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New well for wildlife help?
#8469571
12/08/21 01:42 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,285
Creekrunner
OP
THF Celebrity
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,285 |
So I'm having a new well punched on the south end of the ranch. It'll be solar. The only other water on the place is a couple of troughs by the house (off the house well, electric) and a couple off a pila and windmill in the center of the place. No cows or other livestock, so this'll be strictly for wildlife. I figured, in addition to drawing in wildlife on that end, it'll also add value when I'm gone to the happy hunting grounds and it's time to sell the place. 'Had the well witcher and the owner of the well drilling company out yesterday evening. (It was cool watching the witcher. I asked him if his dad taught him, but he said he just picked it up on his own. 'Claims he can't wear any kind of battery watch. The battery supposedly goes dead in a few days. But I digress.) The driller is a nice ol' boy, but a little confusing and "mumbly" about the best way to set up a system. 'Says "you can do that" to just about every question. He said just pump into a dug pond, no float, no nothing. It would pump during the day. I'd assumed there'd be a storage tank. He said 1500gal. or 3000gal., whichever I want. I really don't want a "swamp" seeping everywhere, particularly 'cause the road is close by. Some say getting a tank to seal is pissing in the wind in this country, but the driller swears by a product (DD2000??) that's way better than bentonite. I was originally just gonna have a couple of troughs with floats, like the others on here, but I would like a low pond/tank that all wildlife can drink from. I think I can keep pigs from screwing with the floats in troughs. I don't want an expensive little tank to just become a hog wallow either. Thoughts? Experiences?
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#8469650
12/08/21 02:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,290
BenBob
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,290 |
I would have troughs or a trough and a tank myself. Of course, I come from the land of very little water and what we have is precious.
Tired, Wired, and Uninspired
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#8469668
12/08/21 02:47 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,549
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,549 |
Our old lease in the hill country had a windmill in the pasture that pumped into a chain of cement troughs and eventually over flowed into a tank.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: redchevy]
#8469699
12/08/21 03:27 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,166
flintknapper
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,166 |
Our old lease in the hill country had a windmill in the pasture that pumped into a chain of cement troughs and eventually over flowed into a tank. Same set up on the property we had in Goldthwaite years ago. Couple of windmills. First reservoir was a large round cement affair about 12' across and maybe 2' deep. Had an overflow that dumped into another cement trough about 18" wide x 12" deep and probably 10' long. When that overflowed it drained into a small stock tank. If using a tall, deep trough only, then be sure to place a board in it that is affixed to the side so small animals don't get in the trough and drown.
Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#8469961
12/08/21 08:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,526
SnakeWrangler
THF Celebrity
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,526 |
My uncle set his up into a storage tank. The tank fed a water trough with a float which was set to “leak” overflowing into shallow cement “pond” that then overflowed into a larger dirt pond. The storage tank overflowed directly into the cement pond. The setup worked great for livestock and wildlife….
The storage tank and trough guaranteed water for an extended period of time if the windmill had problems or was turned off.
I believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored] Actually, BBC is pretty damn good "You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#8470041
12/08/21 10:05 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,953
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
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IF you can find the clay (and those areas with alot of mesquite going toward the boot heel may have some) it may be an option to dig a tank if there is enough relief there. But by and large they won't hold. Cuppy's place across the road has several tanks and none hold (no water supplementation either). Most of the time you get a 1/2 acre tank that will only hold 1/8th acre worth of water and the pigs find it and wallow in it and make it a nasty mess. I have seen some tanks hold like jugs in the hill country and in that part of the world some surface water will certainly add value to the place. I would do a liner before i would do bentonite. But if you're doing this strictly for wildlife, I would spare the cost and inevitable frustration of building a tank and set up a series of concrete troughs. I use these as they are low enough to let fawns and other small critters drink out of them. http://drymalaconcreteproducts.com/watertroughs.html
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: txtrophy85]
#8470048
12/08/21 10:12 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,285
Creekrunner
OP
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,285 |
IF you can find the clay (and those areas with alot of mesquite going toward the boot heel may have some) it may be an option to dig a tank if there is enough relief there. But by and large they won't hold. Cuppy's place across the road has several tanks and none hold (no water supplementation either). Most of the time you get a 1/2 acre tank that will only hold 1/8th acre worth of water and the pigs find it and wallow in it and make it a nasty mess. I have seen some tanks hold like jugs in the hill country and in that part of the world some surface water will certainly add value to the place. I would do a liner before i would do bentonite. But if you're doing this strictly for wildlife, I would spare the cost and inevitable frustration of building a tank and set up a series of concrete troughs. I use these as they are low enough to let fawns and other small critters drink out of them. http://drymalaconcreteproducts.com/watertroughs.html Yes, I would rather spare the expense (and noise) of having a big blade come in for a tank. The concrete tanks look excellent and are right up the street from home! Weird though, I found a place in San Angelo that sells concrete troughs and their wording on the website is exactly the same. They must be buying from the Comfort folks and copied their wording.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#8470229
12/09/21 01:57 AM
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 226
Frio Town
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 226 |
IF you can find the clay (and those areas with alot of mesquite going toward the boot heel may have some) it may be an option to dig a tank if there is enough relief there. But by and large they won't hold. Cuppy's place across the road has several tanks and none hold (no water supplementation either). Most of the time you get a 1/2 acre tank that will only hold 1/8th acre worth of water and the pigs find it and wallow in it and make it a nasty mess. I have seen some tanks hold like jugs in the hill country and in that part of the world some surface water will certainly add value to the place. I would do a liner before i would do bentonite. But if you're doing this strictly for wildlife, I would spare the cost and inevitable frustration of building a tank and set up a series of concrete troughs. I use these as they are low enough to let fawns and other small critters drink out of them. http://drymalaconcreteproducts.com/watertroughs.html Yes, I would rather spare the expense (and noise) of having a big blade come in for a tank. The concrete tanks look excellent and are right up the street from home! Weird though, I found a place in San Angelo that sells concrete troughs and their wording on the website is exactly the same. They must be buying from the Comfort folks and copied their wording. Steve sells his troughs to a lot of dealers out and about. I have probably 10-11 of his troughs. Over the years I have had many brands of concrete troughs. Through time you have to replace them. Steve's dad designed these troughs. They are the best you will find anywhere. The troughs are poured on a vibratory table that settles the cement resulting in a very smooth finish that will last. Water lines hook up from the bottom so they won't freeze. I have two of his wildlife troughs that very small critters can water at too. These are his model 32412. The concrete lid is very heavy and my bulls don't mess with it so the float stays where it needs to be. If you are close to Comfort, go see for yourself. Not cheap but you only buy once!! Frio
"Let's Go Brandon"
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#8470245
12/09/21 02:14 AM
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 226
Frio Town
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 226 |
Creekrunner if you like, send me a pm and I can send you some pics of my setup.
Frio
"Let's Go Brandon"
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#8470257
12/09/21 02:23 AM
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 58
Ag Hoff 90
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 58 |
Where is the ranch located?
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#8470268
12/09/21 02:31 AM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,285
Creekrunner
OP
THF Celebrity
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,285 |
Northern most Kimble County.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#8475154
12/14/21 12:17 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#8475289
12/14/21 02:27 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 8,239
Double Naught Spy
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 8,239 |
If using a tall, deep trough only, then be sure to place a board in it that is affixed to the side so small animals don't get in the trough and drown. This is actually pretty important. It may not happen very often, but can ruin the water for quite a while when it does.
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: stxranchman]
#8475782
12/14/21 10:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,156
kry226
The General
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The General
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,156 |
Never thought about it, but the wire is a great idea. Thanks, Stx!
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Double Naught Spy]
#8476110
12/15/21 02:43 AM
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 226
Frio Town
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 226 |
If using a tall, deep trough only, then be sure to place a board in it that is affixed to the side so small animals don't get in the trough and drown. This is actually pretty important. It may not happen very often, but can ruin the water for quite a while when it does. On all of my deeper troughs, I use a 2' piece of 2x6 and let it free float. If it is attached and the water drops a lot a bird or critter may not be able to make it. Many times I have watched a bird get onto the board and shake till they are able to fly off. If it wasn't for the board they would have drowned. My "critter troughs" have bricks or rocks or a combo so they can work their way out to safety. Frio
"Let's Go Brandon"
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Frio Town]
#8476497
12/15/21 03:15 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,969
gary roberson
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,969 |
If using a tall, deep trough only, then be sure to place a board in it that is affixed to the side so small animals don't get in the trough and drown. This is actually pretty important. It may not happen very often, but can ruin the water for quite a while when it does. On all of my deeper troughs, I use a 2' piece of 2x6 and let it free float. If it is attached and the water drops a lot a bird or critter may not be able to make it. Many times I have watched a bird get onto the board and shake till they are able to fly off. If it wasn't for the board they would have drowned. My "critter troughs" have bricks or rocks or a combo so they can work their way out to safety. Frio Grew up not far from Frio Town and still get through there on occasions. When I was a pup, we used to buy polled hereford bulls from the Saunders family who ranched there for many years. I am guessing that you are in that area. Adios, Gary
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: gary roberson]
#8477028
12/16/21 01:21 AM
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 226
Frio Town
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 226 |
If using a tall, deep trough only, then be sure to place a board in it that is affixed to the side so small animals don't get in the trough and drown. This is actually pretty important. It may not happen very often, but can ruin the water for quite a while when it does. On all of my deeper troughs, I use a 2' piece of 2x6 and let it free float. If it is attached and the water drops a lot a bird or critter may not be able to make it. Many times I have watched a bird get onto the board and shake till they are able to fly off. If it wasn't for the board they would have drowned. My "critter troughs" have bricks or rocks or a combo so they can work their way out to safety. Frio Grew up not far from Frio Town and still get through there on occasions. When I was a pup, we used to buy polled hereford bulls from the Saunders family who ranched there for many years. I am guessing that you are in that area. Adios, Gary Yes we are close by. I know where you grew up as well. I drove past your old home place going to Devine many times. Frio
"Let's Go Brandon"
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#8477032
12/16/21 01:27 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,332
Blank
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,332 |
If you ever intend to run cattle or other livestock, a bigger but shallower water source is to be preferred. Concrete the entire base, and set the ring in the concrete. They can step over it, the float is protected, and other animals can get out if needed. This is one of the solar powered drinkers the Kansas Parks and Wildlife uses for all their areas.
Beer and whiskey, 'cause you can't drink bacon!!
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Blank]
#8477049
12/16/21 01:39 AM
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 226
Frio Town
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 226 |
If you ever intend to run cattle or other livestock, a bigger but shallower water source is to be preferred. Concrete the entire base, and set the ring in the concrete. They can step over it, the float is protected, and other animals can get out if needed. This is one of the solar powered drinkers the Kansas Parks and Wildlife uses for all their areas. Built with taxpayer dollars!! I run cattle and will stick with my concrete troughs. The brackish water down here would eat that ring up in about 1-2 years. Also, I don't want cattle inside of a water trough for several reasons. Frio
"Let's Go Brandon"
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#8477576
12/16/21 04:36 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,332
Blank
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,332 |
I don't do cows, except in the oven, so I don't know why they do it this way. They had a lot of them scattered around tho.
On the WMA's that were strictly managed for wildlife, the troughs were about 3' by 10' concrete and the walls were about 3" thick. Usually had a higher one that overflowed into another lower one, then out onto the ground. I assume they only run in daylight hours, as I never saw any storage batteries.
Beer and whiskey, 'cause you can't drink bacon!!
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Blank]
#8477752
12/16/21 07:45 PM
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 226
Frio Town
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 226 |
I don't do cows, except in the oven, so I don't know why they do it this way. They had a lot of them scattered around tho.
On the WMA's that were strictly managed for wildlife, the troughs were about 3' by 10' concrete and the walls were about 3" thick. Usually had a higher one that overflowed into another lower one, then out onto the ground. I assume they only run in daylight hours, as I never saw any storage batteries. Water running out onto the ground is a waste in my opinion. I remember as a kid in the 50's during the drought of record, the worst butt busting I ever got was when my dad caught me with a hose running water into a crack in the ground to "fill it up". We had already gone through 3 water wells and onto our 4th when that happened. It's something you will never forget. Frio
"Let's Go Brandon"
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Re: New well for wildlife help?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#8477783
12/16/21 08:07 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,796
dogcatcher
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,796 |
On one place we hunted there was a concrete tank about 6 foot in diameter about 2 foot deep. It was fed by a windmill. Off the tank there was an overflow pipe that ran water to a dry creek bed that he had dammed up. The owner usually only ran the windmill for a few days at a time to keep water in the concrete tank.
Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back. _____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________
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