If you want to keep wildlife coming back to your pond, it’s important to ensure it’s clean all year round. Especially during the initial phases of pond establishment, you’ll have to put in some time to turn it into a clean, beautiful environment in which deer will feel secure.
This isn’t as hard as it sounds. Once you put a system in place, it will feel natural soon enough. Then all you have to do is give the pond your attention a few times a year to keep it safe and healthy over the long haul.
Cleaning and Maintenance
One of the main concerns for ponds is algae. Eutrophication, or algae overgrowth, is a common problem. This is especially likely if you use fertilizers nearby, such as on a farming operation. Algae are plants like any other, and they grow in response to food and sunlight. If fertilizers get into the water supply, they can cause algae to grow out of control and choke out other plants and wildlife. That kills the oxygen in the water, reduces the variety of wildlife, mucks up the pond, and makes it less attractive to deer.
Watch for algae blooms carefully. If they pop up, it likely means that
You’ll also want to make sure your filter and pump (if using) are always in good working order. If your pond relies on them to stay clear because it is small, in a sunny patch prone to algae, or otherwise in need of extra help, create a maintenance routine for your mechanical devices. If you can’t do it yourself, have an expert come out at regular intervals to do it for you.
Naturescaping
While naturescaping is famously self-sustaining and therefore very appealing to hunting enthusiasts who aren’t looking for one more chore on the property, it does still require some maintenance. The two main forms are mowing and clearing brush.
If you have grass around the edge of your pond, you’ll need to mow it enough to approach the waterline, where you’ll sit or stand while hunting deer. Feel free to leave lots of tall grass standing, which makes deer and other wildlife feel safe using your pond and will therefore increase the chances of bringing lots of game to the area. However, if you plan to use the pond for other activities – think swimming, boating, or garden parties – then you’ll want to keep that in mind as well.
Brush removal is also important, because an overgrowth of brush limits your access and view of deer. Plus, dense thickets can spread disease – though this is again less likely with native plants that already have a balanced ecosystem worked out.
Moreover, if you let it dry out, it can become a fire hazard. The best way to keep wildfires away from your property is to ensure that all plants are green and healthy. That means they’re wet inside, and less likely to burn. If your pond is near your house, this is especially important, because small brush piles can act as stepping stones between your house and a raging fire. Remove them on your own and toss on a burn pile, or hire brush removal specialists to come out to your house once or twice a year.
And that’s it for maintenance. Now let’s turn attention to a few rules and regulations to keep in mind. This will help ensure that you don’t run afoul of the law and have to pay dearly. (No pun intended.)
