Will feed pen lined with elec fence work or will deer stray away from it? Seems to be easier and portable for ease of installment. Will they get zapped and not returned, or sense the electricity and not jump it? Just want cows out , and everything else accesible.

I'm curious to the answer as well. I thought about this to keep coons out.

My cows just walked right through the electric fence!

Tried it a few times and seemed like if the fence kept the cows and hogs out, the deer stayed out too. IMO, hog panels is still the best way to go of all things I have tried.

Disagree. I use electric fences on food plots to keep stock out. I also use them to keep deer out until it is high enough to eat. There are patterns that will even keep coons out of the "pen". It is all in the fencing; height, # of strands, energizer, etc. One poly tape will work to keep stock out.

I'm running to an appointment and will provide more info and pictures if needed. My preference is to use the Zareba
products but this link to Gallagher will give you some ideas as far as the wildlife end.

Thats nice, was wondering more about just around the feeder to keep cattle out and let deer get in.

You can use this chart to figure out what you need as far as spacing to keep the various critters out, you can use combinations as required.



For feral hogs and cattle, I would use the hog spacing plus an additional tape at 40". I prefer 1" poly tape as it is visible and has 8 leads in it. I can tell you that with a good charger, it is absolutely painful. I use stout corner posts, smooth treated posts, and then step in posts at 30' spacing for long runs. For feed pens I would use half that. The step in posts I've been using on my food plots are the Zabera 4'.



I walked out from my house and snapped these pictures. I have a real problem with livestock pushing on the panels to get what is inside. While I was walking out, the horse on the left was stretched out enough to pull the top off the protein feeder but I missed the photo. They will not push on the electric fencing.



Turned and took this picture of the food plot that is near, this is about as close as they will get to the poly tape fence.



On my food plots, I use a single strand on the top to keep livestock out. Had a horse walking by the window as I typed so I snapped his picture.

For feeder pens that you want to drive into, you will need to use spring or bungee gates created with the same line spacing. In the food plot picture above, the near line extending to the right is a 16' bungee gat. I prefer the coiled springs because of the cost, $16 each. You can make your own using the poly tape and insulated insulated handles but when you add the additional hardware it is cheaper just to buy the packaged gate. Already done that.



I'm using the Zabera ESP5M-Z 5 mile solar charger for ever run I have. When TSE puts these on sale ($120), I buy a couple more just because I'm replacing my feed pens where needed and all my food plots are now protected with poly tape. That 8.6 KV works. I have a lot of seismic lines with thick thorn brush on the sides. I can stretch a line across any point, not charged, and the livestock will not cross it. That is learned behavior. I've some very long runs enclosed with single strands and this charger is working very well for me. My neighbor is doing the same, with the same equipment, and the same results.

I have a 60 acre bobwhite quail habitat restoration project behind single tape fencing and livestock has been kept out. Will soon add a 37 acre patch on another part of the ranch. Once I'm caught up, I'm going to eliminate my panel pens as the benefit I see with the poly tape pens is that they can be larger and stronger. These pens will be to keep livestock and feral hogs out. Also thinking of adding racoon spacing which is two rows of tape on 6" spacing out from the main fence and 6" off the ground. I've seen game camera pictures of a fellow that is using this and it is awesome, the coons are really held off the feeder pen.

Concerning the fence failures mentioned in this topic, you really cannot talk about fencing failures or gains without talking about the charger and spacing used. The animal needs to see the fence and get hit on the neck or very high in the chest.

I've seen a boar hog run completely through a 5-wire barbed wire fence. Hate to think how much electric fence wire he would have rolled up.

Most critical part of an electric fence is the grounding system. Poor ground and the ost high tech gismo is worthless, great ground and a $30 charger will get the message across.

Thats great, thanks for taking time to explain, sounds like a single poly tape will work for my needs. Just trying to allow all deer and hogs in and keep cattle out. Hope a deer doest get zapped and not return.

They won't, that food plot in my picture above is eaten down because it is full of deer in the mornings and evenings. Not all your cattle will need to get zapped, they learn from the others and learn quicker than you think.

Best news Ive heard in a long time, Thanks again for all the info.