wind break

i have some spruce in my pens,my deer love the shelter the spruce trees provide, less wind, less snow on the ground, and more protection from snow/rain storms. The bucks however will rip them apart (they seem to prefer them over hardwood trees), which will lead to the trees dying if multiple bucks are tearing them up, so either put something around them to protect the bark, or you could saw anlters which would help a little but it would not stop them( they still love to rubs with their nubs). I like your idea of putting the christmas trees around the pen, they should make it most of the winter, it takes a cut spruce tree a long time to loose all the needles. As long as you have access to alot of unsold trees after christmas, the deer would probably appreciate the protection for the winter.

I sell the shade cloth and can give a great price. Deer like to lay beside it in the heat of the day and it also breaks up the wind that always happens.

Sheets of silo steel works pretty good. They might weigh over 200 lbs each, but bolt together in a C-shape or you can flip a couple around and bolt them together in a triangular configuration with each side being in a concave shape. Guaranteed not to fall over if in a triangle, great for wind, shade, hiding, etc. I also am planting trees inside my triangles, which are 4' 9" at the top, so the only thing they can harm on the tree is whatever they can reach as it hangs down when the tree matures. Osprey trees grow really fast-I planted some inside the triangles late in the summer-July, I believe...it was just a stick I cut and rooted in a bucket of water, and now it is close to 7' tall! Good luck with your project...

dearjohn, I believe antlershed meant austree trees. Phillip is very respected on here for his opinions and his responses only to help other people and for you to pick at his spelling is uncalled for. A few days ago another post had comments from you about a pied picture in sunlight. Try to respect peoples comments on here for we are all working together and helping one another. If anyone feels that I have stepped out of bounds let me know.

Dearjohn, That sounds like a great idea! I feel that it will work how you have planned. Guys this is a business where everyone needs to stick together and be a whole. We dont need the arguing on here. Everyone makes mistakes with spelling and what not. Its ok no one is perfect. Lets all get along!

Sorry there Ken, look like another "joke" to me. I can be pretty narrow minded sometimes.

As far as windbreaks go I have seen people make brushpiles and the deer lay by them year around. They don't always look the best, however. Also shade cloth works on exterior fences and on interior fences I have attached 4'x8' sheets of plastic at least .25" thickness or pieces of plywood.

One other thing my deer enjoy to do is lay on a high spot. If you make a mound in your pen you won't believe how much they will use it. Eldon

P.S. IF you use any chainlink fence you must secure the bottom or they WILL go under.

I have the shade cloth around my pens. I lik the sound of a mound in the center of the pen for them to lay on. Will have to incorporate in my pens as well next spring

Honey Suckle??? and Wood Palets



I was reading a article the other day about wild deer eating honey suckle during the winter time for food and the protein is around 12 to 18%. So I made a couple of A frames out of wood Pallets in my pens for my goats and planted the HS in the slates at the bottom of each pallets to keep the goats from getting to the roots. so far the goats are using them. have to wait tell next spring to see how the HS does. I'm hoping it will make a nice natural looking shelter if it fills in and don't get eaten all the way down while we rotate our animals.



I Have a 18" round cedar in one our fields and my 2 bucks have ripped all the bark off of it so you will need to put something around the trees if you want keep them.



Childers Critter Creek