Water hole locations

Question inspired by recent Justin buck video [emoji1]

I have been trying to find water hole locations recently to hunt during the rut
Had came across through several, placed the cams on it, but no regular appearances captured..
Had cams in both creeks and drain water depressions..

Question to experts, do you have any observations which water holes locations are more preferable and frequented over the others. What other aspects of location to watch for ?

Would deer like swamp water over a cleaner water hole, or a larger lake over a puddle etc ?

Deer need water, that’s a given. Where they get it from depends on the specific area. In dry areas, water might only be found at one or two locations. In most of Ontario, water is plentiful and can be found in ditches, puddles, creeks, etc. They can even get their fill from snow or lush vegetation. During the rut, while bucks are roaming their range, they will fill up wherever they can which could be a ditch or puddle. They aren’t too fussy as long as it’s not stinky or brackish. You’re better off keying in on travel routes at/to/from food sources as this is where you will find does and sooner or later Mr. Buck will come along.

Hunting over water holes is best in areas where there is little water, such as mountain tops or arid climates.

At this time of year I look for bedding areas and agriculture fields then hunt deer sign between those two points either in the morning or the afternoon. Some people like to hunt destination points, which can be productive if there is light hunting pressure.

Later in the year I switch to baiting and hunt more mid day.

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Originally Posted by Sam Menard

Deer need water, that’s a given. Where they get it from depends on the specific area. In dry areas, water might only be found at one or two locations. In most of Ontario, water is plentiful and can be found in ditches, puddles, creeks, etc. They can even get their fill from snow or lush vegetation. During the rut, while bucks are roaming their range, they will fill up wherever they can which could be a ditch or puddle. They aren’t too fussy as long as it’s not stinky or brackish. You’re better off keying in on travel routes at/to/from food sources as this is where you will find does and sooner or later Mr. Buck will come along.

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Do you think they would drink if lots of algae in pond (green growth on top o water etc..)

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Originally Posted by newbiehunter

Do you think they would drink if lots of algae in pond (green growth on top o water etc..)

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Will depend on their options. Finding decent better water than you are describing is not normally a concern for deer in Ontario so my guess is not. If you are intent on hunting water features than key in on a decent size river and find where they cross. The Saugeen runs through our camp and unless they are being chased the deer always cross in one of 3 places where the river is easiest to cross.

I wouldn't focus on water too much but instead as others have suggested find what they are eating and where they are bedding and set up on a connecting corridor. Sounds simple i know but it isn't and requires boots on the ground scouting for many hours. I have owned our camp property for 15 years and have spent countless hours scouting it and i find new bedding areas and new food sources every year. Their diet and bedding areas can change pretty quickly depending on the weather and what food is in season and where it is located. For instance at our camp from one day to the next the deer may bed in areas 2 km apart from where they were the day before. On sunny days without wind they bed in sunny areas and soak up the rays regardless of the air temperature. Windy stormy days they will hunker down on the river bottom in the cedar thickets and if it's bad enough they won't even come out to feed as they eat the cedar all around them.

Deer need 3 things to survive and thrive - food, water and shelter. You have correctly identified water as one of those things but in Ontario we have so much water that the other 2 factors tend to control where the deer are to a much larger degree.

I agree with the others here, too much water available in ontario for it to be a reliable magnet for deer. Focus on the others

travel routes are what I watch for. The bush I hunt has 3 so it just a matter of timing which one they use when I'm there. but they travel them every day.

After the water bodies freeze up the option for the deer will be more limited ...
Hope that will help make a choice where to put your cameras ,
and till the end of the Deer season you may got lucky .