Mark, I originally was going to go with a six footer but two foot longer posts (10') were only $1 each more. Made it a no brainer to go higher. Glad I did. Our 400 pound mule deer can clear a 6' fence like it isn't there. Haven't seen one even try to jump the 8' fence yet.
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 3:45 PM To: Apple-crop discussion list Subject: Re: [apple-crop] Best electric fencing materials - Deer 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<mailto:[email protected]> To: Apple-crop discussion list<mailto:[email protected]> 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<mailto:[email protected]> To: Apple-crop discussion list<mailto:[email protected]> 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]<mailto:[email protected]> visit us at http://hudsonvf.cce.cornell.edu<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 _______________________________________________ apple-crop mailing list [email protected] http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ________________________________ _______________________________________________ apple-crop mailing list [email protected] http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ________________________________ _______________________________________________ apple-crop mailing list [email protected] http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
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