Along these same lines - I hunted a spring area on our property last year and saw some quality deer but the problem was trying to find a consistent pattern where they came into the water. The actual water that is produced by this spring covers quite a bit of area but only holds water in pocket sizes of a few inches by a few inches - just a real muddy area. Would it do any good to try to dig out a bigger hole and let it fill up? I'm wondering if I could narrow down the area they want to drink from by making one area much better than the others? I also have no idea how much work this would be - maybe I'm dreaming to think that it wouldn't be a really large task.

Sounds like a plan.

You don't give a clue as to where you live and hunt so it is practically impossible for anybody to give you a good answer. Wildlife Biologists I have spoken to, and articles I have read, indicate that Whitetails require very little water because they get most of the moisture they need from their food. This is not to say they do not use water from other sources because they obviously do. If you live in an area where it is usually quite dry, as several folks have indicated they do, then it may well work. If not, it would most likely be a waste of time and effort.

I hunt in west texas hill country.

I put in a water well and windmill a couple of years ago thinking it would be a great attraction. It mainly brings them in during the summer when it is hot and dry, but during hunting season it doesn't seem to make much difference. Deer can go a long time without drinking.

If you have a river nearby, I would tend to think you would be wasting your time.

I read something about this in a field and stream magazine and they made it sound like it would work. I wass even thinkin about doin it down where i hunt just aint got around to it yet but seein as though the main 2 places i hunt one has a creek that runs through the whole place and the other is just one big swamp. I dont know if it would work well.