Waterhole for each wind?

[mattyq2402]

My property sets up good for north and south , its a single long ridge. I'm looking to install a waterhole and wondering if you place one on each side of ridge to accommodate for different winds or just keep it to one water hole to add to the drawing power? Thoughts?

[dan]

My property sets up good for north and south , its a single long ridge. I'm looking to install a waterhole and wondering if you place one on each side of ridge to accommodate for different winds or just keep it to one water hole to add to the drawing power? Thoughts?

When I recommend water holes in hill country, i recommend them like a kill plot. they are close to bedding and where the bucks stage. I like to see semi-thick cover between bedding and the water hole. I don't think you need one for each wind. If there was a choice to be made, a water hole would likely go on the bedding that is for a warm south or southwest wind. Its not about having drawing power of "one" water source. its about having water at the staging area.

One thing I will add, I see a lot of guys set up water holes with poor planning, then there stuck with them unless they fill them in and start over. Put a lot of thought into exactly where it should go... You might want to post a topo here and show where your planning it, to get feed back before making your final decision.

[Mike]

This is why I always test with a temporary waterhole first before commiting to a full blown dug out/natural gas after hole. I use a kiddie pool, no digging when testing.

[justdirtyfun]

You mentioned kiddie pool. I came across one in a state forest once. The set was good looking back. Leeward side during fall, and within feet of an overgrown clearcut for bedding.

[IkemanTx]

You mentioned kiddie pool. I came across one in a state forest once. The set was good looking back. Leeward side during fall, and within feet of an overgrown clearcut for bedding.

I found a buried 5 gallon bucket water hole 2 years ago, It was pretty ingenious... they used a collection area somewhere uphill (not a spring, but surface collection) and ran a pipe underground into the bottom of the bucket. A game warden must have stumbled upon it because it was gone this spring.

[woodswalker]

I don't know of any state where water is considered bait. There are things called guzzlers that they use out west to provide water for game in dry areas that collect rain water. Just google them and you can get plans.

[DEERSLAYER]

I don't know of any state where water is considered bait. There are things called guzzlers that they use out west to provide water for game in dry areas that collect rain water. Just google them and you can get plans.

I don't know about it being "bait", but generally speaking on public land it is illegal to put anything out for the deer or alter the land in any way no matter how small including the creation of a water hole unless the state says it is permitted. The last I knew putting a water hole on public land in PA was illegal so you may want to check into that if that is something you are considering and I know that in Michigan it has been and still is illegal.

[woodswalker]

QUOTE "I found a buried 5 gallon bucket water hole 2 years ago, It was pretty ingenious... they used a collection area somewhere uphill (not a spring, but surface collection) and ran a pipe underground into the bottom of the bucket. A game warden must have stumbled upon it because it was gone this spring".

You didn't say you found it on public land, that does make a big difference. Yes it is illegal to be digging holes or placing anything on State land in PA.

[IkemanTx]

Ya, sorry I wasn't clear on the public land part. Had it been private, I would have been the one to put it in