Deer Waterhole Do's and Dont's

When it comes to deer hunting waterholes, there are some very specific Do's and Dont's that you should practice. After 2 decades of creating waterholes for deer hunting and assisting over 1000 clients to do the same, this is what I've learned so far...
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*Would you like to make sure that you create the best deer hunting waterhole setups in the neighborhood? Then you should check out my books, seed, hunting and habitat design web classes, podcasts and hundreds of deer strategy articles:
www.whitetailhabitatsolutions...

[@normyoder2622]

What i appreciate about WHS is its applicable to the small guy ( small property) without hundred thausand $ of equipment .also to guy with big equipment. Heh Jeff, you got all of us covered .much appreciated

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thanks a lot Norm we really appreciate YOU! Very enjoyable process and love having you be a part of it all

[@brianlenneman5032]

Best attraction hands down!!! 300 gallon is the ticket!!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Amen Brian...can't wait to show you some new ones 😊

[@udflyer98]

Access to a mini excavator or backhoe attachment on a small tractor makes life easier installing a 300 gallon tank. Need to install in dry conditions. Our soil in western Ohio has a fair amount of clay. I installed mine when the soil was wet enough that I hit water excavating the hole. It rained that night and the tank pushed up 6". Dug it out and reinstalled it in July. Was able to pack the soil around it and no problems since even when nearly dry.

[@RushOutdoors]

Simplest high value addon for any property for sure Jeff and Dylan great show! Oh found my first fawn today down on my place Western Wisconsin.

[@janitorialguy4436]

Thanks Jeff

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

You are very welcome!

[@MrTrapper1111]

Jeff what if I hunt in a lot of wet areas? (Beaver ponds, swamps, small runoff creeks)…. Do these stilll serve a purpose?

[@luvbgrass]

I put in a 300 gal tank in ground about 6 years or so ago. I have videos and pics of deer getting in the water, but the tank is slick in the bottom and they thrash around and jump out. I thought about putting several inches of sand in the bottom. Not a necessity I guess. What are your thoughts on it. It has been a hot spot for deer and other animals. They didn't like the clear water when new. They like the leaves and such in the tank like you said. So I just rake out some leaves now and then. EE

[@wilhelminajosephina3093]

Would it be a good idea to put in a water hole by a beding area that has a small ditch that starts in the middle of it and runs through but the ditch is wet some times and then it is dry or could I put one right in the ditch

[@kurtpearson2793]

12th!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Ha, better late than never Kurt!

[@jacobnelson870]

I’m currently in the process of buying 10 acres of timber in northern mo, it had a small silted pond on it already, I’m not yet sure if it’ll dry up in late summer or not. Would you recommend adding one of these? I’ll be centrally located in a qdm neighborhood of larger land owners and am wanting to be what I’ve heard you refer to as a “taker.”

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

That should work out really well!! I like that too...sounds like a perfect situation.
As far as if you need to add a tank, you need to figure out how the deer move thru the land vs how you could hunt a waterhole within that pattern of movement. Also neighboring water sources need to be considered. Often a natural waterhole is in the wrong spot for how you should hunt. In that case add a waterhole within your hunting strategy movement and enjoy the season 😊

[@jacobnelson870]

Thanks for the reply Jeff!

[@loganmckenzie510]

What about near softmass trees?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Not a bad idea as long as that area isn't viewed as a major food source by a mature buck. If it is, that will keep him away from the area until at dark or after, the majority of the time.

[@rogerrose4573]

Jeff,
How do you keep them from going stagnant??? I clean leaves out every 2 weeks until middle of October. By November, I could smell rotten water and deer quit using them.
Two years ago, I put dirt in bottom. It went bad by November. Last year, I just put clean water and it didn't help.
Any secrets that you use??
TIA

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Roger! I pull the leaves or debris out sometimes once a year...but being stagnant is a good thing! Rotten is bad tho...a lot of times dead rodents?
Also very critical not around pines or walnuts. I would imagine persimmons may be the same?

[@timhatfield6367]

My grandpa used to throw a couple handfuls of lime in his cow watering tanks..I was a kid but he said it sweetened the water by changing the ph. From the leaves being acidic as they decomposed.
Not sure about facts here but sounds possible and I dought if he did it for fun......?

[@StevenPfeiffer]

stock tank tablets will help but they don’t last long enough

[@TheScourge-sg5vv]

I messed up putting a freshly cut mullbery log in for critter escape. Turned rust red and repulsed deer.
I do like barley bales, they do clean up the water tanks ????

[@chuckzenz55]

Sorry, did you say where or what brand of tank you like to buy?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Chick! That's a Rubbermaid 300 gallon

[@chuckzenz55]

@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 thanks!

[@dylanthrall5657]

Hey Jeff deer wouldn't hit my food plot is there a way to get them to eat it would it be good to put corn in it for them to eat it

[@connorkropp6017]

What was in it before ?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Dylan...have you tried clover?

[@jasonmcrae2675]

Bam on the water hole tricks!!

[@dylanthrall5657]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 yes that's what's in it

[@connorkropp6017]

🦌😁

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thanks for always watching Connor!

[@poplardeer]

Pro-Tip: Fill the tank or put something heavy inside it once it's dug in or it might get pushed up when a heavy rain comes.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

In lowland for sure...

[@scotthedges6806]

Great tip! I had two tanks floated by rain before filling.

[@poplardeer]

@@scotthedges6806 You are twice as wise as me then, I only have one to fix.