Article by: Aaron Hepler

From speed goats to elk, seasoned western hunters often begin by looking for a water source before anything else. But water-based plans for eastern whitetail guys won’t draw the same attention this fall. Ridge-tops, bedding points, rub lines, and concentrations of oaks are way more of an attraction. In recent years, hunting mature bucks has also revolved around hunting a specific bed. Honestly, if you’re not honing in on whitetail patterns around water, you’re missing out! 

Scouting For A Source

In large tracts of timber, thinking about water is hard when distracted by all the other things you’re trying to find. In eastern states, it’s further ignored due to mild weather and extensive shaded woodlands. By building water into your whitetail strategy, you’ll notice more funneling deer movement. There is also the potential to use water-manipulated thermal air currents to fool a wise old buck.  

Moving water sources are guaranteed terrain funnels, while still water acts as a rest stop that most deer will use. Ponds, puddles, the root hole from fallen trees, tire tracks in a clear cut—you have to consider them all. Even water sources that aren’t active will continue to act as a funnel long after they've dried up. Do the sources need heavy rain to stay full? Do they retain water for a long time or dry up in a day or two? Is there a spring, or does it rely on runoff?

A mature whitetail needs water to live, and the following water sources are perfect for collecting the latest intel. Patterning a buck from the early season through the rut is no easy task. However, cell cams in your tool bag will allow you to avoid pressuring deer and gain a deeper understanding of their water usage. Here’s how.

Deep Lake Edges

Deep water edges, such as the type you’ll find close to a bluff, will act as a funnel for traveling deer. The thicker and more edible the edge of that funnel, the better.

Scout for doe family groups. Their sign (tracks, scat, and trails) is essential, but witnessing a group of does via live observation is way more valuable. A cell cam along a funnel like this is perfect for finding a sure-fire rut setup. The hill-type terrain that bucks love is something they will use to their advantage. 

Lakes retain heat longer than the air, causing thermals to rise longer into the evening. They also warm faster than the forest floor, so thermals begin to rise earlier than usual. Deer love to bed as close to water as cover will allow, so if the lake edge is thick, you’ll have the element of surprise when hunting above heavily trafficked travel routes. 

Use a cell cam both high and low on a hill when possible, but be sure to focus on the does. When you get pictures of bucks trailing does in lower terrain, you'd better be on stand the next day! Get there early and hunt all day. Set up within shooting distance above the lower funnel that the deer are using. 

Shallow Coves and Bays

Coves surrounded by dense green briar, bulrushes, or water willow are the ticket. That shallow water next to that thick and nasty cover is perfect for bedding deer. 

Shallow water often means aquatic plants and weeds. Bass are the only critters that love millfoil, coontail, and Lily pads. Water, like the kind found in these coves, are places deer can't resist. 

A mature buck can leave the safety of his bed and be chowing down on the greenery and roots in no time. A trail leading from bed to food is a perfect place for an early-season cell camera set due to the area's sensitivity. It's possible to check SD card cameras via water access with a boat or waders, but there is less room for error, which is why the cell camera rules.

Creek or River Crossings

Big river systems are whitetail meccas because of the abundant food available along their banks. The spot where deer use to cross water is the best for camera placement on a large river. Usually, crossings tend to be near a bend in the river or on fast skinny water. 

A double river bend creates an oxbow and is a great place to look for buck bedding. Small, weedy gravel bars in the mix will make those crossings more appealing. 

On a small scale, creeks act the same as a river. The difference is that cover plays a larger part in security for a creek. Access is often easier due to a creek's smaller size. Be careful with creeks, as more often than not, easy access translates to more hunting pressure.

Cell cams on trails leading from bedding to the crossing point will help you pattern a specific deer. Placing them directly on a crossing will explain how local deer use the area as a whole.

Runoff Ditches

The top of many mountain drainages has seen countless bucks make hunters happy. Most hunters know that a pinch point like this sees a lot of hunting pressure during the rut. Setting a cell cam on the next crossing or two below the top is a better option to combat the hunting pressure. 

These ditches remain cold whether the water comes from a spring or runoff from the mountain top. The cold water will cause thermal currents to race downhill almost all day. To take advantage of these thermals, set up within five to ten yards of the water source. The second benefit of this type of thermal is that it will help conceal your access, maintaining the element of surprise.

Water Holes

The most hidden and unique water source you can find in the middle of the woods is a water hole. The smaller hole you can find, the better. It's harder to see a small water hole via satellite pictures, making it possible to have a spot to yourself. 

Some water holes see daily deer traffic, while others have an ebb and flow related to changing food sources. Cell cams can help define when those food sources are at their peak. Match up changing food sources by watching for busy camera activity. For example, if you're aware of white oaks in the area, hunt the water hole as soon as camera action picks up in early October. 

The benefit of the water hole is that it is a second draw for feeding deer. A buck might stay safely out of range in a wide acorn flat. But if you know that he's heading to the water, you'll know where to get your best chance at a good shot.

Summary

Water isn’t the flashiest scouting feature, but it’s one of the most reliable. Whether you’re hunting swamps in the Midwest, ag country creeks, or remote timber ridges, every deer needs a drink. Cell cams give you the power to monitor those spots without burning them out. A good way to use them as a tool. Add water into your camera strategy this season, and you might just connect the missing link in your pattern.

 

About the author: Aaron Hepler has spent time hunting from the age of 12, fueling his passion for writing. His love for the outdoors never goes unnoticed by everyone who meets him. Bow hunting, hiking with his family, camping, fishing, and almost anything that gets him in nature will do. Residing in Pennsylvania, his day job as an intensive care nurse doesn't stop him from being outside as often as possible. He hosts the In Camp Podcast. You can find the podcast on Apple and Spotify.