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Brookfield, Wisconsin

Wondering if anyone has had any experience in setting up an electric fence around there patch. I am thinking mostly of keeping the woodchucks out.

4/18/2012 12:45:08 PM

The North Coast

The good news is that woodchucks fall into the small animal category. You can get away with a relatively cheap unit. I would recommend an AC controller, some custom burial cable to go from the controller to the patch and then just plenty of low wiring.

Make sure that the weeds dont get up to the lowest wire and short it out.

I had to go big bucks and get a mack daddy zapper for the bears who like to pillage and plunder in my patch. Soon it will be lesson time for all the critters with some peanut butter hung on tin foil.

4/18/2012 3:51:51 PM

Ontario

I have had experence with both types,AC and solar powered, which charges a DC battery.Solar powered have kept raccoons,deer,woodchucks,rabbits,porcupine,fox and coyote out.They have the benifit of being portable, and not needing an outlet!But like Batcave stated,the DC units, will stop a bear,and cattle if you need that stopping power! Terry

4/18/2012 4:13:01 PM

Hinckley MN

solar cattle fencers are pretty cheap. $200 for complete unit. pick up a grounding rod and it can be set up right next to the patch. there is also electro netting that is used for sheep and goats or poultry that would keep out woodchucks and probably bear, too. Deer will just jump it unless you bait it with aluminum foil and peanut butter. when they lick the peanut butter the deer get zapped.

4/18/2012 10:56:11 PM

Jasper, Indiana

I have been usung a $75 unit from Rural King. I run 3 wires around the patch and has worked great. The unit I have is in the middle price range.

4/19/2012 6:18:10 AM

Muddy Waters

I used to use electric,works great,Its fun watching rabbits jump 6 feet in the air!lol

4/19/2012 6:58:34 AM

The North Coast

I look forward to putting a little metal ramp up to the bottom wire and seeing if when the mice lick the peanut butter if it will be lights out for them or what.

Two years ago I ran a bear off who was messing with our garbage. To my absolute horror I scared him right through the middle of my patch. The next morning I noticed that he left a 4 foot wide path just missing the main. They like to touch them too and they're about 100x worse than the little boy at the fair who is so curious that he sticks his thumb nail right into your pumpkin.

4/19/2012 7:17:31 AM

The North Coast

meadford is right...you may be best served by a solar unit.

4/19/2012 7:20:36 AM

Brookfield, Wisconsin

Don't want to run an extension cord back to patch so will go with the solar type. Once up and running I am putting up a trail camera to catch the action. Looked out the window yesterday and there was a chucky surveying my plot. Sadly only my Red Ryder BB gun was handy. Stalked to within 15 yards. BB bounced off this gut. Heard him chuckling as I chased after him in my house slippers. He heard me cursing his mother when I tripped on a rock.

4/20/2012 5:56:52 AM

The North Coast

My dad is a big fan of snares...he said to use nice air craft cable and a very secure stake. He snared one once and all the grass around the snare was gone from all the action. The chuck had eventually pulled the stake out of the ground and was gone.

Put the snare right over his hole and you'll get him in due time.

4/20/2012 7:58:10 AM

Linden, Mi.,

Dabowhunter,
Funny !!!!
But yes I have been there and you just have to laugh at your self, and hope the neighbor don't see you. :o)

4/20/2012 11:32:31 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Being just 500' away from a state park, I have problems with ground hogs, rabbits, muskrats, deer, raccoons,etc. My electric fence consists of a total of 6 wires, 6' high. I have one wire a couple inches off the ground, another one about 8" higher and another one about a foot higher. The rest are spaced out so that the deer don't go between them. You have to keep the weeds off so it doesn't short out. Sometimes a deer might knock an insulator loose, but the don't return. My charger is a hot AC unit in the garage, with about 400' of wire just to get to the patch. I have found that it doesn't work to keep raccoons out of the sweet corn. I think one will lay on the wires and sacrifice himself so the others can get into the patch. Fox or couote urine seems to repel them.

4/20/2012 5:17:26 PM

Muddy Waters

Buy a German shepherd I never saw a critter last year with Sarah on Duty.Shes coming back in May!after her 8 pups are weaned.

4/20/2012 8:10:52 PM

Piqua, Ohio

if you have a Tractor Supply store near you they are as low as $25. I own a fence business and install a lot of electric fence and I can tell you from experience solar's can be a lot of headaches. You can also buy one that runs off a 12 volt marine battery.Good Luck

4/22/2012 3:08:55 PM

Brookfield, Wisconsin

Bought a solar powered unit yesterday. Will hopefully give me a little piece of mind. Meanwhile the woodchuck has moved into a brushpile just feet from the garden. Had him in my sights but neighbors house was in the line of fire. Later got a bow shot at him but arrow deflected off a branch. He apparently is wise to the haveaheart trap. I tried using pears as bait. Anyone know any other good baits? Also have a snare trap set outside his den. Also a bowl of koolaid (Jones Brand) case he gets thirsty.

4/30/2012 9:37:06 AM

Muddy Waters

If you find his den hole & his escape hole.cover the one hole or fill it with rocks & dirt,Then Duct tape a qt of bleach side by side with a qt of ammonia.The two of these combined make a deadly gas.make sure you dont breathe it.Then quickly dump bottle in hole cover & run like Forest Gump!Oh & make sure he is in the hole first.lol.You will never see him again,I promise.Be very careful or we will never see you again either.

4/30/2012 4:34:55 PM

Burt NY

why dont you use your BOW

4/30/2012 7:32:02 PM

Brookfield, Wisconsin

Did get a shot with the bow sunday. hit a branch. Have gotten a few with the bow over the years however.
May give the bleach/ammonia a try if I get the chance.

5/1/2012 12:41:05 AM

Brookfield, Wisconsin

Fence is up an working. Did a touch test and barley could feel it. Did not stop to think that I was poorly grounded with rubber sole shoes on. Later when I touched the fence with the other hand on a steel fence post I got a really good jolt. Will be putting my trail camera out to catch some pics of the critters reactions.

5/4/2012 3:28:26 AM

Deerfield, Michigan

How much was your solar unit?

5/4/2012 6:04:56 AM

Ontario

I have had my solar unit for 6yrs. still works great,on original battery, just remember to put it in a sunny window in the off season, from time to time, to keep the battery charged up. good luck Terry

5/4/2012 9:55:28 AM

Brookfield, Wisconsin

The charging unit was just over 100$. Screwed up yesterday. Turned it off so I could get inside, than forgot to turn it back on. Wouldn't you know it, no sooner do I get in the house and chucky shows up. Thought I was going to be treated to seeing him zapped and nothing. To make matters worse he again saw me trying to sneak up with the 22.

5/5/2012 1:50:48 AM