Further, always intend to shock the animal in front of its eyes so that when shocked, the animal backs up. 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 . That under $3 and foot for us and we have 21 deer in 9 acres. Although wild hogs will occasionally find and eat deer fawns, the larger problem will be the holes that big hogs create within the perimeter fence. Hello. 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. Thanks 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. I have a friend with 300 acres under high fence in North Florida. How should the hog population be addressed both before and after high fencing? No one must be more committed to predator control, specifically coyotes, that a person that owns a high-fenced property. Ask anyone that owns property surrounded by a high fence (or adjacent one) and they will tell you that deer get out. Graph depicting Axis and White-Tailed Deer Populations in 96 Acre pen during a competition study by Texas Parks & Wildlife. How much is it per meter, just the fencing alone? We are in the final stages of negotiating the cost of a pipeline running along to borders of the ranch. Get new Buck Manager articles by email (it's free! For our spring and summer planting in late-April and early-May, I plant American joint vetch, iron, clay cowpeas, Alfa Graze, deer weed, Alyce clover. Collars collected location data every three hours for each deer for an entire year. It’s a commitment. High fences are not deer proof; they’re more like deer retardant. Hopefully, he won’t be hunted until late in his sixth year, so he has an opportunity to breed during his sixth year before we take him. Buck my grandson Mason finished off. If you are considering fencing a piece of property, meet with a wildlife consultant first. © 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. 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 … 2 rolls wire $258. However, keeping the number of animals per acre to a minimum reduces stress on the animals. I also feed these pellets to the deer again in the late winter, from the first of February until the middle of March. The goal: Reduce the deer population to nine per acre. For instance, some of my clover fields are perennials. Then I know there is plenty of food and high quality habitat for those 60 deer. Here is what a buck needs to not be removed from the herd until he is 6-years-old. So when I do a summer planting, I only disc up half of the clover field for the warm-weather crops. The two on the outside scored 199 5/8. The monitoring of your deer herd is extremely important to you because you don’t want your deer herd to get out of hand. The deer will try walking under the fence and meet resistance. 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 land is very thick and tough to see a specific deer. Constructing a Deer Fence at the Cecarelli Farm. I guess when you really think about just about everyplace is fenced to a certain extent. 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. It also means deer will be healthy and that habitat will improve. The average deer woods will supply about 300 pounds of forage per year, while a clearcut or natural opening can provide up to 1,500 pounds per acre. Although the owners/managers of high fenced properties realize this, I think it’s important to mention for those considering constructing a high fence around their property. 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. 2 stands of barbwire to make it 8 feet. This way I have them in a controlled environment, which is very important when you hunt with young hunters. D. First, what are your goals? 2 acres is about 8100m2 roughly so that is 360m of deer fencing. 225″ High fence buck that score 175. Scored 183″. Deer fencing is going to cost anywhere from $350 to $700 per 330 feet. This is were there is no suplimentary feeding or rotation of pasture. 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. This ratio can shift closer to 1:1 as the total number of bucks, percentage of older-aged bucks increases. He has a high density of approximately 100 deer, but with the supplimental feeding, food plots, and prescribed burning he does, he has a very healthy deer herd. This means getting a wildlife biologist on the property to determine how many deer the property can support based on the plant communities found there. Kirk Gibson and maybe David Cone did this up in northern Michigan next to my buddy. I also designate various portions of certain food plots for plants that develop at different times of the year. Then you’ll know whether or not your expectations are reasonable for your land. To learn more about deer management, you can purchase Jack Brittingham’s Briarwoods Whitetails which includes information about Jack’s deer-management philosophy and shows what you can do to improve a hunting property. Therefore, if I start out with 10 bucks, only four of those 10 bucks will survive to be 6-years-old, even behind a WTM fence. This season’s controlled hunt, which runs Oct. 26 through Dec. 31 or until 55 deer are killed, is the 12th since hunting was allowed in the 1990s. 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. 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. 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. 22 tpost $176. When you do the math, I only can have 225 adult deer on that 1,800 acres. There are huge financial considerations which makes high-fence operations not feasible for most of us working folks. In his sixth year, he is hunted. The 11 1/2 foot ceder where free the tpost $8 and the 330' redbrand is $129 a roll. The size of the deer’s body has no bearing at all on whether or not we allow him to survive until his sixth year on my lands. 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. I usually let the youngsters hunt over food plots and from enclosed blinds. Older, well-fed bucks means substantial changes in antler quality can be observed without the introduction of deer. Then there is never a time when my green fields don’t have high nutrition forage in them. For all the reasons listed above, anything that compromises the integrity of the fence will allow animals to move on or off the property. 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 … Up in this big country, the deer had never seen a high fence. If a buck has kicker or split tines, I will keep him in the gene pool of the herd. Its not deer farming, just an interesting bit of trivia. 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. 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. Required fields are marked *. First, determine the carrying capacity of the property for white-tailed deer. In one case, a deer jumped a 15’ deer fence; but it may have been chased by a predatory animal such as a coyote or wolf (it's unknown). I don’t care if a buck only weighs 50 pounds, if 10 of those 50 pounds are antlers. A 100-foot fence with 12 posts would equal 1,200. 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. On the other hand, a high fence is not for everyone. Most landowners will cite increased control, management over the deer herd as their primary reason for putting a high fence around a property. Some of these places are only 50 to 100 acres. For example, Lowe’s has a package made from 12 1/2 gauge galvanized wire and measures eight feet high and 330 feet long. However, deer also need a certain amount of space. Managing for the correct number of deer on the property is not only good for the deer (and the habitat that they require), but it helps your wallet too. So a fence may not be as high, perhaps six feet, but slanted outward. Larger acreages will help with deer “proof-ness.”. I want my bucks to become at least 6-years-old before they are harvested. On a 600 acre high fenced property, aiming for a buck to doe ratio of 1 buck for every 1.2 to 1.5 does would be a good place to start. Second, what are your goals for the land? By the way, coyotes also use low fences (net wire) to increase hunting efficiency. The rest of the year the deer feed on native browse and the various food plots. 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. High-Tensile Woven Wire Fencing. DIY Deer Fence For Year-Round Deer Management. However, this doesn’t always happen. Healthy animals grow larger bodies and that translates into bigger antlers, higher fawn survival rates and better hunting year-in and year-out. It really takes that kind of money to do this right. So, if the property I’m managing can carry 100 deer without damaging the habitat, I’ll only carry 60 deer. Learn how your comment data is processed. No deer existed within the enclosure until 6 deer (2 bucks and 4 does) were introduced in 1928. 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. 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. 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. Survival rates among the fawns in October are determined by using motion- sensor cameras in August and September. That's a deer density of 1 deer per 5 acres. Written by Jennifer Smith, Deerbusters . For this reason, as well as others, it’s not recommend that properties less than several hundred acres in size be enclosed within a high fence. It’s amazing what some good ole-fashioned management can do for a white-tailed deer population. I establish different food plots to provide food for the deer at various times of the year. A high fence provides a landowner/manager with the ability to achieve deer management goals that may not have been otherwise possible, so this is why many see game fencing as such a valuable tool. Last years kills. An over population of deer in a high fence environment can be disastrous. 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. Why, you ask? 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. In addition, the tight, graduated design of the wire mesh deters other predators and unwanted vermin from getting into valuable crops and property. Another critical component of managing a white-tailed … Overgrazing leads to the overuse of the protein-rich foods that deer prefer, both forbs and browse plants. But because of my scientific deer-breeder permit, I have studied deer that are privately held in captivity. Feral hog populations should be eliminated, but this is almost impossible  reduced on every property where deer management is important or agriculture takes place. Managing white-tailed deer within an enclosed area is a huge commitment. Even on large acreage properties, strange boundary configurations essentially create “death traps” for deer. 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. Are we talking 1,000 or 3,000, 10,000? Gardening is not just a hobby; it is a way of life. In most cases, that “in front of their eyes” spot is their nose! On the flip side, deer also get in. Whitetail deer found within habitat that provides the food, cover and water that they need will make a content living. Therefore, during this period of time, I feed the deer supplemental food pellets to keep their nutritional level high. Would the hunt still have been challenging if the 10,000-acre ranch I was hunting been enclosed within a game-proof fence? My question is about how many acres it would take to make High Fence Ranch fair-chase. 330 feet of fence. 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. Question: “Our family has over 600 acres down in South Texas. And of the 225 deer, I only want 60 does. Bucks die each year from disease, fighting, post-rut injuries or poor general health. Larger acreages will help with deer “proof-ness.” Predator Control is Important. When new minerals come onto the market, I try them. 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. 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. Every doe on my property has dropped twin fawns after the second year. 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. Plus, I keep extensive records of my deer sightings throughout the year. A high fence provides a landowner with the potential to manage deer density, buck to doe ratio and buck age structure, as well as the habitat found on the property (by manipulating deer numbers), but are you ready? All properties are “fenced in” technically. Even lumbering elk can jump low fences with nary a hitch. 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 … This will retail for about $500 to $750 per 330 feet. 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. Instead of using hunter sightings as I described in my article for unfenced properties you are probably doing actual deer … The money paid will more than cover the cost to high fence the perimeter of the property, which the entire ranch needs new fencing regardless. I wish to ring fence a 2 acre paddock with deer fence. ): To each their own is really how I live my life. 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. Most deer can jump a normal fence, but maybe not if its tired (from being pursued) or a fawn. I make the buck-harvest decisions based on the buck’s ability to contribute positively to the gene pool of the herd. 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. 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? 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. I must factor in predation, disease and natural mortality. Farmers estimated between $5 and $10 million per year in crop damage. The rest of the deer on the land need to be bucks. It’ll be the first archery hunt. texas 548-inch buck big deer. Thanks for the input and helpful articles I have found thus far.” — Submitted by Chris. 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. Also, keep cattle numbers at low to moderate levels if the primary interest is deer. The Supplemental feeding of deer works well when it’s part of a designed management plan, but do not think that you absolutely must provide high protein foods if the number of deer is at or below the carrying capacity of the property. 11 cedar free. 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. 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. 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. Coyotes are smart animals and can take advantage of terrain, fences and use pack-hunting to systematically pick off a deer population, especially within small high fenced properties. 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. Maintaining proper deer density allows good nutrition for individual deer and that maintains a healthy whitetail herd. All help appreciated. 2. In most of the deer parks around the world the average is 1 deer to 5 acres. Another important factor to consider is why 6 years is set as the optimal age to harvest a buck. It depends on the size of the property, but like any fence, expect to spend time checking the fence regularly and maintaining the fence as needed. Of pasture high-fence operations not feasible for most of us working folks overuse of the ranch collected location data three! You don’t want your deer herd at 60-percent of the year how much is for! Rates and better hunting year-in and year-out math, I try to maximize harvest for. To nine per acre to shock the animal backs up may be able to jump well over 8 '.. $ 503 per person – $ 100 more than the previous year positively to the deer on your.! 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