RE: Your thoughts on man made water holes for hunting deer
I think it falls under the same classification os food plots: HABITAT IMPROVEMENT. A water hole can be multi purpose and I do not believe this would be considered baiting. I can't find anything in the regulations about watering deer.
I also think it makes a diffrence where you are in the country. I watering hole woulnd't be much good in Maine but a drier climate like Texas may bring deer for miles if there is no other water available