Whitetail Waterholes for Small Parcels

Post topo’s and Aerial photos for free advice. Food plotting, land manipulation, water holes, ect.
  • Advertisement

HB Store


User avatar
Rutnstrut
500 Club
Posts: 775
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:54 pm
Location: West Central Wi.
Status: Offline

Re: Whitetail Waterholes for Small Parcels

Unread postby Rutnstrut » Sun Feb 19, 2012 6:46 pm

Jeff, or anyone else with knowledge of water holes and mature bucks. What do you think about putting a water hole in a funnel between two bedding areas. This stand is at the head of a large cut/ravine that opens up into decent sized valley. I have had good to great results from this stand during the rut as bucks cruise the bedding areas. But I have always thought a waterhole in the beginning of the cut/ditch at it's shallow point would be a great addition.


User avatar
Rutnstrut
500 Club
Posts: 775
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:54 pm
Location: West Central Wi.
Status: Offline

Re: Whitetail Waterholes for Small Parcels

Unread postby Rutnstrut » Sat Feb 25, 2012 2:02 am

Does anyone have an opinion on this?
dan
Site Owner
Posts: 41588
Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2010 6:11 am
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntingBeast/?ref=bookmarks
Location: S.E. Wisconsin
Contact:
Status: Offline

Re: Whitetail Waterholes for Small Parcels

Unread postby dan » Sat Feb 25, 2012 6:57 am

If you already have big bucks moving there in day light, I agree it would likely be a good spot.
Most of the water holes I have seen work well are near buck bedding, and have thick cover from the bedding to the water hole edge... I really like water holes for early season, but they work really well in rut too. What I have noticed with cruising bucks in the rut is if they are going past out of range they seem to detour over to the water...
blackwolf
500 Club
Posts: 839
Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:15 pm
Location: Eau Claire, WI
Status: Offline

Re: Whitetail Waterholes for Small Parcels

Unread postby blackwolf » Sat Feb 25, 2012 7:11 am

Dan, interesting that you see bucks "detour" to water when out "cruising" in rut. Gives me a couple good ideas to try a small water hole.
User avatar
Rutnstrut
500 Club
Posts: 775
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:54 pm
Location: West Central Wi.
Status: Offline

Re: Whitetail Waterholes for Small Parcels

Unread postby Rutnstrut » Sat Feb 25, 2012 7:47 am

dan wrote:If you already have big bucks moving there in day light, I agree it would likely be a good spot.
Most of the water holes I have seen work well are near buck bedding, and have thick cover from the bedding to the water hole edge... I really like water holes for early season, but they work really well in rut too. What I have noticed with cruising bucks in the rut is if they are going past out of range they seem to detour over to the water...


Thanks Dan, I am going to put a waterhole in there right after turkey season. Do you think setting a tank into the ground and back filling around it works as good as a dug out hole?
dan
Site Owner
Posts: 41588
Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2010 6:11 am
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntingBeast/?ref=bookmarks
Location: S.E. Wisconsin
Contact:
Status: Offline

Re: Whitetail Waterholes for Small Parcels

Unread postby dan » Sat Feb 25, 2012 9:20 am

I think "dug" water holes work best cause you don't have to fill them or mess with them... But there are draw backs. If you don't have a clay base your hole won't hold water unless you add Bentanite to seal it.
The good part about the tanks is its easy to say you made a placement mistake and move it, not so easy to move a pond.
I think the right placement is key. You need to put it where a mature buck will move in daylight.
blackwolf
500 Club
Posts: 839
Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:15 pm
Location: Eau Claire, WI
Status: Offline

Re: Whitetail Waterholes for Small Parcels

Unread postby blackwolf » Sat Feb 25, 2012 11:34 am

I have one spot where there is a small upland marsh with water in dry years with no other water for over a mile. It is in rolling, hilly country with cuttings, pine and oak and always holds a couple bruisers. The little marsh is probably 75 yards long by 30 yards wide and has several beaten deer trails following to and around it. The problem hunting is picking a spot not to spook deer scentwise. One idea I have now is making a small waterhole about 50 yards from the pond marsh next to thick cover where I can better locate to not spook any deer coming to pond. What do you think?
dan
Site Owner
Posts: 41588
Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2010 6:11 am
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntingBeast/?ref=bookmarks
Location: S.E. Wisconsin
Contact:
Status: Offline

Re: Whitetail Waterholes for Small Parcels

Unread postby dan » Sat Feb 25, 2012 11:36 am

blackwolf wrote:I have one spot where there is a small upland marsh with water in dry years with no other water for over a mile. It is in rolling, hilly country with cuttings, pine and oak and always holds a couple bruisers. The little marsh is probably 75 yards long by 30 yards wide and has several beaten deer trails following to and around it. The problem hunting is picking a spot not to spook deer scentwise. One idea I have now is making a small waterhole about 50 yards from the pond marsh next to thick cover where I can better locate to not spook any deer coming to pond. What do you think?

Got a topo?
User avatar
RaisedByWolves
500 Club
Posts: 2441
Joined: Tue May 18, 2010 12:49 pm
Location: WI
Status: Offline

Re: Whitetail Waterholes for Small Parcels

Unread postby RaisedByWolves » Sat Feb 25, 2012 12:15 pm

I have a little water hole that has been pretty good over the years...thinking it could be moved about 80 yards to an even better spot closer to bedding. However I have plenty of daytime buck pics, I just haven't ever hunted it on the right day!

Zap, funny you brought up the fly virus thing, I have found a couple young dead turkeys by my water hole and a dead doe once. They all died within 5 yards of the water hole. I always assumed they were sick or maybe got clipped by a car (busy road nearby) and went to the water hole to sooth themselves??
When better is possible, good is never good enough


  • Advertisement

Return to “Land Management”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests