We wanted to put in a deer fence but there were drawbacks to what we saw or got estimates for.
- Commercially installed was at least $10 per foot plus required posts every 16 feet.
- Plastic fence was only 7 feet high and the life of the plastic was unknown. Plus the strength if wild grape vines grew on the fence.
So we came up with the following design:
- Use the heavy duty U-channel posts that they sell for road signs. These are available in 10 ft and longer lengths.
- Use 4 ft high field fence wire. This saves us have to have freight shipped 8 ft high wire. Plus it is easier to handle.
- Weave rebar through the wire for support between the U channel posts.
- Cable ties to join the fence pieces together.
U-channel posts – We used 10 ft so we could have 8 ft above ground. 12 ft for 10 ft above ground would be better – this would allow a carrier wire to be strung to hang the top run of wire. It may be easier to find, ship, the more common present road sign installation – 4 ft receiver post with an 8 ft post bolted to it. So this would give: 2 ft in ground, 2 ft above ground; bolt the 8 ft at 3 ft to get 9 ft of height. Tapco Steel U-Channel Sign Post https://www.tapconet.com/product/u-channel-sign-posts
Rebar is available in 10 ft precut lengths.
The field fence wire: Tractor Supply, Red Brand Woven Field Fence, 330 ft. L x 47 in. H, 70048 https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/red-brand-woven-field-fence-330-ft-l-x-47-in-h https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/search/red%20brand%20field%20fence
We used a Little Giant ladder when installing the posts.
- This A frame style ladder is adjustable so we could have the downhill side two rungs longer.
Here is a corner post. It is time to reset a new, taller, post. Wild grape and clematis love to grow on the fence. They also provide a visual barrier so the deer can’t see through. Some useful stuff.
- Kapro 3 in. Plastic Post Level Magnetic https://www.homedepot.com/p/Kapro-3-in-Plastic-Post-Level-Magnetic-341/205321537
- Lockjawz T post corner support https://www.lockjawz.com
To support grape vines we use an 8 ft U channel post. Or scrap wood. This could be a place to use some thicker saplings or trimmed tree branches.
Here are a couple of gate options. Mostly we use fold the wire back at a post. We park outside the deer fence. By our driveway we use 7 ft plastic deer fence – there is an electric pole just inside the fence so we wanted something that is easy to cut for emergency access. There is also fold back access. We use an electric fence gate handle so it is easy to unhook the carrier wire. We attach the fence to a 1″x4″ furring strip and use a Northwest River, NRS.com, nylon strap to pull this gate closed. I should have put more slack in the wire before cutting it for this gate.
Cave and SAR 