texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Beatixre, MooseSteed, Trappernewt, casyoo
71987 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,788
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 65,416
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Stub 43,768
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics536,995
Posts9,719,275
Members86,987
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
Feeder Pen advice #6882166 09/08/17 08:40 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,267
S
Sirrah243 Offline OP
Veteran Tracker
OP Offline
Veteran Tracker
S
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,267
I'm on a new to me lease this year. There are hogs on the lease and I was just told that there will be calves in the field that I'm hunting. I want to keep both out of my feeder. Square or round pen and how tall?


�A hunt based only on the trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.� -Fred Bear
Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6882181 09/08/17 09:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,800
T
TexasKC Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
T
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,800
My feeder pen is 48' square and made with 34" tall hog panels.


In the end, it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years.
Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6882808 09/09/17 09:51 PM
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 485
T
TxBuck Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
T
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 485



Here is a picture of mine I made in Dewitt Co, the panels are 34 inches high

Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: TexasKC] #6882877 09/09/17 11:41 PM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,806
D
Deerhunter61 Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
D
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,806
Originally Posted By: TexasKC
My feeder pen is 48' square and made with 34" tall hog panels.


This is what I've got too.

Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6882991 09/10/17 02:18 AM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,638
P
Pitchfork Predator Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
P
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,638
Make it at least 8-10 panels and round, not square.


Marc C. Helfrich
Retirement Planner

www.insured-wealth.com
469-323-8920
Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6883002 09/10/17 02:42 AM
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,185
S
Stratgolfer Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
S
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,185
I had a 4 panel square pen last year. I added one panel and made it round this year, it's really easy with a couple of extra T posts. Already seeing more activity in the pen in just under 2 months time.


"I was called by the Yorkers a outlaw, and later by the english a rebel" Ethan Allen
Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Pitchfork Predator] #6883008 09/10/17 02:49 AM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,800
T
TexasKC Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
T
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,800
Originally Posted By: Pitchfork Predator
Make it at least 8-10 panels and round, not square.


If I may ask, why do you prefer round vs. square? I've had both and never once had a hog or cow get in. I found that hogs seem to circle round pens over and over while with square they seem to lose interest and give up fairly quickly. My main objective is to build it strong, no matter the shape.


In the end, it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years.
Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6883037 09/10/17 03:26 AM
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 340
M
mr. buck Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
M
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 340
make a dodecagon, ten panels tied off at the end to tposts. dont try and bend the panels around the tpost to make you pen round. if you try to make it round you cant run a strand of barbed wire around the top without it being well inside of the panels (ive made this mistake). square or rectangle is fine too, but circle, assuming you have cows that may lean on it, is a bad way to go.

Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: TexasKC] #6883242 09/10/17 03:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,638
P
Pitchfork Predator Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
P
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,638
Originally Posted By: TexasKC
Originally Posted By: Pitchfork Predator
Make it at least 8-10 panels and round, not square.


If I may ask, why do you prefer round vs. square? I've had both and never once had a hog or cow get in. I found that hogs seem to circle round pens over and over while with square they seem to lose interest and give up fairly quickly. My main objective is to build it strong, no matter the shape.


It's just as important to me to keep the deer in as it is to keep the hogs out. Research shows deer are less confined in a round pen when multiple animals are feeding. I use standard height 34" hog panels and have never had hogs or cattle in my pens. But I have had as many as 7 bucks in it feeding.


Marc C. Helfrich
Retirement Planner

www.insured-wealth.com
469-323-8920
Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: mr. buck] #6883245 09/10/17 03:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,638
P
Pitchfork Predator Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
P
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,638
Originally Posted By: mr. buck
make a dodecagon, ten panels tied off at the end to tposts. dont try and bend the panels around the tpost to make you pen round. if you try to make it round you cant run a strand of barbed wire around the top without it being well inside of the panels (ive made this mistake). square or rectangle is fine too, but circle, assuming you have cows that may lean on it, is a bad way to go.


That would not happen if you put a tpost in the middle of each panel.


Marc C. Helfrich
Retirement Planner

www.insured-wealth.com
469-323-8920
Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6883820 09/11/17 11:44 AM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 399
K
KCH Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
K
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 399
I just put one up on Saturday...used 12 panels from Tractor Supply (34 inch height and 16 feet long, $21.99) and 24 T-posts and bailing wire and clips to secure the panels to T-posts. 12 panels makes roughly a 60 foot diameter circle...

I have soft dirt so it went up pretty quickly...


Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6883865 09/11/17 12:41 PM
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 806
L
Loanman Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
L
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 806
We do ours as 16 panels, if you have Mulies and whitetail the bigger the pen the better...


Thejeffersonteam.com

If you have a Mortgage Question call anytime, always here to help Fellow Hunters.
Been Helping Families get in Their Homes for many years, Families need a place to live!
Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6883946 09/11/17 02:06 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,768
S
Stub Online Happy
THF Celebrity
Online Happy
THF Celebrity
S
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,768
Initially I started off with 8 panels in a square and had decent activity in the pen. Went to 10 in a circle around 5 years ago and it made significant improvement with activity in the pen. I bought 4 more panels and will increase the size again.

Moral of the story, bigger is better go with at least 10 hog panels up


Last edited by Stub; 09/11/17 03:42 PM.

texas flag








Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6886334 09/13/17 05:52 PM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 478
H
Hunter Daddy Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
H
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 478
If you have just 1 feeder inside your pen and not more than 6 deer at a time would be in it, then you can use 6 hog panels 16' each. If you will have more deer than that inside or 2 - 3 different feeders in it, then you will need more panels. If the rancher is going to put calves on the place then I would use 50" cattle panels. Be sure to use a steel post every 8 feet or less. Remember, put the t-post inside of the pen/panels.

Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6887559 09/14/17 09:22 PM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,773
B
Big_Ag Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
B
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,773
With a square pen, your corner posts have to be rock solid. With a circle, all the posts are working equally and the bend in the panel also help keep the pen rigid all the way around. Just overlap your panels about a foot and wire them together. Move the wired circular pen into shape and start driving t-posts. I drive one then go to the opposite side and drive another, then go crossways and do the same thing until there is a post at every overlapping panel joint and one in the middle of every panel. Have someone pull out on the panel while driving the t-post so you keep tension on the panel with the t-post. Finish by wiring the panels to the t-posts. Do this and your pens will look as good as TxBuck's and KCH's.

Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6887858 09/15/17 02:27 AM
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,265
maximus_flavius Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,265
That's some great looking feeder pens. Very impressive.

Mine are 10 panels round of the hog wire 34" tall. But not nearly as pretty as those above.

Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6888921 09/16/17 03:37 AM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,350
A
aeb Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
A
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,350
Another reason for round pens is that you have no corners for a dominant buck to corner a younger deer.


Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6888922 09/16/17 03:43 AM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609
S
SapperTitan Offline
Taking Requests
Offline
Taking Requests
S
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 29,609
What's the going price of hog panels right now?

Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: SapperTitan] #6889154 09/16/17 05:07 PM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,800
T
TexasKC Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
T
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,800
Originally Posted By: SapperTitan
What's the going price of hog panels right now?


$21.99 @ tractor supply


In the end, it's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years.
Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6889232 09/16/17 07:25 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,432
T
TFF Caribou Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
T
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,432
Do like several people have said and make sure to over lap the panels a little bit and wire them together. I did my first pen this year and while I got plenty of advice on my thread, I missed the advice to over lap. My pen is not as strong as it probably should be. I'll likely rebuild it after the season is over. One thing that did work great for me is using metal zip ties to attach the panels to the t posts. You can get 100 on amazon for less than 10 bucks. A lot faster than cutting wire and wrapping it around.


The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference. -George Washington
Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6889359 09/16/17 10:54 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 15,850
J
Jimbo1 Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
J
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 15,850
Metal zip ties? I'll have to check those out. I usually just use regular zip ties to tie together in a circle then start pounding t-posts and fastening with t-post ties and wire.


FJB - Lets Go Brandon
BBB - Bring Back Better
Awake - Not Woke!
Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6889384 09/16/17 11:46 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,682
K
krmitchell Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
K
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,682
If you are doing multiple pens it might be worth pricing an air powered t-post driver. We rent a compressor and driver every time we build pens. Completely worth it if you are in dry or rocky ground.

Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Jimbo1] #6889388 09/16/17 11:54 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,432
T
TFF Caribou Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
T
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,432
Originally Posted By: Jimbo1
Metal zip ties? I'll have to check those out. I usually just use regular zip ties to tie together in a circle then start pounding t-posts and fastening with t-post ties and wire.
you can use the metal zip ties and not have to mess with the wire.


The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference. -George Washington
Re: Feeder Pen advice [Re: Sirrah243] #6889634 09/17/17 10:56 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442
kmon11 Online Shocked
junior
Online Shocked
junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442
Have no problem and have seen up to 8 deer in the pens at one time. they are built round with 7 50" cattle panels overlapped one square at each joint of the panel. The panels are connected with 3 u bolt cable fasteners, T post at the panel connection and half way in between. The cable clamp U bolts make for a strong connection. Put the 7 panels together with them then a couple of us made it into the circle then drove the T posts inside the circle just setting the panels back a little for room to drive them in before wiring the panels to the posts.

Those have been working about 7 years I think it is keeping goats and cows out. If it were just cows I would not have fenced in the feeders. Only had issues with cows a couple times with the tall wench up feeders over the years. The 70 acre pasture the fenced feeders are in is also fenced with 50 inch cattle panels so the deer in that pasture are already accustomed to jumping those panels and no hogs in that pasture.


lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true
Mainstream news might be fun to watch
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3