Elk Proof Fence

Copyright 2013

Elk Proof Fence For Your Garden 

Traditional Elk Fencing. Most elk fencing used in Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and throughout the West measures 7‘-8’ tall. Past experience stipulated that going to greater heights or electrifying the fence was the best way to elk and deer proof an area. This is usually the recommended choice by government agencies to protect highway frontage, pastures and acreage. But this fencing can be expensive, time consuming, difficult to install and may not be ascetically appealing for homeowners.

Elk Proof with Double Fence. We have another fence design that is simple, well designed, environmentally friendly, long lasting and attractive. It is fencing offers another path toward elk and deer proofing your precious landscaping and gardens. It is not taller fencing, but smarter fencing. Simply, it consists of two fences – four feet tall and four feet apart.

Our first attempt to create a garden for our family gave us plenty of wildlife experiences - but no vegetables. The rabbits, gophers and especially deer and elk destroyed the plants before they ripened. Sometimes the elk would just walk around in the garden, tasting, never eating anything - but trampling everything. The first attempt at garden fencing was a 4 ft tall vintage, looped wire design. It was beautiful, but useless when it came to elk.

Our bedroom overlooked the flower and vegetable garden, so we kept our window slightly ajar and listened for the invaders throughout the night. Using this technique, we harvested plenty of sleep deprivation, and gained an education into the nocturnal habits of Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni).

Observing these large, horse-sized creatures trying to enter the garden always followed a precise well-learned process, and was usually instigated by cow (female) elk. Below are the methods they use:

1.    Sizing up the fence. First the elk push against the fence. This tells the elk how tall and how sturdy the fence is built. Elk prefer to enter a garden or yard by simply muscling their way into the structure. It's safer for them and they aren't as likely to get tangled in wire or fencing material. If the fence is not extremely strong (which many are not) this is a fastest way for elk to get to food.

2.    Jump the fence. If the elk are unsuccessful at pushing down a fence, they then attempt to jump from a standing position. The jump is usually easy for them, even at heights of 6 feet or more. Watching them jump a fence looks quite effortless. In reality, they jump only after careful consideration and sizing up the height and width, or if they have jumped the fence in the past. Elk almost always tap the top of the fence with their hind feet, which we always noted as well. Experts believe they “remember” each fence and store its height for reference when fleeing predators.

3.    Repeated process. Each night, the elk start all over: pushing, bumping, leaning, and finally jumping into the forbidden area. The elk would enter and exit the garden on the same side, always away from the house.

4.  Think Outside the Fence. After reading a pioneer Alaskan’s advice on moose fencing and watching the elk purge our garden night after night, we decided to add another fence outside of the original garden fence. We made the fence four feet away from the first one. It was made from juniper poles and rails, and about the same height – 4 feet. The results were immediate and unfailing. We have only had one elk in the garden in five years (we left the gate open).

5.   Size Matters. Elk do not like being restrained in small spaces. They will enter a small area if they can quickly escape - but as prey animals, if they cannot flee, they do not feel safe. This game animal behavior is the basis for the double fence design. Our specifications are below.

Install the 48” high inside fence first. This fence works best if it is made of wire and garden was 25 feet square (25’ x 25’ x 25’ x 25’). This size works well when purchasing a 100 foot roll of fencing. Remember to plan ahead for a gate and leave tops of posts up to 72” tall. Tall posts allow good space for bird houses, gathering baskets and other garden décor.

Measure 4 feet from inside fence, and then install the outside fence. (We determined this measurement using our horse as a model, and standing her between the proposed outside and inside fences. Since four feet was tight for her – we used these dimensions for our fence separation).

6.   Use split cedar, three-rail or wooden slats for outside fence. This fence should be 48” tall. The tops of posts should be set at 50” high and at about 28” deep. The sturdiness of the posts is crucial.  Elk will not jump into the alleyway that is created between the two fences and therefore do not get into your garden.

Note: if each fence is a different style or type, the elk pay better attention to the fences – viewing them as two obstacles instead of one.

Popular Wire Fence. Vintage style, double looped garden wire is once again becoming popular. Gardeners are re-stretching the old wire and buying reproduction wire from new manufacturers. The double loop design can be important because the bottom half of the wire is smaller and will discourage rabbits and large rodents.