Just bought some 34" tall hog panels to build a feeder pen. A buddy said the cows will jump it....thoughts?

Never had any do it. Place t post on each end with two spaced in the middle. Make the pen large enough so deer feel comfortable.

Should work just fine 99% of the time. We'all get one of those courageous PIA type that will get in every once in a while.
Like dale said, add an extra tpost for support in the middle of each panel. Min of 8 panels.

I had to run a string of barb wire along the top of the panels to keep the cows from leaning over the fence to get the grass on the feeder side. They had bent the panels down and in toward the feeder and it appeared they would have demolished the panels until stringing the barb wire. Have to periodically tighten the barb wire. Tough cows on this ranch.

Are those hog panels or the taller cow panels?

No way a cow or bull will jump a 34" hog panel



When it does not work is when pasture get short during a drought and they are over-stocking. Stocker cattle can be the worst since they are put on a place in large numbers.
Here my suggestion on what I would do. Keep the pen large enough to keep all the corn when it throws inside the pen by at least 4'. If you have a protein feeder keep it in the center of the pen. If you have grass in the pen then mow it, weed it or spray it to kill it. This bull was eating the bufflegrass around the inside of them and did not bother the corn or feeder. He demolished the old pen so I went back with a 50" cattle panel and cut a few windows to allow deer easier access. No more problems since then but this picture was last Sept. and I sold the bull in March. He was in the pen multiple times since I had to repair it multiple times. Some cattle are just jumpers and need to go. So put wheels under them and send them to the sale barn.

they can almost step over it... iv had big boar roll over it before too

I put a strand of concho on the top of the panel now... not were anything will get caught but just rest on the top of the panel

What stxdrnchman said ! Only time I'm bothered by cows is in drought conditions and poor forage for the cows. DO NOT put range cubes or those alfalfa blocks in the pen- and open invitation to the cows!

On a slightly different note: I know a retired (now elk guide) wildlife biologist who did game management for the state and then several ranches. He says that there need to be at least 8 and preferably 10 hog panels with t posts at each panel and one in middle. Deer don't like to be crowded in the pen. Too small and they just wont get in it easily.
Additionally he said that the panels shouldn't be over 24-28 inches high, as the fawns cant jump the tall panels and the does don't want to get in the pen without fawns. It seems low to me . but that's what he said !

Good question! we did same this year. Been up for about a month. Im overrun with pigs here, finally shut of our
one feeder we have on the property. I have plenty of deer around, just hope they get used to have a short hop of a
short fence.....
I lease out our farm to a local here, and calves look over, but as of yet no one has jumped it yet.... Having a very wet year
overall here near the Brenham area, think deer will not be hitting feeders to much til wx turns....


hunt safe...

I always buy the cattle panels, cut them off some with bolt cutters. They are cheaper than the hog panels, and can leave them a little taller. Most of the fawns are big enough by this time of year to jump in, if not the doe probably gone breed later anyway.

My cows wouldn't even break stride for a 36" panel.

Never had a cow in the pen. 100% agree on making it big enough or you just wasted your time and money. Dad built one too tight and deer refuse to jump it. That pen is now opened. We build them circular with rebar. On rock we drill into it, with soil we get longer rebar. Unfortunately it doesnt solve coon problems, but my 3 sons will have some fun with them after deer season.

Out of 10 or so feeders, we left 2 without pens to still hunt hogs. Those boogers are just too destructive. Auodad (including very young ones) and dam goats have gotten into pen, but never a cow on our place.

Kev