I built a two strand barb wire fence(15"&30") around my feeder with t posts in each corner and drove them into the ground 2ft and the cows managed to bend to of the t posts causeing the top strand to snap. Once they broke the fence, they tore up the feeder bending the bracket of the spinner plate and causing the battery and digital timer to fall to the ground to get stomped on. Did I mention that they drained the entire 55 gal drum of corn, which isn't cheap by no means. I'm looking for ideas on how to keep the cows out but still attract deer. Is an electric fence my only option? Please let me know what works for you?

cattle panel.

X100

PPP. Using a 2 wire fence to keep cattle out was a mistake. Problem you have now is keeping them out since they now have a taste for corn. Use cattle panels like posted above. Make it big enough to keep all the corn inside and allow deer room to get in and move about. Stake your feeder down also incase they get back in.

The 10 16' cattle panels would cost you about $200. Makes a nice large round pen and you wouldn't be buying another feeder. Look at it as an investment.

I agree with the cattle panel but how do you set it up and still manage to have a clear shooting lane for bow hunting?Would you still install an electric fence on top of cattle panel?

How tall is the cattle panel and how many t posts would it take to install 16panels?

No electric is needed. Cattle panel is around 52" high I believe hog panel something like 32" both will keep cows out, but make it as big as you can afford. I've seen some that had enough circumference that a bow blind was inside the pen.

Cattle panels are 52" tall and I use two posts per panel. I over lap the panels one square on each one, use an oblong hog ring to secure two panels together this way, three per intersection. Sets up quick and easy. One person can do a pen in an hour or so depending on how hard it is to drive t posts where you are. And yes, it can present shooting issues. Therefore a taller stand is recommended or shoot them coming and going.

we stopped building pens...Taller legs ..If the cows cant get to the feeder box they wont waste their time..We put 8 ft legs on every feeder and cows never a issue anymore...

They don't camp under your feeder and eat all your corn?

cows will go over and push down a hog panel feeder pen, not saying they will always do it, but they def did it to mine.

get the cattle panels.

Here is a link on how I build pens. Just substitute 52" panels for 34" hog panels. I would cut down a panel to a shorter height 40" every so often to allow deer easier access. Corn the ground outside the pen and kill the deer before they get in the pen. It does not take much blind height to shoot over a 52" panel if you make the pen big enough.
http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/u...ics#Post3397175

How about making it with the short panels and then putting a hot wire on top? That would leave you a gap between the top of the panel and the hot wire to sneak an arrow through.

I've never done this, just a thought.

I am glad I don't have cattle on my hunting property.....I am in pretty good with the owner.....just feel lucky you don't have to deal with bears and wild horses, I hear they are tough to deal with.

If you could hang your feeder from a tree I would do that.

Agreed - keeping out cows now will be a huge chore. Worse is the worry you will now (if you put up a fence again) have from one trip to the next to see if yor feeder is still up.

If you cant afford to build the pen (or have the time this late in the game - some deer get spooked by pens and take time to make the "leap") - consider hanging feeder from a nearby tree??? I have my 55s hanging from tree using homemade hangers (looks like an upside down "L" made out of landscape timbers with a winch at bottom). Works like a champ. I find trees that are alone and wrap a couple of sheets of flashing around it to keep coons and squirrels from climbing u p and messing with feeder. PS - If you think cows are bad - be thankful you dont have goats

Definitely no wires on top - seen too many pics of dead deer getting legs caught up. Some of the saddest pics I have seen to date. Horrible way to die.

Cut a couple of entry/exit spots in the panel that are lower than the rest and most times the deer will jump in the pen at that spot. That will usually give you a shot opportunity or just corn outside the pen where you want them to stop like stx said.

Thanks guys for all the advice...nice pics of your setup stxranchman. I guess I will be buying a lot of panels and t posts. Does anybody know where I could get some at a reasonable price?

Uhhh...Wouldn't the cows still try to eat the corn if it was outside the pen

Think Texas and not Kansas. Spread the corn around and not in piles. If the cows have not been eating corn they will not show up just cause you put it out. You disappoint me sometimes sensei.

hog panels and make it round not square, round makes it stronger with less posts

Hog panels is the way to go

If you are going to build a pen - do it ASAP. I have read quite a few posts where deer sometimes take a while to get used to it and jump the panel.