I am looking for some advice on setting up water troughs for deer. I plan to set out (around my ranch) a few metal "stock tanks" with large water totes feeding into the tanks via float mechanisms.

What size stock tanks would you recommend (H/W/D dimensions) that would insure that Hogs can't get in and/or turn over, push over. etc?

Would you place a pen around the tank...or tie off the stock tanks (and if so....how)?

Is it possible to establish a stock tank based deer watering platform without fencing...that would successfully be "Hog Proof"?

What other recommendations do you have regarding piping...floats...anchors....tanks...etc.?

I did a hog proof trough once without a pen. Going to be hard to describe without a pic. I was a small 24" across concrete round trough. I cut a 4"x4" square cattle panel into a 24" x 24" square and laid it over the top of the round trough and then bent the 4 corners over flush to make it fit snug. I took a piece of 12 gauge tie wire and made a loop around the middle of the trough and got it as tight as I could. I tied the cattle panel piece to the wire loop tightly in several place. I used a plastic little giant water trough float under the panel attached to the side of the trough with the included trough brackets and made a cattle panel small guard to protect the hose and top connections. With this float the water level stayed about 4"+ from the panel/trough top and with the 4"x4" square the deers pointed nose could just fit into the square and reach the water. No hogs or cattle could reach the water level thru the panel.. I used this setup for 5 years in front of my home. You will have to make sure to use a smaller really stout trough, the panel is secure and protect the water line to the top of the float.

Thank you for the information. Appears that I've got my work cut out for me!

I have a sign that says, "Not suitable for Hog Consumption"...

Ok, that was a joke...


I have cattle guard fencing on my pens and seems to work well. The water is inside that. I made a pen of 8 pieces of 16ft long 50" high cattle panels and added a 330 gallon tank inside of that. The hogs have not gotten inside yet, but it is hard for them to burrow under due to all the rock and you need a drill and t-post driver to get the t-posts in.

Russ