This 5400-gallon equilibrium system, installed by Arizona GFD, consists of a Drinker-310 and three, 1800-gallon storage tanks. The tanks and drinker have been installed at the same elevation which allows for a free flow of water and eliminates the need for a float valve. Pictures courtesy of AZGFD
This Trough-250 was installed partway in-ground near Chico CA. It gives access to deer, birds, and bats. The trough is a low-pressure system connected to a storage tank uphill. Pictures courtesy of Philo H.
Images of a newly installed Drinker-40. Dan W plumed the drinker to a water line with a shutoff box nearby. He also has the drain line connected which goes downhill with a shutoff valve at the end. This gives him the ability to easily turn the water line-in and then drain the drinker for the winter. Note the clean, crushed rock used for backfill and toping. Nice quality installation.
A Drinker-40 was added to a property in southern Arizona to provide water for a diverse mix of animals. To the delight of the landowner, deer, elk, fox, bobcat, and javelina are now visiting the site on a regular basis day and night.
Arizona Game & Fish installed this gravity-fed system in southern Arizona for elk, deer, and general wildlife. In this particular setup, the heavy-duty walk-in style Drinker-310 and storage tanks are set up in an equilibrium system. Setting the drinker and tanks at the same level allows the water level throughout the system to equalize naturally. A float-valve was not utilized so maintenance can be simplified and complications from freezing are reduced. The Drinker-310 has a galvanized strut frame and reinforced steps and is basically a smaller version than the Walk-In drinker. It can be installed above-ground or in-ground, connected to either storage tanks or a water line and installed with or without a float-valve.
Dave Menicucci, professor of engineering at the University of NM and his grad students utilized the planning and siting of two DT-500 guzzlers as the subject of their graduation papers. Guzzlers were installed in a wooded area and also near a cabin. Their comprehensive analysis included evaporation, precipitation, wind, animal usage, and capacity. A 26 page draft of one student’s paper can be found at this link.
These two Low-Pro guzzlers were installed in New Mexico. One guzzler is partially buried to give smaller animals easy access to water at ground level. The water source is rain collection and some filling off a water truck. Pictures courtesy of Kim Pravda.
This drinker and self-contained collection tank were installed in northern Arizona in approximately 2010. It is used extensively by deer and elk as well as general wildlife. The water flow is regulated by the drinker float-valve which is located and protected under the escape ramp. Pictures courtesy of Dan Papez, Nevada.
Just wanted to share with Rainmaker the Dome Top 1000 guzzler and collection foorf set-up we installed during the spring of 2019. We set two Dome Top 1000 guzzlers side by side and then built the 14’ X 20’ supplemental collector off the back. 2,000 total gallons of water for wildlife!
Location: U.S. FOREST SERVICE, , NW NEW MEXICO, JICARILLA RANGER DIST., CARSON NF.
Note: The total collection roof area is 400 sq. ft.. One inch of rain will yield 249 gallons.
Arizona Game and Fish have installed over 150 walk-in style guzzlers throughout Arizona. These high capacity, gravity feed systems range in size from 8,000 to 20,000 gallons and provide critical water for elk, deer, bighorn sheep, desert tortoise, fox and more. The Little Springs system, east of Fredonia AZ, was installed in 2014. See images of the installation here. For more information on the wildlife management efforts of AZGF, visit their website at https://www.azgfd.com/Wildlife/
The San Juan National Forest, near Pagosa Springs Colorado, added two Dome-Top 500 gallon guzzlers. Installing the guzzlers back-to-back gave them 1000 gallons of storage capacity and two drinking spots. Elk, bear and cougar are some of the regular visitors. Pictures courtesy of Brandy Richardson, Wildlife Biologist.
Andrew Jones of All Predator Calls https://allpredatorcalls.com/ has sent additional pictures of wildlife at his Drinker-110. Refer to his “Utah Install Tips” in previous post.
Andrew: It's been approx 60 days since we installed our drinker, on our property near Duck Creek, Utah. The drinker is in clear view (100 yards) from our cabin dinning room table. Wow! What a wildlife magnet! We are averaging 2,500 trail-cam pics a week! (even with a 30 second shutter delay..) Here's a couple pics of the "big guys" who have found our water source..
It has provided hours of enjoyment watching the wildlife. Thanks again for manufacturing such a fine product.
Andrew Jones of All Predator Calls https://allpredatorcalls.com/ did a Drinker-110 install with construction blocks to protect against side wall deflection caused by long term soil compaction. He also added a water drain-line for easy winterizing. Beautiful job.
Andrew: We used the 110 drinker and plumbed with a 1 inch water line on the float valve. We did a "hybrid" install using sacks of concrete with rebar anchors chained to the 110 drinker anchor points, forward and aft concrete blocks anchored with rebar, and installed a drain valve and line for late winter draining (deer and elk migrate out of area because of heavy snow). We also installed a approx 6 inches above grade to minimize dirt and debris from being kicked in by wildlife. Everything looks and works perfect with no raising of the drinker or distortion of the tank sidewalls despite heavy usage from elk and deer as well as heavy summer rains.
Within a 4-hours of install we had deer using it, now we have visitors all hours day and night.
This Drinker-310 was installed in-ground to provide water for wintering elk as well as local, year round animals. Water is supplied by a gravity feed from 5, 3000 gallon tanks, with a collection roof system. Installed in May with followup pictures 6 months later.
Note: The Drinker-310 can be installed either above-ground or in-ground. It can operate as either a gravity fed system or with a float-valve.
Photos courtesy of Pat and David Lauzon, Arizona
Three Low-Pro's were installed in San Antonio area. The interesting feature about this project is the collection roof layout to maximize rainwater collection. Due to the rocky terraine, this is an area where an above-ground guzzler is most proctical.
The total surface area for collection is about 181 sq ft. (guzzler 37 sq ft, roof 144 sq ft) This will result in 113 gallons of water per 1" of rain.
Photos courtesy of Clayton Huebner, Texas
This Low-Pro guzzler was placed along side a feeder in a area of Texas that is populated by fallow deer and wild hogs. Since the hogs tend to feed at night, the feeder was timed to distribute feed to the deer in the morning and late afternoon. The Low-Pro has a height of 16". This height tends to act as a natural deterrent to the hogs drinking and disturbing the guzzler. Pictures courtsey of Jake Marks
Examples of various of collection roofs. For more detailed information about each roof setup, click on image, then "mouse over" and information will show in in the caption.
The Melton Ranch installed escape ramps at multiple locations though out the large ranch in New Mexico. Airport, Hunker N, Hunker Trap, Irrigation and Hunker S. Pictures courtesy of Kelly Melton, NM.
The National Wild Turkey Federation, San Diego California members, installed a DT-500. This guzzler was sprayed camo and included a brush break to give it some cover from a nearby road.
You can follow NWTF biologist Kevin Vella's blog on this and other projects at https://www.nwtfcalifornia.com/nwtf-san-diego-guzzler/
Two Low Pro-210 were installed to provide water for free range Axis deer in Texas. Some rainwater is collected naturally by the guzzler rooftop. Due to sparse rainfall, the guzzlers are periodically filled off a water trailer. A 2" bulkhead fitting was added to make high-capacity filling quick and easy. Photos courtesy of Roger Johnson, Texas
