What do you want out of your fence?

Just like the title says....What do you want out of your fence? What are your complaints and compliments on what you've been using? As a fence contractor, livestock producer, and fence material supplier...of course I have developed my own opinions, but I'd really like to know what is on your mind. Do you think any particular wire design should be adjusted in any way? Taller, shorter, more line wires, fewer line wires, tighter stay spacing, wider stay spacing, square knot, hinge joint, fixed knot, high tensile, low carbon, etc, etc??? What say you?

Jack said:

I'm mostly 20 x 96 x 6 and feel it could be smaller squares on the bottom so fawns can't slip out. This would also make the top squares smaller so the deer can't rip out all the tags the States require. It would cost more to make but in the long run would be cheaper with cost of tagging, rip ears and the like.
I would like it to be 20 x 96 x 4 or maybe 24 line wires.

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We can do narrower vertical stays, Jack. I'll double check on 24 line wires, but I think it's doable as well.

The boss says we can do up to 23 line wires in an 8' fence. 2096-3 is more common than additional line wires, and 165' rolls (I think we can make them up to 200') would cost right around $340-350/roll with discounts for quantity and pre orders on large projects. We can also do an "S" knot in any configuration if a lighter knot was acceptable.

What are everyone's views on wire tension? In my travels, I see quite a bit of not so tight fence, but haven't found anyone to explain if it's by design, or an installation issue. Would there ever be a benefit to semi slack deer fence? Curious to hear some opinions on this.

Free Town, it sounds like your bracing method needs adjusted just a bit. A well built brace shouldn't ever move once the fence is tensioned. Would you care to share your technique with us, as well as the soil type and sizes of posts? Might be an easy fix in there.

Weber195, what we generally do is put proper tension in the wire, and build the give in with the post selection and spacing. For example, using T posts spaced 20' or more will give quite a bit on impact even if it's tensioned to 350 lbs, where timber posts on 10' centers don't offer much flex. The producers that we've fenced for are satisfied that it's suiting their needs and outlasting loose wire. I'm not claiming to have the only right way. I do like to hear others thoughts, opinions, and techniques so that we can continue to improve our products to suit the needs of the folks that use them.