Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help The definitive thread on electric fence.

Temporary E-Fence:


Hi-Visibility Electric Fence:


Our current fence charger, smaller than I remembered:


6 Strand Hi-Tension Fence, 3 wires hot. This is a gate end:


Same fence, showing a corner:


Our line fence, Hi-Tension woven wire with 2 strands of Hi-Tension on top, the upper wire hot:


Tools for Hi-Tension fencing, plus two kinds of insulators to go on wood posts:


A spool of Hi-Tension wire:

The Lazy Susan-based despooler I made for the tractor platform:


Hi-Tension wire strainer (ratchets the fence tight):


Old-Style twisted Hi-Tension end with end/corner insulator:


Crimped Hi-Tension end with end/corner insulator:


Hi-Tension insulator for a straight section:

The electric fence master has spoken or er illustrated!

Theo,

Its obvious this is not your first rodeo!
Great job with the visuals; many of which look very familiar.

Ed

This truly IS the definitive thread on electric fence. What a great post by Theo Gallus!

This is going to produce some results for me. I'm going to do a little research as to local fence specialists and keep you guys informed as to the progress.

Bruce,
25 - 30 years ago, I was that guy that you want to keep out. Looking back, I regret the endless misdemeanor mischief that I put my family thru, but it's water under the bridge and I am a better person today.
5 ft of fence with a shock at the top ain't stopping me. In fact, it presents the challenge of coming back the next night and showing you who the boss is. This will probably include a couple of fellow thieves. If there's gold in them hills, your proposal is a very minor inconvenience. If it's that close to the road, I'm parking my car, pulling my dad's folding ladder out of the trunk or just the insulated linesman pliers, and takin' care of business.
Short of a 6 ft chain link fence topped with a 2 ft coil of razor wire, I don't have a reasonable solution for you.

Bruce, Brettski brings up a good point. A lock on a door is generally an indicator that something inside is worth stealing. Nothing really deters a determined thief but the fear of getting caught and either shot or prosecuted. Most thieves are either young or dumb or both. They only think of penalties when caught.

That said, I think a fence and no trespassing signs is still a good idea. It shows intent to local Game Wardens and Judges. Not everyone knows about electric fence and it will deter some.

My biggest concern, if I were going to poach your fish would be the idea that, once inside I would also be somewhat fenced in. However, that takes forethought that most poachers don't have. Along with the fence, I would ask the Game Warden to come out and ask for his assistance.

Like Brettski, I'm looking in my rear view mirror. When I was a teenager, our parents would give us money and drop us off at the local Minor League baseball (Fort Worth Cats) field. We waved bye to parents and headed around back. The fence was only 8 ft. high and they only had one security guard. Piece of cake. It was the challenge.

Bruce,

Unfortunately I've had way too much experience with this topic. Brettski is right on target, IMO. An electric fence won't deter human poachers, neither will signs, cameras, fences, or locked gates.

The most effective measure is to spend the time and, if required, money to catch them in the act.

Since we did that, and scared the crap out of the poachers in the ensuing process, we have had no more problems. Poachers(and potential poachers in the community) must know that there will be repercussions to there actions, i.e. prosecution.

It is worth the money, IMO, if you can't do it yourself or have family/friends to help, to hire someone to stake out the ponds and catch the poachers in the act. Then prosecute or at least scare them with Official measures (visits from the local Sheriff to their house with threats is VERY effective).

Many folks on here, especially like yourself, have significant financial and emotional investments in our ponds and fish. Catch them in the act, get the word out in the community that poaching will not be tolerated, and things should go just fine.

I think there are two distinct classes of poachers.

The first class are the ones who were like me when I was a teenager and really wanted to catch a big fish or shoot a nice pheasant but were so scared of the repercussions that they would only do something that could be done fast, quietly, with an excellent escape route, and hopefully a pathetically plausible excuse.

I'm hoping to make him go to an easier target.

The other poacher acts out of bravado, challenge or malice.

I know I won't stop him...but I am at my farm a lot during odd times. I have a backup plan for him. And it involves scaring him to within an inch of his life.

And believe me, if he's INSIDE a fence, and I catch him...

Bruce- You could have motion activated cameras mounted on poles that would need a good ladder to reach. The triggering of a camera would start lights and shape recognition software that would decide if the intruder is human. If it is a human you could turn on loudspeakers that respond with a voice similar to the first failed robocop at about 140 db saying "Your Pictures are being sent to the local sheriff's department by wireless video! The police have been called and dispatched to this location! You will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law!"

Oh Well! I tried to think of a good solution but they all stink in one way or another. Maybe motion activated lights and fake cameras on poles is not too bad. I was walking by a Porsche in a parking lot once and was told in a menacing voice to step away from the vehicle or the police would be called. It was pretty startling and effective! Advertising even by prosecution will let a lot of people know there are some good fishing ponds in the area.

Most crooks don't have the patience to be good fishermen. Just don't leave your Seine around handy!

PF2's comments reminded me of a pond owner in Western PA that I was able to visit by tagging along with Lusk when he was in Pittsburgh last summer.

This guy had ended up buying a township reservoir that the township no longer wanted. So numerous locals had a history of fishing there.

This guy put up two-way speakers in a lot of trees all around his property. He could listen, from his home, and hear people on his property. Then, he could also talk right back to them in real time.

Unfortunately, I don't know the technical details of how he had the system rigged. I'm sure Lusk has this guys contact info., and I do remember his name. He is a Pond Boss Mag. reader, however, he does not frequent the forum. If you wanted, I'm sure you could be put in contact with him.

I am in agreement with Brettski and others in that people will find a way to get in if they want to.

Frankly, I think all the electric fencing would not be worth the effort or money (assuming you don't have livestock).

I believe all you need to do is post your property. That gives you all the legal recourse you need to get the law involved when you bust someone.

Step into the future and imagine that you have gone through all this effort to install a fence and whatnot, and then you find evidence that someone has trespassed.

You will be as angry and bitter as your Redear Sunfish.