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: mj...@cornell.edu<mailto:mj...@cornell.edu> visit us at http://hudsonvf.cce.cornell.edu<http://hudsonvf.cce.cornell.edu/> From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] 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: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of Mark Angermayer Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 9:43 AM To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net 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 apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
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