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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Deer Fencing experiences

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  • From: Allan Balliett <aballiett AT frontiernet.net>
  • To: castens AT nepower.coop, Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Deer Fencing experiences
  • Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 15:25:33 -0400

http://www.premier1supplies.com

Premier Fencing on Deer:

Deer

Why anti-deer fences work (and fail)Š
The best anti-deer electric fence will fail if it is installed at the wrong time, on the wrong site or managed without an awareness of how a deer herd interacts with your fenced area and the new fence. The keys are:

1. The only 100% deer barrier is an 8 ft tall woven wire fence or a solid
wall.
But that option is costly. Hence electric fences. They rely upon a powerful shock to persuade deer to neither jump nor penetrate a fence. Because they aren't physical barriers, electric deer fences require an understanding of deer behavior and more maintenance.
2. Deer are creatures of habit.
Where they choose to feed, rub, walk and breed are habits learned over time. It's reinforced every time they do it safely. Fencing a deer herd from an area or trail they use often forces the herd to break an ingrained habit. That is why the first day and week of denial of use (by a fence) is the most critical. Once a herd's daily pattern is broken, the change in feeding/walking/rubbing routines and location is easier to maintain.
3. Deer make "cost-benefit" decisions about feeding sites, trails and rubbing trees.
Pain barriers use electric shock to raise the "cost" (the degree of risk and effort to use an area)--and persuade deer that it is safer and less painful to feed, rub or trail elsewhere. (You won't persuade starving deer if your site is its only food source for deer.)
4. Pain barriers work best when the deer are tentative and have time to make a decision.
That's why it's important to identify deer trails entering a new exclusion area and interrupt them with something physical (e.g. a brush pile) where the trail approaches the fence. Do this the day the fence is installed. The key is to make them tentative.
5. Don't hunt near the fence.
Frightened animals do not make normal decisions. Once deer learn that they can leap over or crawl under a fence, they're more likely to do so when not frightened. A habit once begun is costly to stop.
6. Don't fence the entire area all at once.
The intent is to change the herd's "habits." So install a new fence around a small area first. Leave it in place for 2 weeks. The local deer herd will encounter it, learn to avoid it and instead feed or rub in other areas. Then progressively expand the enclosed area until 100% is protected.
7. Deer interpret a fence in their terms.
Their world is black, white and shades of gray. Therefore barriers that contrast with their view of their world are the most visible to deer--and most likely to get their attention.
Warning! There's a natural urge, for those whose property and lives have been harmed by deer, to buy the largest energizer possible (a subconscious desire for revenge, perhaps?). We strongly advise that you restrain this impulse if those unfamiliar with electric fences (public, children, visitors) might encounter the fence. Why? Because high-output energizers do pose a risk to humans (though far less than sharks, ladders, knives, guns, cars, lightning and lethal jellyfish, but nonetheless a risk). Electrified anti-deer fences do work. But you must buy, build, use and maintain them intelligently




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