It’s essentially a marriage between the owner(s) and the property. So when I do a summer planting, I only disc up half of the clover field for the warm-weather crops. However, deer also need a certain amount of space. 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. Deer, like people, will eat things that taste good when they are readily available, whether they really need it or not. Get new Buck Manager articles by email (it's free! Would the hunt still have been challenging if the 10,000-acre ranch I was hunting been enclosed within a game-proof fence? 6. 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. Even lumbering elk can jump low fences with nary a hitch. By the way, coyotes also use low fences (net wire) to increase hunting efficiency. Managing white-tailed deer within an enclosed area is a huge commitment. In addition, the tight, graduated design of the wire mesh deters other predators and unwanted vermin from getting into valuable crops and property. You will also find your does to be at their highest reproductive rate at this stocking level. 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 . High Fenced Whitetail Hunting: 1st high fence buck taken off Haun Ranch. Your electric fence must have one hot wire set at the typical nose height of the animal(s) you want to control. 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. Another critical component of managing a white-tailed … The goal: Reduce the deer population to nine per acre. How should the hog population be addressed both before and after high fencing? 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. Since deer adapt well to most terrain, acreage suitable for deer farming may be relatively inexpensive. 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 establish different food plots to provide food for the deer at various times of the year. The genetic potential that allows a buck to survive until his sixth year on my property is varied. Plus, I keep extensive records of my deer sightings throughout the year. 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. This way I have them in a controlled environment, which is very important when you hunt with young hunters. First and foremost, I try to maximize harvest opportunities for young people. No one must be more committed to predator control, specifically coyotes, that a person that owns a high-fenced property. 146″ 165″ deer taken by Georgia hunter. I must factor in predation, disease and natural mortality. Further, always intend to shock the animal in front of its eyes so that when shocked, the animal backs up. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It also means deer will be healthy and that habitat will improve. 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 If you are considering fencing a piece of property, meet with a wildlife consultant first. In most of the deer parks around the world the average is 1 deer to 5 acres. I want my bucks to become at least 6-years-old before they are harvested. High fences are not deer proof; they’re more like deer retardant. 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. 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. The George Reserve is a 1,146 acre area enclosed with a deer-proof fence. So a fence may not be as high, perhaps six feet, but slanted outward. 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. The first and most-important method is making sure you keep your deer herd below the carrying capacity of your land. These traps can be characterized as either property “fingers” or a fence corners. Then I know there is plenty of food and high quality habitat for those 60 deer. I know some hunters who prefer not to shoot their big does. Survival rates among the fawns in October are determined by using motion- sensor cameras in August and September. As well, the size of the doe we take has no pertinence in our harvest prescription. Graph depicting Axis and White-Tailed Deer Populations in 96 Acre pen during a competition study by Texas Parks & Wildlife. In most cases, that “in front of their eyes” spot is their nose! 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. 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. I’ve drawn the conclusion that I haven’t noticed any significant increase in the size of the buck’s racks, the overall health of the deer or the size of the deer’s body in the areas where I’ve used minerals. I don’t care if a buck only weighs 50 pounds, if 10 of those 50 pounds are antlers. This puts less stress on the deer manager to make the exact right call at the exact right time. My question is about how many acres it would take to make High Fence Ranch fair-chase. These pellets provide 18-percent crude protein. No deer existed within the enclosure until 6 deer (2 bucks and 4 does) were introduced in 1928. However, this doesn’t always happen. First, determine the carrying capacity of the property for white-tailed deer. I know this probably has been discussed before but, Im trying to have an open mind on high fence ranches. Consider everything about the property (more on this later), not just the deer herd. This can vary greatly based on the habitat and conditions under which they live, but white-tailed deer naturally cover an area (home range size) that is a minimum of several hundred acres in size. 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. Another critical component of managing a white-tailed deer population within a high fence is predator control. Larger acreages will help with deer “proof-ness.”. Your email address will not be published. There are many different ways to provide forage for the deer on your property. Height, of course, is relative, but in the world of high game fences, the minimum is eight feet. I have learned that some of the does that produce some of the best buck fawns that grow to be trophy bucks were small does. Height and/or width is the most important factor with deer fences, especially if high deer pressure. 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. This was a great article on high fence properties. Pickets: If you're installing a wood picket fence, you need to know how many pickets to purchase. If a buck has kicker or split tines, I will keep him in the gene pool of the herd. 170 something . An 8-foot-tall high fence is ideal for deer and exotic animals. Deer fencing is going to cost anywhere from $350 to $700 per 330 feet. 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. Therefore, during this period of time, I feed the deer supplemental food pellets to keep their nutritional level high. Even on large acreage properties, strange boundary configurations essentially create “death traps” for deer. Corners are obviously bad for deer, good for coyotes. 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. Introduction Well planned and properly constructed deer fencing has a huge impact on the efficiency of deer handling. Learn how your comment data is processed. Another important factor to consider is why 6 years is set as the optimal age to harvest a buck. Last years kills. Feral hog populations should be eliminated, but this is almost impossible  reduced on every property where deer management is important or agriculture takes place. Deer & Orchard Fence was designed to prevent deer from entering an enclosure, and does this job exceedingly well. I have a friend with 300 acres under high fence in North Florida. On the other hand, a high fence is not for everyone. I try to keep the crops overlapping. 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. Deer may be able to jump high, but not both high and over a distance. Gardening is not just a hobby; it is a way of life. 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? Collars collected location data every three hours for each deer for an entire year. texas 548-inch buck big deer. It’s amazing what some good ole-fashioned management can do for a white-tailed deer population. It really takes that kind of money to do this right. 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. My ideal is about 1 red or sambar to an acre & 2 fallow,chital or rusa to an acre,thats in the farm. 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. How much is it per meter, just the fencing alone? When new minerals come onto the market, I try them. 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. The deer will try walking under the fence and meet resistance. 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. 22 tpost $176. So I know from experience that by taking 30-adult does every season, I’ll have enough does to produce the number of bucks that I want on my land. I also feed these pellets to the deer again in the late winter, from the first of February until the middle of March. These are important considerations for anyone pondering the placement of a game fence around their property in the name of deer management. Then you’ll know whether or not your expectations are reasonable for your land. 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. I get the best results from Purina’s Antler Max Supplemental Deer Food. Base the strand height by visualizing where the animal’s nose level is if it were to approach the fence with its head at its normal position while walking. Not feasible for most of us working folks deer manager to make it 8 feet the world of high fences. Around the property forage for the land very important when you really think about just about is! And better hunting year-in and year-out again in the gene pool of 225... 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