Bill,
I may try the high tensile wire since it's worked so well for you. Sounds like
you have very heavy deer pressure.
I had planned on baiting the wire with peanut butter/molasses because I'm only
going with a 6' fence.
Thanks much,
Mark
----- Original Message -----
From: Fleming, William
To: Apple-crop discussion list
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 4:08 PM
Subject: Re: [apple-crop] Best electric fencing materials - Deer
Mark,
12.5 gauge is what we used. 4400 foot rolls were about $100 last winter.
I use what's called a Daisy tensioner to pull the wire tight; simple, easy
and cheaper than other tensioners.
No noticeable sag in 50 feet.
Every other wire is hot and insulated from the post with a short section of
hose held in place with a barbed fencing staple.
The alternating ground wires are just stapled with no insulator.
Porcelain insulators are used at the corners. Corner posts are three feet
deep in concrete with 45° angle braces.
All materials including an $600 fence charger were a little over $3000 to do
30 acres.
Don't skimp on the charger, keeping wild animals out is a lot different than
keeping domestic ones in.
As said deer can go though the fence but only will try it once which can make
it a problem getting them out. Nothing a good dog or ATV can't deal with though.
For that reason the wire and staples are on the inside of the fence so they
don't get pulled out by fleeing deer.
I also cruise the fence right after fawning season with a jar of peanut
butter smearing a glob on the chest height hot wire inbetween each post. The
new ones are very attracted to the peanut butter but one lick will be the last
time they mess with the fence.
I've been very satisfied with the results. Since we are performing Ag
research deer damage can't be tolerated. Before installing the perimeter fence
we were electric fencing just the research plot areas, what a pain having
several different string type fences.
We had to block off a main mule deer migration route and it's worked
excellent though I sort of feel sorry for the neighbors who had the traffic
redirected towards their properties. They haven't really complained per se but
they have definitely noticed.
Before the fence I could count herds of over 100 at a time on the research
station grounds. Now I'm lucky to have a handful all year that mostly come in
though our main gate which must remain open all day.
Bill Fleming
Montana State University
Western Ag Research Center
Corvallis, Montana
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mark Angermayer
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 2:04 PM
To: Apple-crop discussion list
Subject: Re: [apple-crop] Best electric fencing materials - Deer
Bill,
I like the idea of 50' wooden post spacing. Do you know what gauge the wire
is? 12.5 ga is most common for electric fence but that seems a little small -
little bigger than 1/16".
Mike,
I agree a regular 8' deer fence would be best. As you alluded, the expense
is the big disadvantage. While I'm only fencing 10 acres, the fence you
describe (although bullet-proof) would be more than I want to spend right now.
Mark Angermayer
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike J Fargione
To: Apple-crop discussion list
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 12:40 PM
Subject: Re: [apple-crop] Best electric fencing materials - Deer
We have had some success with electric fencing in NY but there are
conditions where it does not work and we strongly advise growers to put up 8'
tall high-tensile, woven wire (non-electric) deer fence if they can afford it.
I have seen electric fences fail (frequently) due to poor design ( deer
squeeze under or through the wires if gaps are more than 8-10" apart), and
during periods with deep snow cover or when soils are very dry. In these
latter cases, there is inadequate electron flow to give the deer a good shock
(i.e. poor grounding). You can switch to alternating hot and ground wires on
the fence, but the deer has to then touch 2 adjacent wires to get shocked, and
if a deer's head is already through the fence they will keep going - no backing
out!
Slant electric designs or vertical electric fences with outrigger wires are
have worked more effectively than horizontal designs but require more space and
make weed control (necessary to keep voltage up) more complicated.
Well-designed electric fences are probably adequate where deer pressure is
low to moderate. If you have high pressure, build a tall woven non-electric
fence and sleep better at night!
Mike
Michael J. Fargione
Extension Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County
Hudson Valley Regional Fruit Program
Hudson Valley Lab, 3357 Route 9W, P.O. Box 727, Highland, NY 12528-0727
telephone: 845-691-7117, cell: 845-399-2028, fax: 845-691-2719, email:
[email protected]
visit us at http://hudsonvf.cce.cornell.edu
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Fleming, William
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 12:05 PM
To: Apple-crop discussion list
Subject: [apple-crop] Best electric fencing materials - Deer
I use high tensile wire, the same type used for trellises. Eight wires
10"-12" apart, 50' between 4" diameter posts with very well anchored corners.
Works excellent, the deer have no problem seeing the wire and it only
takes getting shocked once to teach them a lifetime lesson.
Bill Fleming
Montana State University
Western Ag Research Center
Corvallis, Montana
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mark Angermayer
Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 9:43 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [apple-crop] Best electric fencing materials - Deer
I'd like to put up some electric fence to discourage deer and have some
questions on the type of wire.
My understanding is the poor visibility of standard electric fence wire is
not optimum for deer.
Electric fence tape is more visible but catches a good bit of wind, and we
get a lot of that here.
I've spoken with a wildlife expert and he indicated electric rope is now
being recommended for deer.
However, there are a ton of options for electric rope. I'd like something
that has minimal sag and a long life.
Something like this 1/8" rope would seem to fit the bill
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=26db629c-952b-40e8-88be-7f2269d659e6
but I don't know if it would have high enough visibility for deer. They
make a 1/4" rope that would be more visible. Anyone using any of these
electric rope products?
Mark Angermayer
Tubby Fruits
Bucyrus KS
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