Hey everyone I have a question and would like to see everyone's opinion. I hunt approximately 200 acres and a lot of it is just cornfield but it's butted up to a small river bottom with about 20-30 acres of woods. Along the edge of the cornfield next to the river is a water hole. When it rains it fills up and stays pretty full all summer. Now obviously I can just put a camera there and watch the deer movement. But I'm not putting cameras up for another few weeks. Just wanted to ask if it would be worth looking into. Would the deer just use the river to drink out or what I'm hearing is true that they like stagnant water more for some reason. There are deer tracks around the watering hole but it's almost butted right up to the river. Any advice lol
Bow hunt water hole
- Thread starter BackwoodsRebel
- Start date
Big_Holla
Senior Member
Welcome! I'd say the only way to figure out if they are using it to drink from is to throw a camera up. Other than that if there is plenty of water around it may not pan out unless it's a scorcher of an early season.
I personally can't stand hunting (standing) water holes because of the bugs.
With the tracks around it, you know deer are using the area. Figure out the trails they are using to get to that area, set up cams on those. Then find a way to hunt it if you want to.
With the tracks around it, you know deer are using the area. Figure out the trails they are using to get to that area, set up cams on those. Then find a way to hunt it if you want to.
Huckleberry Finn
Senior Member
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Once upon time, standing water, 15 yards, relaxed shot...it was sweet. But the stand was there bc I knew it was a path when iced.
rsmith
Member
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What he said, try and get out there a day or 2 after a good rain and see if you can back track some prints and see what trails they are using and try and set up on one of those. I would for sure set up a camera over the hole and see though. It does sounds like a good spot if it's a good river bottom. Get up on a ridge over looking that bottom on a trail they use to come to the hole and it will be a recipe for success.
The only thing is. It's probably gonna be all day spot or an evening spot. There's only 2 trails possible. Which is coming out of the woods from the left or coming from the woods on the right. Behind me is the river and In front will be standing corn. I'll just throw a camera up tomorrow and see if there deer are using it as its in the 80's now lol. I don't wanna waste my time on this spot as the tree stand I just hung now I am catching them crossing the river and bedding in the corn. Or crossing the river walking across the field and heading across the road into those woods. Just got this spot last year and am no genius on river bottom hunting as I've always just hunted open fields and small woods. But I must say there are a lot of deer. And I have seen multiple 140,150's and can't wait to see what I get on camera this year with it being corn.
Prolly be good during the rut . Watery areas like that are usually thicker and have willows , brush , and tall grass and act as travel corridors during rut .
As far as a summer census camera goes ....haul a mineral block in and hang a camera on it ...For summer its tough to beat minerals for a camera site .
As far as a summer census camera goes ....haul a mineral block in and hang a camera on it ...For summer its tough to beat minerals for a camera site .
Big_Holla
Senior Member
If you can access the spot from the river and have it downwind of you while overlooking the water and corn edge then it sound like a very promising spot. Like Carpn said, it may be a great spot for the rut depending how the deer travel that and if it's a good choke point.
Ditto
I'd start a mineral lick regardless, it could develop into a more meaningful spot in which deer like to congregate. I'd strategically place it with prevailing wind and your tree stand access route in mind.
teenbowhunter
Junior Member
The main place I hunt is a river bottom and I have noticed that there are many more deer near the river in the early season but as it gets past the rut and into late season they only go near the river in areas where the woods are very thick. But that may just be due to the heavy amount of pressure this property gets
I hunt a property that borders a river. The deer use the river as a "highway" during the rut. Find a good funnel/pinch point and hang a stand. I wouldn't be focusing on that watering hole. With your place being planted in corn this year you should have one badass spot.
Bigcountry40
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