Providing feed through genuine stress periods, of course, would be recommended. I make the buck-harvest decisions based on the buck’s ability to contribute positively to the gene pool of the herd. It really takes that kind of money to do this right. Unless you already know that you can only live with bucks that look exactly like those found in commercial deer breeder pens on your property, then please resists the urge to go out and buy them. 2. Managing white-tailed deer within an enclosed area is a huge commitment. I have a friend with 300 acres under high fence in North Florida. Thanks Even lumbering elk can jump low fences with nary a hitch. Couple of Qs than 1. To collect the necessary data on deer movements, researchers placed GPS collars on three does and three bucks inside and three does and three bucks outside a 500 acre high fenced area. Plus, I keep extensive records of my deer sightings throughout the year. Jacksons' beautifully handcrafted fence panels are made with exact attention to detail to ensure the utmost quality and durability for a long service life, and are all … For some terrain, 10 feet provides the extra protection needed to keep a trophy herd in and most predators out. As well, the size of the doe we take has no pertinence in our harvest prescription. There are huge financial considerations which makes high-fence operations not feasible for most of us working folks. I must factor in predation, disease and natural mortality. But, I can assure you that there have been many high fences built ONLY because of “trigger happy neighbors.” It’s only after the fence is complete that many landowners find themselves fenced in, only now in the role of a full-time deer manager. There are many different ways to provide forage for the deer on your property. Since deer adapt well to most terrain, acreage suitable for deer farming may be relatively inexpensive. A 100-foot fence with 12 posts would equal 1,200. When you discuss increasing the nutritional level of a deer herd, someone always asks, “Shouldn’t you put out minerals?” I’ve experimented with minerals and compared the results on properties where I’ve used them with lands where I haven’t. So I don’t think there is any merit to the notion that if you protect big does, those does will produce big bucks. Some bucks get so run down from rutting that they can’t survive the winter. These pellets provide 18-percent crude protein. The rest of the deer on the land need to be bucks. If a buck is more than 10 points, his points don’t have to be as long and his antlers don’t have to be as massive. 2 stands of barbwire to make it 8 feet. Learn how your comment data is processed. On the flip side, deer also get in. 2 rolls wire $258. Most deer can jump a normal fence, but maybe not if its tired (from being pursued) or a fawn. Holding a herd at 1 deer per 10 acres gives no wiggle room, but an estimated deer density of 1 per 12-15 acres means deer will have adequate forage even under less than perfect conditions. That under $3 and foot for us and we have 21 deer in 9 acres. Question: I have about 500 acres that I try to manage to for whitetail deer.The property is low fenced on two sides because one of my neighbors put up a high fence. 22 tpost $176. I know some hunters who prefer not to shoot their big does. But to date, I can’t see that the minerals have played a vital role in the success of my deer herd. This way I have them in a controlled environment, which is very important when you hunt with young hunters. Gardening is not just a hobby; it is a way of life. So, if the property I’m managing can carry 100 deer without damaging the habitat, I’ll only carry 60 deer. DIY Deer Fence For Year-Round Deer Management. A fence of any size takes time and money to maintain, but a high fence constructed for the purposes of managing a deer population takes even more monitoring because  of predator issues and the fact that any breech means animals will enter/exit. The average estimated installation cost for self-installed fences was $446 per acre, compared to $2,400 per acre for fences installed by a fence contractor. As mentioned, one of the big reasons high fence hunting has fallen under such intense scrutiny in recent years is because of the growing number of small deer farms that have sprung up in the last 15 to 20 years in numerous states. It’s all an opinion on what is considered “free range”. Even on large acreage properties, strange boundary configurations essentially create “death traps” for deer. Survival rates among the fawns in October are determined by using motion- sensor cameras in August and September. All help appreciated. Selective, age-based buck harvest by shooting, for the most part, only bucks 5 1/2+ years of age will also increase the number of older-aged bucks in the herd. And of the 225 deer, I only want 60 does. Collars collected location data every three hours for each deer for an entire year. 1 gate $250. It’s amazing what some good ole-fashioned management can do for a white-tailed deer population. However, keeping the number of animals per acre to a minimum reduces stress on the animals. This means the deer found there can be even more … Deer may be able to jump high, but not both high and over a distance. There are also the possibilities of no or mis-management by the property owner, which will negatively impact the deer herd, plant communities and likely value of the land. But not all of this is good forage; in fact, in most cases, no more than 50 percent is good forage, so the available portions quickly reduce to 150 to … It also means deer will be healthy and that habitat will improve. Another critical component of managing a white-tailed deer population within a high fence is predator control. The George Reserve is a 1,146 acre area enclosed with a deer-proof fence. First and foremost, I try to maximize harvest opportunities for young people. You will also find your does to be at their highest reproductive rate at this stocking level. ): To each their own is really how I live my life. Introduction Well planned and properly constructed deer fencing has a huge impact on the efficiency of deer handling. Here is what a buck needs to not be removed from the herd until he is 6-years-old. Some of these places are only 50 to 100 acres. First, multiply your fence length by the number of posts. The buck harvest takes place with family members and a limited amount of commercial hunting. Then, it’s a matter of conducting surveys in late summer or early fall to estimate the deer population and develop harvest recommendations based on goals. Deer & Orchard Fence was designed to prevent deer from entering an enclosure, and does this job exceedingly well. Get new Buck Manager articles by email (it's free! Pickets: If you're installing a wood picket fence, you need to know how many pickets to purchase. In this particular case, the property needs new fencing so the timing is right (and the money is available), but consider the short-term and long-term goals for the property before building that really tall fence around it. It’s a commitment. If a buck has kicker or split tines, I will keep him in the gene pool of the herd. The most important aspect of your harvest prescription is that once you’ve determined the number of deer to harvest in order to have a healthy herd each season, you need to make sure you harvest the predetermined number of each sex in your harvest prescription. For maximum deer protection, we recommend at least a 7.5’ high deer fence to protect crops from deer … On average, it took three people a total of 154 hours to self-install a fence. What is it for a fencer to do the complete job post/wire/fence 2 gates per meter? Your electric fence must have one hot wire set at the typical nose height of the animal(s) you want to control. For instance, if you plan to erect a high fence around a 1,000-acre piece of property, the wildlife consultant should be able to tell you how many deer your 1,000 acres can support without damaging the existing habitat. There will be necessary repairs caused by falling trees, running water at draws and creek crossings, as well as those caused by feral hogs, deer and domestic livestock on either side of the fence. Energizers and Electric Fence Chargers (27) Fence Testers (4) Fence Tools (6) Garden Fence Kits (20) Gate Handles (3) Gripple Tensioners and Kits (4) High Tensile Fencing (26) Horse Fencing (13) Iguana (2) Insulators (27) Monthly Specials (6) netting (2) Polytape & Polyrope (20) Step In Posts/Fiber rods (6) Uncategorized (1) But because of my scientific deer-breeder permit, I have studied deer that are privately held in captivity. For example, the smallest piece of property that I now have under fence is 1,800 acres, and I only want one deer per 8 acres. This is equal to approximately $503 per person – $100 more than the previous year. Would the hunt still have been challenging if the 10,000-acre ranch I was hunting been enclosed within a game-proof fence? This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. These are important considerations for anyone pondering the placement of a game fence around their property in the name of deer management. I also designate various portions of certain food plots for plants that develop at different times of the year. No one must be more committed to predator control, specifically coyotes, that a person that owns a high-fenced property. We also provide a wide range of height and mesh pattern options and are capable of installing the high deer fence that best suits your needs. Anyone that builds a high fence around a property should understand that they are taking full responsibility for the well being of the habitat and wildlife found within. This will retail for about $500 to $750 per 330 feet. Why, you ask? We are in the final stages of negotiating the cost of a pipeline running along to borders of the ranch. Corners are obviously bad for deer, good for coyotes. And much like having a significant other, there are going to be costs associated with taking care of a high fenced property, in terms of both time and money. On one prime acre of land, you may accommodate2-3 adult whitetail deer, 7-10 adult fallow deer, 4-7 adult red deer, 7-8 axis deer and 1-2 elk. Even in a controlled environment with plenty of forage, protection and low hunting pressure, you will still lose a lot of your bucks to natural mortality. Because a high fence, which limits the movement of whitetail, can and will be used by predators to make them more effective hunters of deer. I’m not an all-out coyote hater, but if you have or plan to have a high fenced property where the goal is deer population management then this is something to be aware of. Happy hunter from Indiana. However, deer also need a certain amount of space. Bucks die each year from disease, fighting, post-rut injuries or poor general health. Will constructing a high fence around the property help you achieve these goals? An 8-foot-tall high fence is ideal for deer and exotic animals. Initially both populations increased during the first 4 years of the study, indicating that the carrying capacity of the 96-acre plot was higher than 2 animal units (assuming 6 deer per … I leave half of the field in clover so the deer can continue to come to that field and eat while the warm-weather crops are growing. dec 14, 2015 this is obviously a high-fence buck, and it has generated a lot of i'd much rather shoot a “real” buck that measures 110inches than pay to The long term benefits of ease of management from good fencing is realised with a reduction in time taken on fence maintenance, as well as reduced personnel time chasing deer around due to inadequate fencing. I don’t care if a buck only weighs 50 pounds, if 10 of those 50 pounds are antlers. Further, always intend to shock the animal in front of its eyes so that when shocked, the animal backs up. For example, if you're installing a 100-foot fence that is 4 feet high, you need 200 linear feet of railing. Such a slanted fence should be at a 45-degree angle, and may consist of fencing with a few strands of additional wire on top for extra height. Hello. 6. Deer, like people, will eat things that taste good when they are readily available, whether they really need it or not. High fences are not deer proof; they’re more like deer retardant. I usually let the youngsters hunt over food plots and from enclosed blinds. This puts less stress on the deer manager to make the exact right call at the exact right time. So a fence may not be as high, perhaps six feet, but slanted outward. 1 roll barwire $60. All properties are “fenced in” technically. The genetic potential that allows a buck to survive until his sixth year on my property is varied. A finger would be a section, say 20-80 acres, that juts off the main body of the high fenced property, so it essentially forms an alley where deer can be pushed, run down and killed by coyotes. I also plant Elbon rye and rye grass mixed in with the clovers. The goal: Reduce the deer population to nine per acre. Deer bound easily over five-foot field fencing. Its not deer farming, just an interesting bit of trivia. Feral hog populations should be eliminated, but this is almost impossible  reduced on every property where deer management is important or agriculture takes place. High Fenced Whitetail Hunting: 1st high fence buck taken off Haun Ranch. 330 feet of fence. This will likely include decreasing the doe population to get the number of bucks and the number of does closer together. I know this probably has been discussed before but, Im trying to have an open mind on high fence ranches. By the way, coyotes also use low fences (net wire) to increase hunting efficiency. Our Situation - The Cecarelli Farm owns a 45-acre parcel of land that had become unsuitable for anything but hay crops, due to high deer populations. For instance, some of my clover fields are perennials. If you wait to harvest these bucks until year seven or eight, you may not have any bucks that have survived for you to hunt in those later years. An over population of deer in a high fence environment can be disastrous. Kirk Gibson and maybe David Cone did this up in northern Michigan next to my buddy. Start with the things that a high fence allows you to control: deer density, buck to doe ratio and the age structure of bucks. My question is about how many acres it would take to make High Fence Ranch fair-chase. I get the best results from Purina’s Antler Max Supplemental Deer Food. Garden Fencing Panels. When you do the math, I only can have 225 adult deer on that 1,800 acres. Then there is never a time when my green fields don’t have high nutrition forage in them. Beyond everyone's expectations, the population grew to 222 deer in just 7 years! If we determine that a buck has a genetic characteristic that we want to promote in our herd, that buck will be protected until he is 6-years-old. texas 548-inch buck big deer. Ask anyone that owns property surrounded by a high fence (or adjacent one) and they will tell you that deer get out. I’ve seen about 12-percent of the bucks on my property die from natural mortality every year. 11 cedar free. Just about every exotic ungulate competes with white-tailed deer, so the number of whitetail plus the number of exotics must not exceed the carrying capacity of the property. For all the reasons listed above, anything that compromises the integrity of the fence will allow animals to move on or off the property. Assuming we high fence our property, what are your thoughts on what to do with the existing deer population as it relates to bringing in some better quality deer? In his sixth year, he is hunted. Height, of course, is relative, but in the world of high game fences, the minimum is eight feet. We are meeting with some other local landowners with high fenced properties to discuss the pros and cons and hopefully answer a lot of questions regarding managing whitetail deer and a few exotic animals. Information on personnel hours was not available for contractor-installed fences. Avoid fencing fingers, which also reduces corners. Buck my grandson Mason finished off. Another important factor to consider is why 6 years is set as the optimal age to harvest a buck. Of the 1,800 acres that I have under high-fence management, I plant 10-percent of that land in both warm-and-cool-weather food plots. I often bring young people to my ranches and give them opportunities to harvest does if they’ve never taken a deer or have taken very few deer. Older, well-fed bucks means substantial changes in antler quality can be observed without the introduction of deer. Every doe on my property has dropped twin fawns after the second year. D. First, what are your goals? I want my bucks to become at least 6-years-old before they are harvested. Only farmers growing high-value crops such as vegetables, nursery and fruit crops generate enough economic return per acre to justify utilization of high-tensile woven wire deer fencing—the gold standard for reducing deer damage. Your email address will not be published. 170 something . Prior to constructing the fence, get the consultant to tell you what type of deer you can expect to produce based on the habitat where you erect the fence. He needs to have at least 8 points to possibly make the cut at 3-years-old, if those 8 points are extremely long and well-formed with good length in his main beams, and he needs to be a 10-point at 3 years of age with long tines, plenty of mass and a wide rack. Maintaining proper deer density allows good nutrition for individual deer and that maintains a healthy whitetail herd. Graph depicting Axis and White-Tailed Deer Populations in 96 Acre pen during a competition study by Texas Parks & Wildlife. For a fee, you can shoot a “trophy” whitetail. © 2020 Jack Brittingham's World of Hunting Adventure, Jack Brittingham's World of Hunting Adventure, Deer Management Under a Whitetail Management Fence, Jack Brittingham’s 2003 Tajikistan Marco Polo Hunt, Jack Brittingham’s Instructional Productions, Jack Brittingham’s Secrets for Taking Trophy Bucks, The First 10 African Animals a Hunter Needs To Take, Ultimate Hunting For North American Big Game II. Question: “Our family has over 600 acres down in South Texas. High-Tensile Woven Wire Fencing. Once you decide how many deer your 1,000 acres can support, then you can determine whether or not you want to erect a high fence. In addition, the tight, graduated design of the wire mesh deters other predators and unwanted vermin from getting into valuable crops and property. 2 acres is about 8100m2 roughly so that is 360m of deer fencing. Scored 183″. Last years kills. So when I do a summer planting, I only disc up half of the clover field for the warm-weather crops. However, this doesn’t always happen. habitat that provides the food, cover and water, carrying capacity of the property for white-tailed deer, exotic ungulate competes with white-tailed deer, CWD Found in Whitetail Deer in Del Rio, Texas. No deer existed within the enclosure until 6 deer (2 bucks and 4 does) were introduced in 1928. One of the best things the owner of a high fenced property can do, or any property for that matter, is to prevent the deer population from exceeding the carrying capacity of the property. In 2018, Americans spent slightly more than $47 billion on lawn care. There’s always the chance that hogs from outside the fence will bust in, but it’s the hogs within the property that will compete with deer for food, water and space. Healthy animals grow larger bodies and that translates into bigger antlers, higher fawn survival rates and better hunting year-in and year-out. The deer will try walking under the fence and meet resistance. Why deliver a cor… Therefore, during this period of time, I feed the deer supplemental food pellets to keep their nutritional level high. Required fields are marked *. Second, what are your goals for the land? I try to keep the crops overlapping. The typical whitetail deer is known to jump well over 8' high. This is were there is no suplimentary feeding or rotation of pasture. Two years after the high fence went up, Gene Riser went one step further and became one of Texas’ first scientific deer breeders, a business that became legal for the first time in 1985. 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