Electric Fencing for Deer - Open Ground, Scottish Highlands

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Venison365

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I should be grateful for advice and opinions regarding the use of electric fencing on the open hill in the Highlands to keep red deer out of (tree) restocked areas and areas of natural regeneration neither of which have commercial timber value, but are being managed for habitat improvement, woodland expansion and biodiversity, landscape, and to achieve sustainable deer numbers in the long-term.

With permanent forestry fencing being prohibitively expensive, particularly when a woodland does not have commercial value, and other options focusing on intensive deer management/culls, which are unlikely to be aligned with the interests of sporting estates nor deer being a component of the landscape, are any land managers in Scotland using electric fencing to exclude red deer from moderate to large acreages; or other, possibly remote, distinct areas? By 'distinct areas' I am referring to areas distant from other woodlands, possibly in the middle of nowhere, where there are remnant stands of tree species or habitats of conservation and biodiversity importance, which, if fenced to exclude deer would recover, expand and become more viable habitat for a various species.

Or, is electric fencing on the open hill considered a big no-no? and, if considered so, by which organizations? and why?

If electric fencing is being used on the open hill with success, I should be interested to know what is proving to be successful. For instance, its height; 3, 4, or 5 strand; and types of fencing wire/twine/rope/tape being used. And, necessary level of joules of energy.
 
I cannot comment upon deer, but the fencing would probably need to be checked daily to be effective and humane. Generally it works well when backed with physical fencing. It depends upon the naughtiness of the livestock too, some are more docile and respectful of barriers. I would expect that wild deer would be towards the worst behaved. I have a photograph of a fallow buck that got its antlers tangled in the cattle electric wire and thrashed itself to death. So that would be another concern.
 
My experience is similar. Electric fencing tape used in isolation attracts the attention of antlered male deer who get stuck and trapped in it. Or, do considerable damage extracting themselves with trailing tape and posts attached. Either situation then creates a deer welfare issue ... which takes you back to whether to deer fence or not. All exclusion fences need routine checking where deer are present.
 
Its only effective if touched, the reason deer fencing is effective is the fact they can't jump over it. Then you have the issue of maintenance, not just the battery life, the security of terminals and earth, but you need to keep foliage away from it to prevent grounding, which means regular visits with a stimmer or herbicide. A normal fence can be extended with rails nailed upright and extra netting attached, or if you have the means, herras fencing can be bought second hand, goes up easily but can look untidy, depending on the site and number of trees, tree guards are another option,
 
I'd suggest you're best directing your enquiries towards some of the big grouse estates in the Angus glens and Cairngorms. I'm fairly sure there are examples of electric fencing being used to exclude deer from areas of heather moorland, to reduce the spread of ticks and louping ill.

Glenogil and Millden spring to mind as having something along those lines. I imagine some very, very deep pockets involved, so not sure if it would be feasible in other situations like the one you're describing.
 
I sat and watched a couple of weeks ago a herd of Red Stags cleanly jump clear over a deer fence that had an electric fence running parallel to it.

Deer want to move into shelter, they also good areas of food etc. I can’t help feeling that deer fencing is a very expensive option, that doesn’t work and just causes huge long term issues to deer and other wildlife.

And then also question as to the cost of fencing versus the actual final value of the timber. A bit of natural thinning at an early stage, negates the need of thinning later on and you will still end up with a woodland with a closed canopy.

As a deer manager focus the stalking efforts on the new plants. Shoot the young deer, and the matriarchs soon learn that its a dangerous place and take herd elsewhere.

Shoot them out on the open hill and they take to the woods for sanctuary.
 
Catch 22. Ideally you would reduce the deer population in order to prep the ground for natural habitat regeneration. As your habitat regenerates it becomes a food source and attracts deer. Are you able to assess what would be an acceptable deer density for the habitat that you’re trying to generate? Are there any invasive species ie Sika? What culling efforts would be required to achieve and maintain this? What is the optimal cull/fence infrastructure combination for the specific ground and habitat? Can you maintain exclusion fences when it snows?
 
Personally I would not entertain using electric fencing for wild deer, the risks are just too high. If the power out put of the fence unit is high enough to deter deer that touch it GENTLY on approach it will also be powerful enough to kill them when they get legs trapped in it. I know this from personal experience. Bear in mind that a deer that just sniffs at the wire end gets a shock will jump back but a deer that puts its head between the wires and gets a shock on the neck will go forwards and risks getting its back legs caught usually leading to its death. checking the fence daily will not prevent accidents, a deer could get in that situation 30 mins after you have checked the fence.
How would you power an energiser that delivers enough joules out on a hill situation?

Here is what can be done with electric fencing with deer that have been trained to an electric fence, not something that is possible with wild deer.

Strip Feeding 014.webp
 
It would need to be multiple strands of properly tensioned high-tensile wire. Which means digging in proper straining posts at the corners and even on minor changes in direction.
Don't even think about the tape or rope stuff that horsey folk use!
 
I farmed deer for quite a few years commercially.

I used to strip graze and subdivide some of the paddocks, especially during droughty summers, with 5 strands of poly rope on 1.6m Gallagher posts. They were trained to it from a young age so respected it. Everything was deantlered annually so there was less chance of a body part getting caught that was 'dead' and not susceptible to the effect of the energiser...

I never had a problem in a fair few years of use. When i was using it with calving hinds, I'd leave the bottom strand not 'hot' so calves could skip backwards and forwards and not get separated from their dams.

In terms of use on the hill, in the wild... I think it would be pretty disastrous and not something i would ever want to pursue.
 
A couple of estates near me use 2 fences, one 3 plain wires, the other 2 plain. Standard stock fence height, the fences are about 1.2m apart. This keeps the wires above the herbage and close enough that they can't jump it. In theory. In practice, they will if pushed hard enough. As to the cost, well, the estate has deep pockets and to do one boundary was well over £50,000. Good luck.
 
Thankyou WalkedUp, 308rws, Novice, HeymSR20, Cyberstag, VSS and Wellyboot

Perhaps Wellyboot’s comment is the answer: Disastrous. Don’t do it.

I’ll unbundle comments and answer queries first:
  1. Prevention of grounding etc.: The fence line would be strimmed before installation. Herbicide is an option, but there’s always a risk of it getting in a burn, so probably not.
  2. Entanglement – It’s a big concern I have and one of the reasons for putting out this post. It may be a no-no just on the basis of risk of entanglement. Literature indicates that fallow are recorded as being quite susceptible to entanglements, but that may just be due to level of exposure they have to electric fences versus some other species. Red deer (and roe) are probably just as vulnerable.
  3. Type of electrified line – agreed, tape and rope should not be considered, which is as expected. Galvanised electric wire and electrified twine could be an option.
  4. Existing deer density: The parcel of ground is very lightly grazed. I don’t know why, but that’s the way it’s always been. (Some areas have light natural region, others not. The reason for patchy natural regen is due to the absence of mature seed source and grasses impenetrable to birch and other light seed. Stocking and seeding are required).
  5. Deer density on surrounding ground: Low, but variable throughout the year depending upon wind and weather coming in from the southwest. Northerly and easterly winds push deer off the surrounding ground. So, in general the deer pressure is currently light. However, offer deer a smorgasbord of unfenced seedlings and saplings and they will come. A further concern is exclusion of deer from neighbouring ground (due to other farm’s proposed deer fencing) increasing pressure on neighboring ground.
  6. Snow: not a problem as the ground is near the coast and snow never builds up into drifts.
  7. Other species: sika are excluded effectively. Not a problem for now.
  8. Fence robustness – strainers and fence stobs would still be required and have been factored in.
  9. Power to energizer – 12-volt battery and 20w solar panel (but this could be increased) to give 5 joules output.
My thought from comments so far: Not looking good. If it is feasible, and I’m hoping some comments may yet come in stating that it is, it may come down to electric fence design.
 
lochty said:
A couple of estates near me use 2 fences, one 3 plain wires, the other 2 plain. Standard stock fence height, the fences are about 1.2m apart. This keeps the wires above the herbage and close enough that they can't jump it. In theory. In practice, they will if pushed hard enough. As to the cost, well, the estate has deep pockets and to do one boundary was well over £50,000. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Many thanks, Lochty.
(Unfortunately my pockets aren't that deep! Non-commercial woodland cannot justify the massive outlay).
 
I'd 2nd wot novice and lochty have said.

1st time I seen it at the grouse I was amazed it worked.
Had fenced reds out off 30 odd K acres.

The original versions were 1x 6ft high plain wire elctric fence and a 2nd fence about 1m away just 1 or 2 electric wires, just normal 3ft high.

The original design was like a dropper fence with split pins and no insulators, they used some fence imported timber which did not conduct electricity. ( i thought they were pulling my leg for a while)
But it seemed to work and a truly massive length.

Been 10 or 15yrs since I've been up there on grouse.
But the latter fences were still double fences about 1-1.2m apart, but now just normal stock fence height or slightly higher.
And only 2 or 3 lines on 1 fence and a single electric on other

Seemingly deer don't like like jumping into the ecltro magnet field in the middle.

They said some deer will jump it but if u shoot those 1s quick they don't educate the rest.
The neighbouring estates would use it as a culling aid at times, so deer bunched up against it and they still don't jump over it.

I think its called NZ electric fencing, the SAC tried to experiment with it for sheep too, with knee high electric wires.

I'd say try and get out to see an estate that actually uses it.
See it in action and ask for some real life advice.

If ur only running 2 or 3 2.5mm HT electric wires u don't need massive strainers or a lot off stabs.
U don't need to pull them under mega strain and can easy space stabs out to 5m+ if ground is flat enough.

Just be getting the power out there I'm not sure if battery energiser will give enough oompah.

I'd try and get out and see the fences ourself and see if they would work in ur circumstances before u spend any money.
 
Just to add, I dunno if it would make a difference.
But most of the grouse moors the fencing is dividing Heather on both sides.

Possibly if u had trees on 1 side it may be an added incentive to jump an electric fence.

Ur best bet is to try and speak to boys using it get their opinions.

I take it no wildlife charities have experimented with it?
I know they have plenty of money so possibly a full fence is no issue.
But they do like to claim old ideas as new 1s invented by themselves.
 
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