"Can't resist the question, what is a "ten wire" fence?"
Ten strands of high tensile wire. In our case a wire every foot alternating with hot and ground. Bill Fleming Montana State University Western Ag Research Center 580 Quast Ln Corvallis, MT 59828 (406)961-3025 ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John Biele Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 11:25 AM To: Apple-Crop Subject: Re: Apple-Crop: deer Can't resist the question, what is a "ten wire" fence? Deer have electric noses (small openings mysteriously get larger, including breaking the wire in two) with all day to contemplate the situation, your green salad is enticing enough to keep them at the door. We have fenced off a herd of several hundred white tail deer next to a wild life preserve (the previous rancher was partial to the herd), it's a game of numbers and tolerance to damage. Our orchard was removed 3 years ago due to markets and hail, we dropped fencing patrols, last summer and winter was an eye opener, we fixed the fence in several days and broke the cycle, there is no damage this summer. Our two acres of grapes have had very little damage in 10 years, although I have seen extreme damage to young plants less than 1/2 mile away. Every situation is different and requires a different strategy, although we have found fencing to be the only method to keep them in check. Don't forget to patrol the fence once a week for most of the year. John Biele 334 Eastlake Road Oroville, Washington 98844 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> On Aug 4, 2009, at 7:11 AM, Fleming, William wrote: I've only seen one horizontal fence, looked good. Owner said it worked well.. It was 6 wide and hinged with one bolt about a foot off the ground so you could flip it up and mow underneath. Personally since most modern orcharists are set up for installing wire trellises a deer fence is actually quite easy. I just bought everything needed to install a 10 foot, ten wire fence for 30 acres, it was under $3000 for materials. I figure the installation will cost about the same and can be done during the normally slow time of year. Bill Fleming Montana State University Western Ag Research Center 580 Quast Ln Corvallis, MT 59828 (406)961-3025 ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ed Fackler Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 6:43 AM To: Apple-Crop Subject: Re: Apple-Crop: deer I'd also like to hear more detail on it. My gut reaction is that while it may well work, controlling or managing weeds could be troublesome especially on highly erodible soils (created by herbicides...). Therefore Mr. (or Ms.) T. Curl, would you please comment further on your "flat fence". Thanks. ed On Tue, Aug 4, 2009 at 8:13 AM, Bill Shoemaker <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Sounds interesting. Could you describe what it is and how you think it works? Bill > I am aware that large orchards and geology of where > they are planted would play into it but has anyone > tried "flat fencing"? We used it this year and it > has kept out deer and raccoons. We used a > combination of chicken wire and the plastic snow > fencing. Seem they do not like stepping on it. At > least it might be less expensive than an electric > fence or could possibly be used in combination to > reduce costs. Just a thought. > > T. Curl > Fichthorn-Curl Farms > Ohio, USA William H Shoemaker, UI-NRES Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops St Charles Horticulture Research Center 535 Randall Road St Charles, IL 60174 630-584-7254; FAX-584-4610 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard <http://www.virtualorchard.net> and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent "official" opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content.
