2020 Gamekeepers / Spring - Creating Water Sources

Water sources help to keep wildlife close

The season cycle is more unpredictable now than ever these days, with droughty weather becoming severe, and the increased possibility of localized flooding at the other end of the spectrum. Cattle farmers know that they cannot run out of water during a hot and dry weather cycle, and gamekeepers need to apply that same knowledge so that wildlife avoids the stress of decreased access to water. The concept of utilizing a backhoe to dig a hole in the earth does not guarantee success, so the decision about where to dig should bear some weight in the process of creating water sources.

One of my Lowcountry photos - Woodrows and Bandits

            

Deer hunters understand that there is no better feature to hunt over than a water hole during a prolonged dry spell. The value of hunting over whitetail food sources is always hard to beat, except in dusty, droughty conditions. A similar equation, applied to any other game species, can make it clear to the wildlife enthusiast that water is a powerful attractor. Simplify the scale of this equation to one’s own backyard and visualize how many songbirds come to the birdseed feeder and how many come to the water in the bird bath. The logic is unescapable that water sources add value to the landscape, and the better they are suited to wildlife the more they will be utilized.

Plus 2-cents from my editor

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