I installed a 300 gallon plastic cattle water tank on my property in the woods about 3 years ago. I have been surprised that I have added practically no water to it since I filled it. I guess it doesn't evaporate as bad in the woods and the rain keeps it pretty full. Mine is about 10" above ground level also. Took about a year for the deer to get accustomed to it and use it on a regular basis. About once a year I take a little dip net and clean some leaves out of it.
By using a rubber roof or pond liner instead of a tub you can contour the bottom to allow animals to wade into it and you can even add pond plants that deer like to eat
Got my water hole set up a couple weeks ago…. Per your instruction. I literally have a 2 1/2 year old buck using it an hour after I completed filling it a couple weeks ago! Since, it has been a hot spot for activity!
Jeff, I have installed four on my 98 acres this spring. After seeing the green up, it looks like I could use one more for bucks to hit from bedding to afternoon food source. They definitely bed dry, wv mountain ground, so I’m excited to see the draw the water holes create!
I dug a waterhole in May within bow range from my stand. Dry between food and bedding. The deer found it already and my trail camera has been going crazy.
Like listening to what you have to say.i put my first water hole in today .giving 5 days of rain hopefully it fills up. I put my water hole 200 yards from my new food plot
We dug a new one in recently, 125 gallons..... And within days it had HUNDREDS of dead earthworms in the bottom and had already started to smell rotten. So we had to empty it and raise it to have the edge be 4 inches above the surface. Which is a bummer because we will have to fill it ourselves now and can't count on rainwater runoff to keep it filled. Have you ever encountered a similar earthworm (nightcrawler) problem?
Jeff, sure hope you put water in that tank the same day you buried it. I buried 500 gal with a rented minni-ex. this spring and left. Next day after 3 inches of rain it popped up about 18 inches UGH!! Also this week Josh Meyer talked in the Illinois senate classifying water holes "attractants" want them banned....cant wait to see your water tank become a bear bath video Ha Ha!!!
Jeff I noticed you are starting to use some ladder stands! I like the lock ons because they are low profile but have a spot watching a clear cut where a hand rail would be nice! Thoughts?
Jeff, I recently had a 1/4 acre cleared out for a small food plot but one small spot is all water now. It’s a low line area. Should I try to get some dirt from a different spot to fill in where the water is coming up? Because it’s just stagnant disgusting muddy water now.
I’m thinking about adding a waterhole to a pine thicket I hunt. There is no water/creek within a mile or two. My area I’m adding them is not accessible by vehicle. Only by foot. I was looking at the 110 gallon tanks from TSC. My question is how do you add water for tanks that you can only access by foot?
Hi Jeff, do you ever look for water holes on public land? If so what water source would you hunt over on public land since there isn't going to be a 110 gallon tank burried out there
I don’t think it matters on which comes first but would definitely have a mock vine at every stand location with or without a waterhole. could do both on the same day
How would you go about filling one up if vehicle access wasn’t available? Wheel barrow and a large water bladder (found some on Amazon)? I’d love to put one on my small parcel, but don’t have anything besides shovel and wheel barrow and am trying to get creative with how I’d fill it. Right now I’m thinking a 30-50 gallon water bladder and a few trips with the wheel barrow. 8lbs per gallon though so it’ll be a workout. Any help/ideas appreciated from anybody
I'm thinking about placing another shallow one hidden in brush above ground with a hose running to water hole. One inch of rain becomes two inches of fill.
Large gas cans are used on construction sites where water isn’t available. I use 25 gallons of water for my tile business on a job. Easy to use, multiple situations, small or big, and you’re done in a few trips. (Especially with the wheelbarrow!)
Be careful using concrete in your waterhole. Concrete can leach out heavy metals and hazardous materials as well as Lime that can be harmful to people and animals.
Can’t get more central than that. They can come out anywhere in a food plot.That puts them right where ya want them..
I installed a 300 gallon plastic cattle water tank on my property in the woods about 3 years ago. I have been surprised that I have added practically no water to it since I filled it. I guess it doesn't evaporate as bad in the woods and the rain keeps it pretty full. Mine is about 10" above ground level also. Took about a year for the deer to get accustomed to it and use it on a regular basis. About once a year I take a little dip net and clean some leaves out of it.
By using a rubber roof or pond liner instead of a tub you can contour the bottom to allow animals to wade into it and you can even add pond plants that deer like to eat
Got my water hole set up a couple weeks ago…. Per your instruction. I literally have a 2 1/2 year old buck using it an hour after I completed filling it a couple weeks ago! Since, it has been a hot spot for activity!
Jeff, I have installed four on my 98 acres this spring. After seeing the green up, it looks like I could use one more for bucks to hit from bedding to afternoon food source. They definitely bed dry, wv mountain ground, so I’m excited to see the draw the water holes create!
I dug a waterhole in May within bow range from my stand. Dry between food and bedding. The deer found it already and my trail camera has been going crazy.
Like listening to what you have to say.i put my first water hole in today .giving 5 days of rain hopefully it fills up. I put my water hole 200 yards from my new food plot
I had a rubbermaid 100 gallon tank crack but I sealed it up with the rubberized spray paint and it held up well.
Bears would love a 300 gallon water hole on my property!!
Added a second water hole near bedding area with a mock scrape on the trail. No cameras on it since but sure something has gotten a drink
Are water holes considered baiting?
They should be.
Michigan
Michigan
Thanks Jeff!
Any suggestions on keeping them from freezing over and staying water a little longer?
I swear that arrow deflects off two trees into that buck at the start of the video
This has answered my question
Great info. Thx
Hey Jeff great content! Do you suggest emptying and cleaning water holes at anytime during the year?
Check out the latest video...TONS of waterhole info for you 😊
We dug a new one in recently, 125 gallons..... And within days it had HUNDREDS of dead earthworms in the bottom and had already started to smell rotten. So we had to empty it and raise it to have the edge be 4 inches above the surface. Which is a bummer because we will have to fill it ourselves now and can't count on rainwater runoff to keep it filled.
Have you ever encountered a similar earthworm (nightcrawler) problem?
Jeff, sure hope you put water in that tank the same day you buried it. I buried 500 gal with a rented minni-ex. this spring and left. Next day after 3 inches of rain it popped up about 18 inches UGH!! Also this week Josh Meyer talked in the Illinois senate classifying water holes "attractants" want them banned....cant wait to see your water tank become a bear bath video Ha Ha!!!
Jeff I noticed you are starting to use some ladder stands! I like the lock ons because they are low profile but have a spot watching a clear cut where a hand rail would be nice! Thoughts?
What do you think about BANKS WATERING SYSTEM?
I hunt in Junction TExas and the ground is rock. Very hard to dig into.
What's the best position of water hole when shooting from stand I see on your videos you have them the horizontal way versus the vertical way?
I wonder if you can stratify switch grass seed in the freezer ?
Jeff,
I recently had a 1/4 acre cleared out for a small food plot but one small spot is all water now. It’s a low line area. Should I try to get some dirt from a different spot to fill in where the water is coming up? Because it’s just stagnant disgusting muddy water now.
What are your thoughts on metal water troughs vs plastic water troughs for deer
I’m thinking about adding a waterhole to a pine thicket I hunt. There is no water/creek within a mile or two. My area I’m adding them is not accessible by vehicle. Only by foot. I was looking at the 110 gallon tanks from TSC. My question is how do you add water for tanks that you can only access by foot?
Hi Jeff, do you ever look for water holes on public land? If so what water source would you hunt over on public land since there isn't going to be a 110 gallon tank burried out there
Do you put your waterhole before or after your mock scrape/licking stick relative to the deers’ normal travel pattern?
I don’t think it matters on which comes first but would definitely have a mock vine at every stand location with or without a waterhole. could do both on the same day
Has anyone put 2-110 gallons tanks side by side?
Where do you u get ur containers.
👍🏻
How would you go about filling one up if vehicle access wasn’t available? Wheel barrow and a large water bladder (found some on Amazon)? I’d love to put one on my small parcel, but don’t have anything besides shovel and wheel barrow and am trying to get creative with how I’d fill it. Right now I’m thinking a 30-50 gallon water bladder and a few trips with the wheel barrow. 8lbs per gallon though so it’ll be a workout. Any help/ideas appreciated from anybody
I'm thinking about placing another shallow one hidden in brush above ground with a hose running to water hole. One inch of rain becomes two inches of fill.
Large gas cans are used on construction sites where water isn’t available. I use 25 gallons of water for my tile business on a job. Easy to use, multiple situations, small or big, and you’re done in a few trips. (Especially with the wheelbarrow!)
I fill mine with 6 gallon water tanks(4) and some yeti knock off coolers and my UTV
@@kurtpearson2793 that’s what I’m thinking. I have a few 5 gallon jerry cans, and a wheel
Barrow so I’m thinking that’s the way
@@travisethridge4062 good idea but unfortunately I don’t have a UTV, so it’s all by hand for me haha
Be careful using concrete in your waterhole. Concrete can leach out heavy metals and hazardous materials as well as Lime that can be harmful to people and animals.