Does anyone build a water hole or water station for their deer ?? I was thinking about 100gal sealed tank with a hose to a water pan with a float valve to let fresh water in as they use it ?? My big hangup is that i dont want to do more harm than good by creating a spot for EHD to start ??? I dont know if i feel that the water will be stagnant as it gets new water as the level goes down.. Any input would be great THANKS !!!!!!!!
Lots of guys just use a cheap kiddie swimming pool...and fill it with buckets occasionally. I don't know if you would have to worr about ehd or not but the deer are already drinking from common watering sources so don't think it would make any difference if gets into the herd around you and is going to spread - it will spread anyway.
I use a rubbermaid bin that I buried next to a small plot right in my backyard. 7 pm I had a doe back there drinking in this hot weather. I fill it everyday with a 5 gallon pail. That way some of the older water flushes out. The water doesnt have to be clean. Some times when I mow my clover trail near it, clippings get in the water. They still drink out of it. Even my cats drink out of it. Simple and effective. Put a trail cam over it.
I placed a large round plastic rubbermaid bin into the ground last summer as well. I placed it in the shade on the edge of my food plot. I was absolutly amazed at how quickly and often the "flow of traffic" improved from deer to turkeys to the neighbor dog... ...I refill the bucket with fresh water as necessary. The trail cam idea works awesome too, especially around this time of year. I get to keep pretty close tabs this years fawns, along with the returning does, etc, etc. :D
I have a small pond and a creek on my property. Sometimes it's a blessing, and other times, not so much.
They're a great idea. It also give you an solid additional stand site. If you can, do it in an area that you normally wouldn't hunt and position it for the prevailing wind.
I set it up 2 weeks ago and will go down and check it later in the week.I have a trail cam up to see whats using it ..I have it on the edge of my clover and beans where the deer are every day so i think there will use it ?
Early spring there was a soft spot that always stayed wet and a couple of days after a rain I went after it with a shovel just so the deer would have water this summer. It ended up about 2ft deep and 6ft in diameter. It's been holding great but only because we have plenty of clay dirt. Started running low for the first time a couple weeks ago. 50 gallon barrel fixed that
