• Introduction
• Permanent electric fence
• Setting up electric fences
• Temporary electric fence
• Sources and Credits
• Interactive Exercises

Electric Fencing to Exclude Deer and Elk from Recovering Areas - Setting up Electric Fences

Chargers and Maintenance of Electric Fences

Hot wires can be initially coated with a mixture of peanut butter and molasses. This mixture attracts elk and deer and insures that the first contact with the fence will be with the tongue or nose instead of the body insulated by hair. To coat wires with the mixture, combine the peanut butter and molasses to the consistency of thick paint, then use a mop glove to spread the mixture along the wires.

Electric fence chargers can be solar- or battery-powered or use an AC current. AC current chargers are the most reliable and least expensive, but a hard-wire system is not always feasible because many areas are not near electric power sources. Deep- cycle battery-powered chargers and combination solar/battery powered chargers are good alternatives when main power is not available. Two or more chargers might be more effective if large areas are to be fenced. When designing the electric fence, buy a low-impedance charger with enough power to compensate for stray vegetation or other possible shorts.