Are you an outdoorsman, a nature enthusiast, or a homesteader intent on supplying your own food? If you own as little as a couple of acres out in the countryside, you’ve probably asked yourself if adding a simple pond would be worth the effort and expense. After all, a pond could attract ducks and geese in the fall, draw in deer for daily watering, and maybe even prove an ideal fishing spot if you choose to keep it stocked.
That’s a big vision for a small parcel of property, but if your land abuts other undeveloped land in an area generally free of human activity, it’s probably worth considering, especially if you have a few like-minded neighbors that would be willing to coordinate and share hunting rights. Even if your land already features some natural water sources, it’s possible to optimize the appeal and draw even more wildlife with a few relatively simple strategies.
Improving the Land
Executing a full-scale habitat renovation can be a daunting task that could be a labor of love for many weekends and even years to come. It could also drain your wallet if you’re not strategic with your choices. The good news is that certain types of work that increase the ability of your land to support wildlife can be considered a land improvement. Especially during periods of drought, maintaining even a single permanent pond on your property can support a wider variety of wildlife and ensure the survival of a much larger ecosystem.
Whether you’re talking about a relatively simple deer pond or an extensive wetlands system to support migrating waterfowl, wildlife habitat improvements are often eligible for special financing programs, and in some states even qualify for subsidies or direct payments. Conservation organizations may also be willing to reduce some of your personal costs as well as provide expertise to help you design and build the highest quality wildlife habitats on your land.
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Services Agency provide both one-on-one advice and financial resources such as co-investing programs to help fund conservation efforts, including all types of agricultural operations as well as privately-owned forests and wetlands. These programs apply whether you’re integrating conservation practices into your farm or ranch or protecting and conserving sensitive landscapes.
But I Already Have Water
Sometimes it’s hard to calculate the impact of adding deer watering holes and ponds when your property already has available surface water. In many cases, the addition of a well-placed water feature can make a huge difference in the numbers, variety, and health of wildlife populations on your land. After all, not all wildlife are comfortable approaching areas with a lot of human activity, and even existing ponds or streams in more remote spots may not support animals’ needs for cover, security, and nearby food supplies. Whether your primary goal is to expand the diversity of wildlife on your land or foster high quality hunting, it’s not uncommon to discover that there are a few sweet spots where a reliable source of water, far from human interference, can make a huge difference in the health of a natural ecosystem.
When Artificial Ponds Trump Natural
Many hunters focus on providing a variety of tempting foods to attract and keep deer populations. After all, if water is available somewhere, deer are smart enough to find it, right? But there’s a difference between attracting does and small family groups versus drawing the interest of mature bucks, the ultimate target of a seasoned hunter.
Bucks are naturally more cautious than does and family groups, and mature specimens have certainly not reached that status by taking unnecessary risks. So, while you may regularly catch four or five deer stopping to take a sip from your backyard pond, it’s doubtful that you’ll see many bucks worth boasting about.
All deer prefer certain qualities when choosing an area to settle down, but when there are no locations that meet all the requirements, they may make compromises or choose to move on to more promising locations. Mature bucks are exceptionally picky and it’s not unusual to see them ignore a perfectly pleasant natural pond that abuts a cleared road in favor of more remote amenities, even if those are man-made.
- Deer are creatures of habit and prefer reliable water sources. Ephemeral streams or carefully placed tubs may be appealing at first, but if a water source dries up over several days, deer will seek out a new source.
- Deer prefer not to travel very long distances to reach the resources they need. Both quality food and safe bedding patches should be available relatively near the water source, with plentiful cover to keep them safe as they move between them over the course of a day.
- It may seem counterintuitive, but deer don’t generally prefer moving water sources like a river or babbling brook. The quiet surrounding a still pond allows deer to hear better, enabling them to detect the approach of predators. Even a small mud puddle or a slightly stagnant pool are often preferred over fresh running water.
- Human presence is a major turn-off, especially for mature bucks, if the deer have any viable alternatives. This is where adding a man-made pond may make a significant difference to the deer population on your property, if, for example, nearby development has focused on proximity to scenic rivers or fishing lakes. Look at the most remote sections of your land, especially considering activity in adjoining parcels, and consider whether adding a small water source in a more remote location would increase the appeal there.
- Hills, ridges, and other uplands typically lie above the level where streams and ponds are found, and the challenges of that terrain may also have lower levels of development and human activity. Deer that are attracted to the remoteness will be even more likely to take up residence if there’s a quiet, reliable source of water close to food and bedding opportunities, whether or not it is man made.
Overall, well placed and well-managed waterholes are one of the strongest and best ambush locations for mature bucks on your land. Once established, deer will typically use them before evening feeding, and mature bucks will use them all day long as they cruise during rutting season.
