooded lot and farm. I was thinking of putting in a water hole but I have a few questions for those that did it themselves: 1. Where did you put the water hole in regards to your stand? 2. Did you follow any specific steps to make it? 3. Do you think it matters that my property is limited in size and is the top of a huge hillside?
If you decide to make a water hole, make sure that the banks are not a gradual slope. They need to be cut down at a severe angle. This will help prevent the watering hole from becoming an EHD/Blue Tongue hot spot. I've never created a watering hole because I have a year round creek running through my hunting property.
Deer Water Hole Improvement 101 | OutdoorHub This is what I am using this year, I had Jeff Sturgis come to my property and devise a plan for me, I bough two of thes 110 gallon rubber stock tanks for Tractor Supply and will dig them into ground over half way and he told me a great setup for the evening is putting water hole between bedding area and feeding area as a buck wants a drink first before feeding. Once you get them full, let mother nature help keep it full but they will still hold water through hunting season. I am putting mine out today and cameras over them so will keep you informed. Scoot
If you have any natural drainage downhill, I would put a pond to collect it. I had a spot in the WI bluffs like that. If you use a stock tank or anything that holds 50 or more gallons, toss some feeder goldfish in it to keep mosquitos and midges down. Nelson Creek by me ran very high this spring and there are isolated still pools. Me thinks the skeeters are gonna be bad!
When I dug mine it was near bedding between feed. I placed mine on a downside grade so I got a natural fill.
