How to Keep Cattle Out of Food Plots

Food plots are planted as supplemental feed for deer during drought and winter. The added nutrition helps deer stay in good body condition and the males to grow big antlers. Plants planted for cool-season grazing include small grains, clovers, turnips and vetch. Plants such as small grains, sorghum, mung bean, sunflowers, millet and sesame are cultivated for warm-season use. To keep cattle out of food plots, a fence is required that allows deer to cross but prohibits entry by cattle. The fence is built to provide enough room for fawns to crawl under and adult deer to jump over.

Things You'll Need

  • 8-inch diameter corner and brace posts
  • 4-inch by 4-inch by 8-foot timbers
  • Barbed wire
  • Fence staples
  • 20d nails
  • 1/2-inch diameter pipe, 1-foot long
  • T-posts
  • Fiberglass fence rods
  • Tie wires
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Instructions

    • 1

      Install corner posts and braces at fence corners and at each side of gates. Set 8-inch diameter posts 3 feet into the ground, 8 feet apart. Nail a 4-inch by 4-inch by 8-foot timber between a corner and brace post approximately 1 foot below the post tops. Loop and staple barbed wire around the corner post where it attaches to the timber. Run both ends of the wire to the brace post and attach it at ground level with fence staples. Twist the two wires together in the middle with a piece of 1/2-inch diameter pipe, 1 foot long.

    • 2

      Alternate setting T-posts and fiberglass fence rods in the fence line about 10 feet apart.

    • 3

      Fasten barbed wire to the posts and rods 18 inches off the ground. Fasten a second wire 32 inches from the ground. Fasten the wire to the T-posts and rods with tie wires and to the wooden posts with fence staples.