The materials you use to create your deer hunting pond (or any other kind) will dictate how long it lasts and how high-quality it is. Ponds need good water, well-buffered, that lasts year-round. It’s fine if the water level drops and rises according to the season – this is a fact of nature and one that deer are used to. However, it must stay clean and full enough to provide drinking water in the hot summer months, or animals won’t be interested.
To create such a pond, you need a variety of materials. At the very least, you will definitely need a pond liner. Your pond could also include:
- Liner
- Pump
- Filter
- Skimmer
- Aerator
- Food
- Refuge
Let’s explore these individually.
Liner
Whether you’re building a fish pond, a natural pond, or a residential water feature, you need the right liner. This will ensure that your pond holds water throughout the year, which is critical if you want to attract deer to your property.
Depending on your pond type, you have different options. AquaArmor is a great all-purpose choice for ponds, while AquaProFlex is ideal for rocky or highly contoured areas. When you opt for either of these, you can be sure that your pond will last, even through the harshest of weather or pond level changes.
At BTL Liners, we understand that ponds ask a lot of geomembrane containment systems. They have to hold back the forces of nature and withstand constant pressure without giving in. Because BTL Liners uses highly tear-resistant reinforced polypropylene (RPP) and reinforced polyethylene (RPE), you can lay them directly on top of a clean subgrade without puncturing. This typically eliminates the extra time and expense for a geotextile underlayment, which is a major win. Our liners also have the capability of resisting damage from ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can lead to degradation over time.
You also have the option of using clay. Note, however, that clay is very expensive if you have to truck it in. Even if you have it on your property, you must ensure clay is at least 2 inches thick across the entire pond bottom to avoid seepage. Unless you’re building a very small pond, it’s just not practical.
Pump and Filter
Deer don’t want to drink from green and gunky water, so a stagnant watering hole is unlikely to attract the game you’re looking for. No matter the size, type, or location of your pond, you’ll want to provide clean, clear water to your four-legged visitors.
You do not need a filter, but some people choose to have one. If you don’t, you’ll need to find another way to manage the buildup of algae and biofilm (organic matter, sometimes invisible). The right fish, waterfowl, and plants can help manage this. If you build a large enough pond, it will typically take care of itself.
Other options include connecting your pond to a local waterway, such as a stream. When water flows in and then back out, it carries off buildup and keeps your pond fresh and clear.
Skimmer
If your pond is in an area shaded by trees, you’ll likely have lots of leaf litter to deal with. Depending on the intensity of the issue, you might choose a skimmer to remove debris floating on the surface.
Aerator
If your pond is small and fish-free, you can add an aerator to help ensure you get enough oxygen in your pond. This helps plants grow and keeps water clear.
Food
Food is critical to deer, and it has to be the right kind of food. Studies show that “On severely overpopulated and depleted ranges, white-tailed deer have starved to death with their stomachs full of low quality forages.”
If your response to that was “like, whoa!” then you’re not alone. The takeaway here is that deer have highly specific dietary requirements. Unlike waterfowl, who will happily join your pond community for the price of some grasses and insects, deer need you to think ahead a bit.
“White-tailed deer are absolute plant-eating machines, but understanding what foods they prefer to eat will vastly improve your knowledge and effectiveness in both managing and hunting them,” explains the National Deer Association. “However, due to their relative size and the need to run away from danger in a moment’s notice, the foods they’re typically on the lookout for are ones that give them the biggest bang for their buck.”
In other words, say the deer lovers, “In quality deer habitat with diverse forage species, they will choose nutrient-rich plants that taste good and have very high levels of digestibility, thereby maximizing intake of protein, energy and minerals with each bite.”
These foods break down into the following categories:
- Browse: Leaves, twig ends, and buds from trees, shrubs, and vines comprise browse. This becomes less digestible in the wintertime when woody parts of plants predominate.
- Forbs: Forbs are the leaves and stems of weedy, non-woody plants.
- Mast: Nuts, fruit, berries, and acorns are all types of mast, the fruiting bodies of various shrubs, trees, and plants.
- Grass: Grass is, well, grass. The technical definition is an herbaceous plant with narrow leaves that grows from a single stem at the base.
- Lichen and fungus: These supplement a deer’s diet when better fare – e.g. anything above – are unavailable. However, organisms such as mushrooms or old man’s beard do provide good nutrients.
Refuge
Deer want places to hide, nap, and raise their young. If you want to bring deer to your pond habitat with food that appeals to them and plants that shelter them, native plants are the ticket. They’re much easier to maintain than exotic plants from elsewhere because they’re already used to living in the ecosystem. They have evolved for this place, this weather, this amount of rainfall, this food web, and so on.
You can learn more about naturescaping here. We also discuss it in the next section.
Step-by-Step Pond Building
Building a deer hunting pond isn’t necessarily easy, but it is relatively simple. If you’re wondering what steps are involved, here’s your quick guide to the process.
Speak to an Expert
Experts are the best bet for ensuring that your property is free of regulatory traps and that your proposed pond site is a safe one for the people who live nearby and the deer you hope to draw. You can find expert resources through state wildlife agencies or contractors. If you need additional help, feel free to reach out to a reputable pond supply company for assistance.
Source High-Quality Materials
The best materials are those that will last the longest. Look for ones that:
- Resist wear and tear
- Are puncture proof
- Won’t harm wildlife
- Don’t degrade with UV exposure
Excavate If Necessary
If you don’t have a readily dammed area, you’ll need to excavate the pond. Again, speak to an expert about whether the site supports that. If you need to, hire contractors with expertise who can get the job done without running afoul of the law or harming your property.
Line Your Deer Hunting Pond
A liner is always a good plan. Except in cases where you have exceptional clay in your area that is already in the soil, you’ll want to go for a geotextile. Otherwise you’ll have to bring in clay, which is highly expensive on its own before you add the labor of laying down a 2-inch-thick layer across the entire pond bottom. No, thanks.
Fill the Pond
Time to fill! If you’re patient, rainwater could do the trick. Filling from streams and lakes can also work, but it comes with permitting challenges. If you opt to fill your pond with a hose, make sure to filter the water first.
Install Machinery If Needed
If you’re going to use pumps, filters, aerators, or skimmers, now is the time to put them into action. Keeping your pond oxygenated is important for fish and plants. Although larger ponds can usually handle this on their own using self-regulating native species, this might be a good move for smaller ponds.
Also, if you feed your pond with nearby water sources that may contain pollutants, fertilizers, or livestock disease, you’ll want to filter it on the way into your pond.
Landscape the Surrounding Area
Complete your pond with the right greenery, both to draw deer and to lend aesthetic appeal. In the case of some ponds, especially of the embankment type, you won’t need to do much landscaping at all. However, excavated ponds typically tear up the surrounding area, so you’ll want to repair the habitat by adding plants.
That means naturescaping is always a good bet. This is the practice of using plants that evolved in your area, so they are well-suited to the ecosystem, weather, drought patterns, and other animals – including the deer you want to hunt.
Naturescaping not only makes your pond attractive to animals, it’s pretty to humans as well. But best of all, naturescaping means using plants that won’t require a lot of maintenance. They’re typically self-stewarding, sowing or spreading at rates that the area can safely accommodate. (That’s another reason to use local plants, as invasive exotics often grow out of control and take over the area.)
Once your pond is installed, all you have to do is implement an easy cleaning and maintenance routine to keep it happy and healthy year after year.
