While writing my business plan I realized that fencing will be of the most expensive start up costs in my first year. I have a resident herd of over seventy Roosevelt elk that pass through my property throughout the year. They return in the spring for calving season, and in October for their rutting season. I am always amazed that a herd of animals that are the same size as a horse or cow can appear and disappear so quickly and quietly. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to live with and observe the herd year round. Though they are noble, the elk and deer can wipe out a crop overnight. To manage this problem I opened up a swath of land one hundred feet on each side of Mclane creek, to act as a passage through my property. Working with the Thurston Conservation District we have established a buffer of native trees and shrubs along the creek. I hope that by offering a wildlife passage they will go around, rather than through the growing areas.
I am using Rhonda hart’s book Deerproofing Your Yard & Garden, an useful guide for deterring and fencing out deer and elk.
Six Quick Fencing Lessons
- When Possible, fence first, plant second
- If deer can’t go over, through, or under, they’ll go around.
- A fence with a hole is no fence at all.
- Fences over bumpy or steep ground are more difficult to install and can be more expensive in terms of both materials and labor.
- Pounding beats digging. Post driven or pounded into the ground are more secure than those placed in a hole dug out by hand.
- There’s more than one way to fence out a deer!
courtesy of Deerproofing Your Yard & Garden by Rhonda Hart pg. 154
This week I priced out the cost of materials for fencing off nearly an acre of growing space. The fence will be eight feet tall with two gates. I have yet to decide exactly where the gates will be located. The hardware for the gates are not included in the materials list. I will definitely use an auger to drill the fence post!
Cost of Deer Fence
Prices reflect April 2018
200 feet x 200 feet deer fence eight feet tall
80- 4x4x12 foot post Home Depot $24.57 ea $1965.60
186- bags concrete Home Depot $3.50 es $651.00
5-48 x 330 wire fence Tractor Supply $279.99 $1400.00
Total Cost of materials $4016.00
http://www.americanatural.com/products/insect-animal-controls-repellents/plant-pro-tec-deer-repellent.html