Can anyone recommend a wildlife watering system? I have seen a couple of different designs and was curious how many hunters actually are using these in the field?

There has been some good threads on here with Tote set ups...Justwingem has a nice set up, its not as good as mine but he has a good one

Good tote, paint it with chocolate colored spray paint to retard the algae growth and get you a horse water w a float valve at TSC and bam...

Start here Amigo...


http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/5454608/Re:_watering_deer#Post5454608

If you can find an old satellite dish, the big ones about 6 foot across you can add a guzzler collector to the system. Every time I see one we stop and ask about buying or hauling it off, the answer has been no so many times I am about to give up.

The system I am interested in looks like this. However not sure if anyone has one in the field / how well they hold up. I found them for sale at a feed store in Junction.

Water is a very important part in deer management that is almost always overlooked. How much are they asking for the water system? You will need another tote to fill it also. How many deer will be watering from the location you place it and how often can you go refill it?

That system is $475. We do have another 350 gallon tank on a trailer that we use to fill the bigger tank that provides water from the camp. Not sure on the number of deer to be honest. That tank is 275 Gallons. I usually go about every 10 weeks to feed. The feeders I currently have will run 12 weeks before going dry. With the smaller trough on that watering system not too sure how long 275 gallons would last.

You can buy totes for way under $100 and a float setup for less then $50. Then stainless steel hose & fittings and have a similar setup for less than $200. 275 gallons is going to give you 27.5 gallons per week till you return. That is about 5-8 deer per day watering, not including birds, turkey, coons and other critters along with evaporation.

If you go this route make sure whats in them also Sir..flush them well..

Be a very wise move on your feeding program

Yes food grade is the way to go.

what would you recommend for the trough?

Smaller the better on trough size (coons,evaporation, dead critters in it,etc). I dig them down into the ground so the top is just above the ground.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/...searchType=1000

That red plastic is the exact one I have, the metal ones get a little warm in the heat. Porcupines do more damage on mine than the Coons I hate to say

They are not on your "list"

Ive almost eliminated them

Make absolutely sure to protect your float

It is breeding season!

I will have to research a little. I have seen a couple of designs that did not require a float. That seems like it would be the better way to go.

The red plastic one has a float protector, use copper hot water piping instead of rubber hoses on the coons also

I have the little giant metal waterer. It has a "protector" coons will beat it and QUICK. Just put a screw on each side so it diesnt flip up or drill hole on each side and feed a wire through. I also put a decent size rock inside which does two things. Helps keep water flow down so less evaporation and helps small critters get out so the don't die in the bowl.

Braided hose or metal pipe like stx and Rab mentioned is also better.

Cut a piece of 4"x4" cattle panel to put over the top of that setup on your waterer BR. Deer can water out of it and hogs and coons can't. Then take rebar to stake the corners down so they can't turn it over

Great idea. It'll keep the damn coons from bathing I it. I have some small panels that will work perfect.

Good looking set up Buckeroo