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Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

BUREAU OF FORESTRY

DEER EXCLOSURE GUIDELINES Sub-Committee Members: Chris Nicholas, John Wambaugh, Tim Ladner, and J. Merlin Benner

Introduction Browsing by white-tailed deer has continually been the main factor in the successful forest regeneration of quality hardwood stands. Deer exclosures have been widely used and are effective in increasing biodiversity and reducing regeneration failures caused by browsing. Although fences are not effective at excluding all deer, they can greatly increase regeneration success if used under the right conditions. To be effective fences need to be properly laid out, erected at the appropriate time, checked frequently and maintained. Two types of exclosures are currently being installed, high tensile electric (seven or eight strand) and 8-foot woven wire. Many factors must be considered when determining the type of fence to use. High tensile electric fence is less expensive to install than woven wire, easier to dismantle and most of its components are reusable. This style fence requires more frequent checks, maintenance and vegetation control. The longer these fences remain up, the less effective they become. There are always some deer that penetrate this style of fence. It is commonly used in the northern hardwood forest type where some deer can be beneficial in controlling fire cherry and other undesirables. It is also used in oak forest types occasionally when black gum is problem. Black gum sprouts are highly preferred and easily damaged by deer browsing. Where black gum is a major mid-story species, abundant sprouting is almost a sure thing following a harvest. Use of an electric fence will allow deer browsing to control the black gum sprouts without undue harm to the oak regeneration. Woven wire fence is more effective at excluding deer for a longer period of time and usually requires less maintenance. This type of fence is more expensive to erect and more difficult to dismantle than electric fence. Most of the materials are not reusable. It is commonly used for areas that either need fenced prior to final harvest or in the oak forest types, which require a longer regeneration cycle. It is also the preferred option in areas that are natural travel corridors such as saddles. These areas are usually very good sites and should be protect.

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General Information I. Justification & Prioritization A deer exclosure should be considered if deer browsing is a problem, or expected to be a problem when the following results are expected: failure of the stand to successfully reproduce itself, elimination of species from the stand, and/or a reduction in species diversity. The proposed fenced area can be a fully stocked stand or an understocked stand that has experienced some natural mortality or natural disaster. It must have already received a silvicultural treatment or be scheduled for a silvicultural treatment designed to regenerate the stand. Areas that have already had the overstory removed should receive top priority. Areas that have received a shelterwood harvest should be given second priority. Understocked areas should be given third priority and fully stocked areas that one wants to pre-fence should be given lowest priority. When budgetary constraints are an issue, site quality should also be taken into account with the better sites receiving top priority. Fencing should not be done in conjunction with a fertilizer treatment. The fertilizer treatment is intended to advance the black cherry regeneration out of the deer’s reach within one to two growing seasons eliminating the need for a fence (See Fertilizer Guidelines). Deer populations vary over time. Therefore, foresters should continually monitor the deer population and determine whether there is a continued need for deer exclosures. II. Timing Timing construction of deer exclosures after the overstory removal is very important. It can greatly affect the fences effectiveness and chances of successfully regenerating. For electric fences, if the stand has received a silvicultural reproduction treatment from spring to early fall the fence should be erected as soon after cutting as possible. Once the deer become accustomed to feeding on the newly cut area, it is much more difficult to keep them from entering the fence. This is especially true with an electric fence. If a contractor erects the fence, contract specifications should be written in such a way to ensure that the fence is completed within a specific time frame. It is very important that the deer receive a good shock the first time they have contact with the fence. When this happens, they are less likely to attempt future penetrations. During late spring, summer and early fall, the energizer system output is at its highest and ground conditions are best for the deer to be fully grounded and receive the full impact of the electric charge. Frozen or snow covered surfaces prevent sufficient grounding reducing the full effects of the electric charge. For these reasons, electric fences should not be constructed from November through mid-March, or any time when the ground is frozen or snow covered. High tensile electric fence (7 or 8 strand) should not be considered in areas where maintenance and deer penetration problems are a concern or in areas where it is anticipated that the fence will be up longer than 5 years. An 8-foot woven wire fence is recommended for fences that will be in place longer than 5 years. Woven wire deer exclosures should be erected as quickly as possible following the overstory removal, but it is not as important as an electric deer fence. The fence should, however, be erected before the next growing season following harvesting. This protects any new sprouts from browsing.

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III. Layout and Planning Planning for the fence should begin when the reproduction treatment is proposed. Good planning will reduce the amount of maintenance required, the number of years the fence will be in place and reduce costs for construction and removal. All of these will increase the chance of success. Whenever possible, keep fences at least one tree-length away from the treatment boundary. There is an increased chance of blow down at the edge of harvests. If the area has not yet received the final removal cut this should be taken into account. You must make sure that all the trees inside the fence that you want cut can be felled without destroying the fence. Avoid natural features like rock outcroppings, steep slopes and wet areas. These areas create problems that increase installation costs and make them more difficult to erect. Keep the fence straight with as few corners as possible. Allow the fence contractor to deviate from the proposed fence line if there is a good reason to do so. When a change in direction is necessary an attempt should be made to round the corners. This will help increase the effectiveness of the fence, allow for ease of removal and reduce costs. Avoid inside corners and indented areas. Deer are more likely to penetrate fences at these locations. IV. Construction Any dead, dying, or potentially damaging tree that has the potential to fall across the fence line should be felled prior to any wire being strung. These trees are known as hazard trees. Someone should walk the fence perimeter and mark the hazard trees for the contractor. Make sure that all the hazard trees have been cut prior to allowing the contractor to proceed. During logging operations potential hazard trees should be removed at least one tree-length from the fence line. All tops and logging debris should be moved back at least 10 feet from the fence line. This will reduce construction and maintenance costs. Walk-thru type gates should be installed to provide access (See Appendix IV & V). Walk-thru gates should be located at any well-used or logical access or exit point of the fence. They must be a minimum of 4000 feet apart. Walk-thru gates may also be painted with bright colors for easier visibility. Signs should also be put up around the fence indicating the location of the walk-thru gates. Vehicle gates should be erected only if there is a need to pass through the fence for other state forest activities or if there is a need to enter the fence to remove the overstory (See Appendix IV & V). The standard vehicle gate should be 16 feet in width. These gates should be locked with a chain to ensure that someone doesn’t open them and leave them open. After the fence is completed, someone needs to measure the fence with a hip chain by walking the perimeter of the fence. If the contractor does not agree with the measurement, check the accuracy of the hip chain by measuring a known distance. This can be done easily on woven wire fences by measuring between the splices on rolls of wire on the fence. One roll of wire is approximately 330 feet long. For electric fences measure some distance with your loggers tape and compare with the hip chain. If the hip chain is accurate, measure the fence again and go with the average of the two measurements. If the contractor agrees with your initial measurement, there is no need to measure the fence a second time.

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V. Maintenance Before installing any fence, a commitment must be made to provide experienced manpower for periodical inspections and maintenance after the installation of each fence. Available manpower must be considered to ensure proper maintenance. Do not install any more fences than the available labor force can maintain. During times of severe weather, heavy damage can occur. This situation requires help from a "back-up" work force to quickly ensure that all fences are performing properly. This should be done within a few days of the event. A planned maintenance schedule is essential to the effectiveness of the fence. Your fence maintenance personnel should be divided in teams of two. This will create a safer work environment. Maintenance repairs can also be completed a lot quicker because there will not be a need to call for help when more than one person is needed to complete the job. If the district has more than one fence team the fences should be split and divided among the teams. A fence maintenance list should be developed listing when the last time a fence was walked and checked. It should also include a priority list of which fences to check first in case of a bad weather event. The maintenance personnel can set priorities on what fences to check first. One factor that should be considered when prioritizing is how long the fence has been up. A fence that has been up 4 or 5 years and is soon ready to come down would take a lower priority than a new fence. Some fences will have a historic pattern of problems. These fences should receive high priority. Some areas may have wet soils and be prone to wind throw. All these plus other knowledge of the maintenance personnel should be used to develop the priority list. VI. Miscellaneous When fencing in road buffer areas, aesthetics should always be considered. The public may only accept a certain amount fencing along the road. This level of acceptance will vary from district to district depending on the forest users and their interests. When a trail is affected in the layout of the fence all user groups should be notified. The district should work with the user groups to resolve any conflicts. Keeping these groups involved will not only educate them more about our programs, but it will positively affect our public image. Informational and directional signs should be placed near any road entrances, near human entrances, and around the perimeter of the fence. There are several standard sign that the bureau provides to district for this purpose. Some of these signs involve location of walk-thru gates, explanation of why the fence was erected, and danger signs for the electric fences (See Appendix VI). It can also be helpful to place a map of the fenced area at several locations around the fence showing that exact location in reference to the fence. By law, the contractor must have an Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan on site at all times. A general plan should be provided to the contractor along with the contract. For any special situations, the district should write an E & S plan and provide it to the contractor to attach to the general plan. Any seeding the district requires should be done with seed approved by the District Forester.

Woven Wire Deer Exclosures I. Size and Shape 4

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Both the size and shape of woven wire fences is important. Fences should be as square as possible. Long narrow fences can have penetration problems and they are more costly to install. Long narrow fences have a greater chance of disrupting main travel areas for the deer. If a main travel area is disrupted, deer will probably only walk so far around a fence before trying to penetrate it. The combination of a long narrow fence and the disruption of a main travel area can cause penetration issues. In the situation of a long narrow fence, the fence should be divided and a wildlife travel lane should be left between fences. The size of the fence is also very important in its effectiveness. As stated earlier, woven wire fences are more effective than electric fences, but large woven wire fences can still have penetration problems. Woven wire fences should not exceed 70 acres normally. If the area is fairly square and slightly larger than 70 acres there should be no problem. If the area is considerably larger than 70 acres a wildlife travel lane should be left between fences. Wildlife travel lanes should be a minimum of two chains in width. Deer prefer to travel around fence boundaries. II. Construction Woven wire fences are constructed by attaching two 47-inch sections of woven wire fencing material together creating a fence almost 8-feet in height. Some fences have been built using a solid 8foot piece of woven wire. This is a more expensive option and is not recommended. Fence material should be galvanized steel wire. Aluminum wire is not authorized due to the potential for damage by porcupines. Fence material should have no more than 6 inches between stay wires, and at least 10 graduated line wires. Top and bottom wires should be 12 1 2 gauge and stay wires 14 1 2 gauge. The completed fence should be at least 7 feet high. The weakest point of these woven wire fences is in the center of the fence where the two sections of fence are connected together with hog rings. Erecting the fence in the following manner will help to create a stronger fence, reducing deer penetration and maintenance costs. The fence line should be cleared as flat and level as possible. When possible the fence line should be cleared wide enough that a four-wheeler can be driven around the fence. This will help in getting materials to areas where maintenance is required. The bottom of the fence should be kept as tight to the ground as possible. The bottom of the fence should not be cut when going around anchor trees. This will ensure the bottom of the fence stays tight. The first 4” x 6” square on both sections of fence should be overlapped in the center of the fence. Then the hog rings should be alternated from top to bottom of the overlap for more strength (See Appendix IV). If you are concerned about deer penetrating the bottom of the fence some dirt can be rolled up against the bottom of the fence or short sections of log can be laid in any openings between the fence and the ground. This approach will create a stronger fence that is well over 7 feet tall. A 2” x 4” stud should be attached to anchor trees to protect them. The 2” x 4” studs should be attached to the tree with galvanized nails. The topping of anchor trees is discouraged. One and a half inch galvanized steel staples should be used to fasten the fence to the 2” x 4” stud. Line posts are required if anchor trees are not available. Post material should be 4” X 4” or 4” round treated or locust wood or steel posts weighing 2 lbs/ft. Line posts should be at least 10' long and placed at least 2 feet in the ground. If the contractor is willing, the use of line posts should be encouraged even if there are anchor trees available. This will allow the fence line to be kept in a straighter line, which will make installation and dismantling of the fence easier. It also reduces damage to trees caused by nails. Corner posts should be at least 6"x 6" or 5" round treated or locust wood at least 12 feet long and placed 36 inches in the ground. 5

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An adequate number of district personnel should be used along with the fence contractors work crew to drive out any deer that are inside the fence prior to allowing the contractor to close the fence. There is no need to complete the deer drive if there are not enough people to achieve the desired results. It is better to make the contractor wait to close the fence until you can get the needed personnel. Keep the following statement in mind. If you don’t get 1 deer out of a 20-acre fence, it is equivalent to having the pressure of 32 deer per square mile on the regeneration in that fence. If all the deer are not driven from the fence, it is possible that it may be detrimental to site. A section of the fence at least 500 – 1000 feet long should be left open for the drive deer. Most of the time, no deer are inside the fenced area, but this process must still be completed. The standard contract specifications for woven wire fencing are included in Appendix I. III. Maintenance Woven wire fences should be walked at least once a month or after a weather event. If a weather event occurs that has the potential for serious damage, other district personnel should be mobilized to help with the maintenance issues. This could include other district maintenance personnel, forest technicians, or foresters. It is very important with woven wire fences to find maintenance issues before deer find them or you will have fence with deer inside it. If deer do happen to get inside a woven wire fence, all-practical methods should be used get the deer out of the fence unless the fence is slated for take down. First, a section of the fence should be opened up and an adequate number of district personnel should attempt to drive the deer out of the fence. If this fails and it is near hunting season an attempt should be made to notify hunters that there are deer in the fence. If after hunting season and there are still deer inside the fence, a deer depredation permit can be applied for from the PA Game Commission. If possible any deer removed from a fence should be donated to ‘Hunters Sharing the Harvest’ or a similar organization. See Appendix II for information on this type of permit. The best time to try to remove deer from the fence with a deer depredation permit is following a fresh snowfall. This makes tracking the deer a lot easier. See Appendix III for a list of maintenance tools and materials that should be kept with the fence maintenance personnel at all times. Appendix III also contains a list of helpful maintenance hints.

High Tensile Electric Deer Exclosures I. Size and Shape The size and shape are extremely important to the effectiveness of electric deer fences. As state earlier in this document, this style of fences is less effective than woven wire. Therefore, large and/or long and narrow fences will not be very effective at deterring deer. The size of an electric fence should be kept to 50 acres or less. If the area is larger than 50 acres or exceptionally long and narrow, the fence should be divided and a wildlife travel lane left between fences. If an area that is divided into two fences both fences may be powered by one energizer. In areas where there is extremely high deer pressure a smaller fence will be more effective. Therefore, in areas with extremely high deer pressure that are fairly large a woven wire fence should be considered. The wildlife travel lane should be a minimum of two chains in width. Deer prefer to travel around fence boundaries. 6

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II. Construction High tensile electric deer fences are constructed using 14 gauge galvanized high tensile steel wire. The charging system should be 120-volt AC or a 12-volt DC. Seven or eight-strand wire can be used depending on preference and conditions. Wire spacing is described in the standard contract specifications for high tensile electric fencing in Appendix I. Fence voltage must be 6000 volts or higher. The fence line should be cleared wide enough that plants will not encroach on the fence. Although some vegetative management along the fence line will still need to be done, this will help to reduce fence line maintenance until the vegetation becomes reestablished. Two-inch by two-inch pressure treated stickers with insulators should be used to attach the fence to anchor trees (See Appendix V). These stickers can be attached to the anchor trees using galvanized nails. The same style walk-thru gates used on woven wire fences may be used on electric fences. A small section of the fence around the walk-thru gates should be constructed of woven wire (See Appendix V). Power for the electric fence can be carried from one side of the walk-thru gate to the other by overhead insulated wire. The following is some information on the electronics of the fence: A. Energizers Fences can be operated using a 120-Volt AC system or a 12-Volt DC system. The cost of a 120volt system is higher than the 12-volt DC system if electrical service is unavailable. If electrical service is nearby it may be worth the extra cost because this system is more reliable and maintains consistently higher voltages. If electrical service is pursued consider placing it where it can be used for future fences. Specifications and diagrams for setting up a 120-volt system are described in Appendix V. Protection must be installed to reduce potential damage to the energizer during power surge events or lightning strikes. Consider installing surge suppressers on the breaker panel and energizer. The recommended 120-volt energizer that has a minimum stored energy rating of 6 Joules or higher (e.g., Kencove K-6 or Gallagher M800). The 12-volt energizer system is the only option for most areas because of the lack of commercial power. A 12-volt deep cycle marine battery is required to power the energizer. Fences with a perimeter of less than 3500 feet require an energizer with a minimum stored energy rating of 1.3 Joules (e.g., Gallagher B150 Energizer). A solar charging unit is installed to recharge the battery. A 20-watt solar panel is sufficient to keep the battery charged (e.g., Solarex SX-20) on fences smaller than 3500 feet. The solar panel on fences larger than 3500 feet should have a minimum output of 60 watts (e.g., Solarex MSX-60) and should be powered with a Gallagher B600 Energizer. See Appendix V for information on the proper placement of the solar panel. Charge controllers are recommended for solar panels to prevent overcharging during periods of maximum sunlight or energizer malfunction. A low voltage disconnect (LVD) is recommended to protect the battery from damage due to freezing. The LVD shuts down the system when the battery voltage drops below a preset level (usually 10.5 to 11.5 volts). It will not let the system start up again until the battery voltage recovers to 12.5 volts. Charge controller/LVD units are available (e.g., Trace Engineering). The C12 model is recommended because the low voltage setting is adjustable. The LVD should be set at 10.5 volts. 7

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To reduce the chance of direct lightning strikes the charging system should be placed in a box constructed of wood or other non-conductive material and mounted on a treated or locust wood post. The roof of the box should be sloped at a 45° angle and the solar panel mounted directly to it. To prevent damage from porcupines wrap the bottom 2 feet or more of the post with sheet metal. Some mechanism should be constructed on this box to lock. This will reduce vandalism. B. Grounding System (120-Volt AC and 12-Volt DC Systems) A good grounding system is very important for the fence to work properly. Grounding is difficult to obtain in typically dry, rocky and glaciated soils. Drill or dig holes for all grounding rods 3 to 5 inches in diameter at least 4 feet deep. Use a mixture of absorbent clay (e.g., petro sorb, kitty litter) and rock salt around the grounding rods to ensure proper ground. Fill each hole with a mixture of absorbent clay (i.e., 2/3 by weight) and rock salt (1/3 by weight). Push the 4-foot galvanized or stainless steel rods down into the center of the hole. Add water to moisten the mixture. Under most conditions this makes an adequate grounding system that is easy to remove when the fence is dismantled. During drought conditions it may be necessary to water the grounding system to keep it working. Grounding rod spacing and placement specifications are described in the Appendix V. C. Lightning Protection (120 and 12-Volt Systems) Lightning can damage fence energizers. The amount of damage depends on the severity of the strike. It is recommended that at least 2 lightning arrestors and a lightning choke be installed (See Appendix V). This will reduce the chance of damage if the fence is struck by lightning. One lightning arrestor, with its own grounding system, should be installed at the high point along the fence. Another should be installed between the fence and the choke. For added protection install another between the choke and the energizer. All the above grounds must be at least 66 feet from the energizer ground. D. Wire Charging Many distributors of high tensile fencing systems recommend that every other wire be grounded to improve the effectiveness of electric fences. This is very effective in discouraging persistent deer from penetrating fences. The following should be considered when determining the number of grounds that will be established. Fences will need to be checked more frequently to ensure that they are working properly. One large limb or tree can shut down an entire fence. If a hot wire comes in contact with a grounded wire the entire fence will be dead. If the wires parallel to hot wires are grounded, increase the load on the charging system. A severe drain to battery/solar panel powered systems would occur even during periods of maximum sunlight. It is recommended that one or more of the wires be grounded for short periods (e.g., 2-3 weeks). These grounds should be established when the fence is first erected to “train” the deer and at other times when deer penetration becomes a problem. One option is to bait the deer into the fence so they get shocked right away. This can be an extra deterrent to the deer.

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III. Maintenance Fence maintenance is very important to ensure success. Fences must be charged continually with a minimum of 6000 volts so that deer receive a shock whenever the fence is touched. If this is not done, deer will be more persistent at fence penetration. Maintenance begins as soon as the fence is erected. The person in charge of maintenance should be on site when the fence is installed. This will ensure that he is completely familiar with the fence and any potential problems that may occur. The person in charge of fence maintenance should develop an inspection schedule to ensure that all fences are checked at least once a month. All fences should be checked thoroughly during these monthly visits and most importantly after damaging weather events (e.g., wind, lightning, heavy snow, etc.). At these times, additional manpower may be needed to return fences to working order as soon as possible. Set a high priority for checking the newest and largest fences first. Keeping deer out of these fences is both critical and problematic. It is important that each fence be checked at least monthly until it is removed or the silvicultural treatment has been determined to be a success. The following should be checked during every visit: •

Battery voltage

•

Fence voltage

•

Solar panel voltage

•

Lightning arrestors

•

Lead and ground wires

•

Walk around fence, with the power on, looking for: o Missing/broken insulators o Listen for arcing o Bottom wire at proper height o Wires at proper spacing and tension o Lightning arrestors in working order o Vegetation shorts

Most fences require an energizer with a minimum stored rating of 5.5 Joules (e.g., Gallagher B600). This energizer has three power settings that are helpful in reducing battery drain during periods of reduced sunlight. The following are the settings and recommended times for each: •

Low power setting – November thru February

•

Medium power setting – March thru April and September thru October

• High power setting – May thru August and immediately after the fence is put into service During the wintertime after a snow or ice event, the solar panel should be checked and cleaned of snow and ice to keep it charging. Also, if the snow is covering the bottom wire of the fence it can be disconnected to help lessen the drain on the battery. A vegetative management plan will need to be developed for use along the fence line of electric fences. Herbaceous and small woody growth along fence perimeters can cause shorts. Periodic 9

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applications of herbicides may be required to keep the fence lines clear. Placing fences under the forest canopy can retard this growth. When control measures are necessary, apply a foliage application of glyphosate or glyphosate-sulfometuron methyl mix according to label directions (i.e., Accord, Oust). The recommended time to treat woody vegetation is from July 1 until the first frost. The spring/early summer flush of herbaceous vegetation may require control earlier than July 1. Blackberries should be controlled before they grow too large. Six to eight foot canes become a big problem when they fall over fences.

Fence Dismantling When dismantling fences some materials may be salvaged. They can be used for new installations and maintenance. With electric deer exclosures the solar panel, energizer, battery, battery box, stickers with insulators, tightners, wire, and vehicle & man gates may be reusable. With woven wire primarily just the vehicle gates, man gates, and possibly some posts may be reusable. See Appendix I for contract specifications on fence dismantling. Any unusable materials should be the contractor’s responsibility to dispose of properly.

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Appendix I

Woven Wire and High Tensile Electric Fence Contract Specifications

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WOVEN WIRE & HIGH TENSILE ELECTRIC FENCE SPECIFICATIONS I.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry requires the services of a contractor(s), at specifically designated locations to provide installation of woven wire and installation and dismantling of electric deer fences on various forest areas throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This contract(s) will be on an as needed basis. Any questions regarding the technical aspect of this bid should be directed to Jim Bailey at 717-783-0384 or Peter Johnson at 717-772-0272. Questions regarding the bidding or contracting procedures should be directed to Janet Wotring at 717-783-3309. II. LOCATIONS: Fencing locations will be divided up into the following groups. (See Attachment H, Forest District Map for locations) Group 1 -

Forest Districts 8, 9, 13, 14 and 15

Group 2 -

Forest Districts 1, 2, 4 and 6

Group 3 -

Forest Districts 3, 5 and 7

Group 4 -

Forest Districts 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20

Fencing projects will be broken down by degree of difficulty by Average Terrain, Moderate Terrain and Steep/Severe Terrain. The Department will adjust pricing in accordance with the degree of difficulty as determined by the Department. The Department will determine which terrain the project will fall under. Average Terrain – Generally less than 20% slope, no unusual r/w clearing problems (logging debris ok), and many trees to attach a fence to. Moderate Terrain – Between 20% and 35% slope. Other conditions in between the other two descriptions. Severe Terrain – Over 35% slope, special r/w clearing problems (really big rocks), or no trees to attach to and problems putting in post holes. Exact job site locations shall be provided to the contractor prior to commencement of each fencing project. Forest district maps may be inspected prior to commencement of fencing project. Photocopies are available as needed.

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III. GENERAL CONTRACT TASKS: 1. The contractor shall perform the required tasks in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria set forth in the attached: Attachment D - Specifications for Woven-Wire Deer Fence Installation Attachment E - Specifications for Electric Deer Fence Installation Attachment F - Specifications for Electric Deer Fence Dismantling 2.

The fence line shall be flagged by DCNR representatives prior to installation.

3. The contractor shall collect and remove all materials brought onto the work site which become wastes such as containers, wrappers, sections of cut-off posts, and other items associated with installation of the fence, or any personal items inadvertently discarded by the contractor’s workers. IV. COMMENCEMENT OF WORK: Notification of work will begin with a Work Order Form (Sample attached). Upon notification by Forest District of a fencing project, contractor must be able to start project within 45 days. The contractor will notify the Department representative three days prior to beginning construction of each fence. The contractor may work at times other than the schedule of the Department representative. The contractor may be present at final inspection. Submission of Work Orders: The Work Order will be completed by the Department representative outlining project specifics, i.e. location, estimated lineal feet, gates, etc. The Work Order will be approved by the contractor and the Department and work shall then commence. Upon completion, the Department representative will determine the exact quantity of fencing based on upon actual measurement and approve work as completed. The contractor shall approve the Work Order as completed and submit invoice based on approved Work Order. V. SITE INSPECTION: Upon notification by Forest District of proposed fencing project, a site inspection may be requested. VI. CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS: 1.

The contractor agrees to comply with Attachment G, Steel Procurement Act; and Attachment C, Special Provisions for Invitations for Bids – Certified Minority and Women Business Utilization, and return completed form STD-168 with bid. Failure to submit the 13

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completed Form STD-168 with the bid will result in the bid being rejected as non-responsive. Any questions concerning the completion of form STD-168 should be directed to the Department of General Services, Bureau of Contract Administration & Business Development at 717-787-8336.

2.

No contract or agreement may be entered into by the Contractor for execution of the project activities or provisions of services to the project (other than purchase of supplies or standard, commercial, or maintenance services), which is not incorporated in the approved contract or approved in advance, in writing, by the Department. Any such arrangement shall provide that the Contractor will retain ultimate control and responsibility for the project, and that the subcontractor shall be bound by these conditions and any other requirements applicable to the Contractor in the conduct of the project.

VII.

BONDS:

The successful bidder(s) shall furnish to the Department upon notification of award of the contract, a performance security in the amount of $10,000.00 along with a labor and material payment bond in the same amount. The performance security shall be conditioned upon the contractor’s satisfactory performance of all services, covenants, terms and conditions of this contract. The security shall be in a form satisfactory to the Department and shall be either an irrevocable Letter of Credit or a Surety bond. If a surety bond is submitted, it shall be executed by the contractor and a corporate surety, which is licensed to transact such business in the Commonwealth and certified by the Department as an acceptable surety on bonds VIII. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS: The contractor shall purchase and maintain, at its expense, the following types of insurances, issued by companies acceptable to the Commonwealth. a. Workmen’s Compensation Insurance sufficient to cover all of the employees of contractor working to fulfill this contract. b. Comprehensive General Liability Insurance, including bodily injury and property damage

insurance, to protect the Commonwealth and the contractor from claims arising out of the performance of the contract. The amount of bodily injury insurance shall not be less than $300,000 for injury to or death of persons per occurrence. The amount of Property Damage Insurance shall not be less than $300,000 per occurrence. If the policy is issued for Bodily Injury and Property Damage combined, the amount shall not be less than $600,000 per occurrence. c. Automotive Liability Insurance, including bodily injury and property damage insurance to

protect the Commonwealth and the contractor from claims arising out of the performance of the contract. The amount of Automobile Bodily Injury Insurance shall not be less than $300,000 for injury to or death of persons in a single occurrence. The amount of Automobile Property Damage Insurance shall not be less than $300,000 per occurrence. If the policy is issued for Bodily Injury and Property Damage combined, the amount shall not be less than $600,000 per occurrence. Evidence of such coverage shall be required even though the Contractor claims to own no vehicles to be employed on the project. 14

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Such policies shall name the Commonwealth as an additional insured. Upon notification of award, the contractor must provide the Commonwealth with current Certificates of Insurance. These Certificates shall contain a provision that coverage afforded under the policy shall not be canceled or changed until at least thirty (30) days prior written notice has been given to the Commonwealth. IX. BID AWARD: Bids will be awarded based on the Sample Bids on Attachment A, Woven Wire Deer Fence and Attachment B, Electric Deer Fencing Installation. A contractor may bid on any one or more, or all, of Groups 1 through 4 of the Woven Wire and/or Electric Deer Fencing. CONTRACTS WILL BE AWARDED TO THE TWO LOWEST BIDS for each Group. Bid may result in multiple contracts. The contract shall be awarded on total sum of the Sample Bids for each group. The Department estimates total installation during the contract term of approximately the following lineal feet per group: . Group Estimated Lineal Feet 1 125,000 2 125,000 3 125,000 4 125,000 The unit price bid shall be based on what the Department determines as "Average Terrain". Installations required on "Moderate Terrain" and "Severe Terrain" will be paid at the following percentage increase over the average terrain unit price. The Department shall have final determination on degree of difficulty. Moderate Terrain Severe Terrain

-

5% over base bid 15% over base bid

The bidder shall complete and return the signed Service/Bid Contract Form, STD-271P; Attachment A & B, Bid Award Sheets and Attachment C, Form STD-168, MBE/WBE Contact/Solicitation and Commitment Statement for award of the bid. Bids will be awarded based Total Sum per Group. Bid may result in more than one contract. The contract quantities herein are estimated only and may increase or decrease depending on the needs of the Department. Contractor shall be paid at the unit price bid for actual work performed. The unit price shall include all materials, labor, equipment, tools, insurance, and any other items necessary for completion of the project. The Contractor shall be paid at the unit price for ACTUAL lineal feet installed as measured by the Department and as approved on the Work Order.

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X.

CONTRACT TERM:

The contract shall commence upon execution and receipt of Notice to Proceed Letter and terminate June 30, 2003. Further, the parties may agree to renew this contract by letter for three (3) additional annual terms, with the final termination date of June 30, 2006, upon the same terms and conditions set forth in the contract. The Contractor may, upon renewal, increase the unit prices by a rate not to exceed 3%. The contractor shall provide written notification to the Division of Procurement, P.O. Box 8771, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8771 or fax to 717-705-2813, no later than March 31st, of each subsequent year if such increases are to be requested. Should contractor decide not to renew this contract, he must notify the Department no later than March 31, 2003. XI. CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS: The Department reserves the right to request previous work experience, references, equipment owned, etc. to establish Contractor qualifications. Requests shall be following the bid opening and before contract award. The Department reserves the right to reject any or all bids. XII. PAYMENT TERMS: Payment shall be on a reimbursement basis for actual service performed. Invoices may be submitted upon completion and approval of each fencing project. Prior to payment for electric fences, the system will be tested for 14 days. In all cases, payment for fencing will be based on actual feet installed as determined by the Bureau of Forestry. Additionally, if any of the specifications are not met, the schedule below may be used to reduce payment by the full amount of each item or group of items listed below or a fraction of each percentage as determined by the Bureau of Forestry. 1. 2. 3. 4.

Hazard trees – 5% Clearing fence area – 5% Erosion and sedimentation control – 5% Fence supports, fence materials, fence stretching, fence charging, grounding system, lightening protection, wire spacing, joining, tightening, fasteners, securing fence bottom, and access – 70% 5. Operating area, debris and refuse and work schedule – 5% 6. Deer drive – 10%

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ATTACHMENT A WOVEN WIRE DEER FENCE - SAMPLE BID THIS IS A SAMPLE BID FOR BID AWARD PURPOSES ONLY Contractor may bid on one (1) or more of the 4 Groups listed below. Contract will be awarded to the two (2) lowest bidders for each group. GROUP 1 – Forest Districts 8, 9, 13, 14 and 15 AVERAGE TERRAIN - WOVEN WIRE DEER FENCING Estimated Lin. Ft. 2,750 x $_________ 12 foot Vehicle Gates Two (2) x $_________ Walk thru gates Three (3) x $_________

= = =

$_______________ $_______________ $_______________

TOTAL FOR GROUP 1

$_____________

GROUP 2 – Forest Districts 1, 2, 4 and 6 AVERAGE TERRAIN - WOVEN WIRE DEER FENCING x $_________ Estimated Lin. Ft. 2,750 12 foot Vehicle Gates Two (2) x $_________ Walk thru gates Three (3) x $_________

= = =

TOTAL FOR GROUP 2

$_______________ $_______________ $_______________ $_____________

GROUP 3 – Forest Districts 3, 5 and 7 AVERAGE TERRAIN WOVEN WIRE DEER FENCING x $_________ Estimated Lin. Ft. 2,750 12 foot Vehicle Gates Two (2) x $_________ Walk thru gates Three (3) x $_________

= = =

TOTAL FOR GROUP 3

$_______________ $_______________ $_______________ $_____________

GROUP 4 – Forest Districts 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 AVERAGE TERRAIN WOVEN WIRE DEER FENCING Estimated Lin. Ft. 2,750 x $_________ 12 foot Vehicle Gates Two (2) x $_________ Walk thru gates Three (3) x $_________ TOTAL FOR GROUP 4 17

= = =

$_______________ $_______________ $_______________ $_____________

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ATTACHMENT B ELECTRIC DEER FENCING INSTALLATION – SAMPLE BID THIS IS A SAMPLE BID FOR BID AWARD PURPOSES ONLY Contractor may bid on one (1) or more of the 4 Groups listed below. Contract will be awarded to the two (2) lowest bidders for each group

GROUP 1 – Forest Districts 8, 9, 13, 14 and 15 AVERAGE TERRAIN ELECTRIC DEER FENCING 6-Strand fence Estimated Lin. Ft. 1,570 7-Strand fence Estimated Lin. Ft. 1,570 12 foot Vehicle Gates Two (2)

x $___________ = $______________ x $___________ = $______________ x $___________ = $______________

TOTAL FOR GROUP 1

$______________

INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY: Installation of Elect fence using supplied materials = $_________ Elect. deer fence removal

1250 Lin. Ft x

$______

1250 Lin. Ft x $_______ = $_________

GROUP 2 – Forest Districts 1, 2, 4 and 6 AVERAGE TERRAIN ELECTRIC DEER FENCING 6-Strand fence Estimated Lin. Ft. 1,570 7-Strand fence Estimated Lin. Ft. 1.570 12 foot Vehicle Gates Two (2)

x $___________ = $______________ x $___________ = $______________ x $___________ = $______________

TOTAL FOR GROUP 2

$______________

INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY: Installation of Elect fence using supplied materials = $_________

1250 Lin. Ft x

$______

1250 Lin. Ft x $_______ = $_________

Elect. deer fence removal

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ATTACHMENT B - Continued ELECTRIC DEER FENCING INSTALLATION – SAMPLE BID (continued) GROUP 3 – Forest Districts 3, 5 and 7 AVERAGE TERRAIN ELECTRIC DEER FENCING 6-Strand fence Estimated Lin. Ft. 1,570 7-Strand fence Estimated Lin. Ft. 1,570 12 foot Vehicle Gates Two (2)

x $___________ = $______________ x $___________ = $______________ x $___________ = $______________

TOTAL FOR GROUP 3

$____________

INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY: Installation of Elect fence using supplied materials = $_________

1250 Lin. Ft x

$______

1250 Lin. Ft x $_______ = $_________

Elect. deer fence removal

GROUP 4 – Forest Districts 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 AVERAGE TERRAIN ELECTRIC DEER FENCING 6-Strand fence Estimated Lin. Ft. 1,570 7-Strand fence Estimated Lin. Ft. 1,570 12 foot Vehicle Gates Two (2)

x $___________ = $______________ x $___________ = $______________ x $___________ = $______________

TOTAL FOR GROUP 4

$____________

INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY: Installation of Elect fence using supplied materials 1250 Lin. Ft x $______ Elect. deer fence removal

= $_________

1250 Lin. Ft x $_______ = $_________

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ATTACHMENT E SPECIFICATIONS FOR ELECTRIC DEER FENCE INSTALLATION INSTALLATION SPECIFICATION AND GUIDELINES Electric fencing will be either six (6) or seven (7) strand high tensile electric fence, constructed using methods that will facilitate the fence being dismantled in three to six years and reinstalled in another site. A. HAZARD TREES After the location of the fence has been determined, all hazard trees that are within a tree length of the fence must be felled before fence is erected. Hazard trees are dead and dying, split, heavily leaning and/or root sprung trees that are in a position to fall across the fence. The Bureau of Forestry representative will consult with the contractor to determine which trees are to be considered hazard trees. If fence borders private lands, no trees shall be cut on the private land side of the boundary and no tops, debris, etc. shall be placed or left on the private lands. All trees determined by the Bureau of Forestry to be merchantable may be required to be skid to a landing area assigned by the Bureau of Forestry representative.

B. CLEARING FENCE AREA It is the responsibility of the contractor to clear and level a path at least six feet wide but not more than eight feet wide of all brush, stumps, rocks, or other obstructions. If fence borders private lands, no brush, stumps, rocks, fill, or other debris may be pushed or placed on the private lands. Obstructions, which in the opinion of the Bureau of Forestry representative will cause greater construction or maintenance problems, may be left in place. This path will lie on the outside edge of the fence and will serve as the access corridor for equipment during constructions, a level location for the fence to be installed, and as a maintenance corridor. Disturbance of the entire perimeter may not be necessary. In those areas where the ground is naturally level, free of stumps and/or free of rocks, no disturbance will be required. C. EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION CONTROL Equipment will not be operated when in the opinion of the Bureau of Forestry representative, when ground conditions are such that excessive damage will result in the opinion of the Bureau of Forestry representative. The contractor will be required to repair areas that become rutted due to work and install water-bars in areas that are of sufficient slope that may be prone to erosion in the opinion of the Bureau of Forestry representative. Small intermittent or perennial streams, adjacent stream banks, or seeps, which are unavoidable, will be cleared by hand. The Bureau of Forestry representative reserves the right to determine which areas are to be cleared by hand.

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D. FENCE SUPPORTS The contractor will erect the fence by nailing the insulators, that support the high tensile wire, to low quality trees. Aluminum nails will be used and 5 inch space will be left between the insulator and nail head to allow for tree growth so that insulators are not overgrown or popped off. If trees are not available, a wooden or fiberglass post can be sued. Wooden line posts must be set in the ground a minimum of thirty (30) inches and reinforced in a fashion that it cannot be easily pulled loose. Corner posts must be set in the ground a minimum of forty-eight (48) inches and be braced using one of the industry accepted corner brace methods and be sufficient to prevent the post from bending or pulling free from the ground. The span between trees and wooden posts shall generally be less than 40 feet and up to 75 feet where the terrain is level and flat. The span between fiberglass posts shall be no greater than 40 feet. Fiberglass posts can only be used where there will be no inward or outward pressure on the post. E. FENCE CHARGING SYSTEM The box containing the energizer, battery, voltage regulator/LVD, and solar panel shall be installed at the location designated by the Bureau of Forestry representative. The post that the charging system is mounted to must be set in the ground a minimum of 30 inches. The box must be mounted so that the solar panel is facing directly south. To charge the fence an insulated wire is to run from the energizer to the fence. At the fence each wire shall be able to be electrified or grounded. Bolt type wire connectors shall be used to connect the main wires from the energizer and the ground to the fence. When fully operational the fence shall maintain at least 7000 volts. The fence charging system must be installed prior to stringing the wire because the fence must be charged the day that the wire is up and tightened. F. GROUNDING SYSTEM The grounding system for the energizer shall consist of a minimum of three (3) grounding rods four (4) long bedded in a mixture of absorbent clay (2/3 by weight) and rock salt (1/3 by weight) and spaced as shown on Figure 1. If the voltage loss to the ground exceeds 400 volts, additional grounding rods must be installed until the voltage loss falls below 400 volts. G. LIGHTNING PROTECTION Lightning arrestors and a choke must be installed and properly grounded as shown on Figure 1. It is important that this grounding system be at least 65 feet away from the energizer grounding system. Grounding rods for the lightning protection system will also be bedded in a mixture of absorbent clay and rock salt. H. WIRE SPACING, JOINING, AND TIGHTENING The bottom strand of wire is to be 4" to 8" above the ground and the other five strands are to be 10" apart. A minimum number of breaks shall be allowed in the fence wire. Two approved crimping sleeves shall join the breaks in the wire. Tension springs and tighteners shall be located at the end of each run to allow for the longest possible span of unbroken wire.

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I.

ACCESS Vehicle gate(s) requirements will be determined by the Forest District where the fence is being installed.

J. OPERATING AREA The contractor may operate vehicles on the cleared fence path. Vehicles may not cross over the area to be fenced without approval of the Bureau of Forestry representative. K. DEBRIS AND GARBAGE The contractor will remove all trash and garbage generated at any project site. This is to include all materials generated from the construction of the fence(s) and item generated from the personal use by the contractor’s employees. L. MATERIALS SPECIFICATIONS 1. 14-guage wire for fence; 210,000 P.S.I. minimum 2. Minimum 12-gauge wire, energizer to fence 3. Insulators, wood post, diamond claw style 4. Nailers; pressure treated, 2” x 2” x 5’ or plastic poly droppers with wire ties 5. Posts; pressure treated 4” or 5” round southern pine 8’ long. Spider posts or HD fiberglass Tposts, 6-feet long may be used to support longer spans and maintain proper wire spacing 6. Steel lockup box for energizer, battery and voltage regulator 7. Energizer; Gallagher Energizer Model B600 8. Split bolt line tapes (zinc) for electrical connection to galvanized wire 9. Tightener; Hayes Style HD galvanized, Kencove (SAS) or equivalent 10. Springs, tension indicator, Kencove HTS or equivalent 11. Crimp sleeves; Kencove C12 or equivalent 12. Nails; Double headed, 16d, for attaching wooden nailing strips or plastic nailing strips to trees 13. Three panel steel gates (12’ length x 50” height) to be installed across the haul road as designated. 14. Solar panel; MSX 60 watt panel or equivalent 15. Voltage regulator for MSX 60 watt solar panel 16. 12 volt deep cycle marine type battery with minimum 850 marine cranking amps 17. Kencove lag corner insulators or equivalent for areas of outward fence pressure

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M.

DEER DRIVE

The contractor must drive all deer from the fenced area prior to closing of the fence. The contractor will notify the Bureau of Forestry representative two days prior to conducting the deer drive. The fence will be closed the same day that the deer drive takes place.

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ATTACHMENT D SPECIFICATIONS FOR WOVEN-WIRE DEER FENCE INSTALLATION A. HAZARD TREES After the location of the fence has been determined, all hazard trees that are within a tree length of the fence must be felled before fence is erected. Hazard trees are dead and dying, split, heavily leaning and/or root sprung trees that are in a position to fall across the fence. The Bureau of Forestry representative will consult with the contractor to determine which trees are to be considered hazard trees. If fence borders private lands, no trees shall be cut on the private land side of the boundary and no tops, debris, etc. shall be placed or left on the private lands. All trees determined by the Bureau of Forestry to be merchantable may be required to be skid to a landing area assigned by the Bureau of Forestry representative. B. CLEARING FENCE AREA It is the responsibility of the contractor to clear and level a path at least six feet wide but not more than eight feet wide of all brush, stumps, rocks, or other obstructions. If fence borders private lands, no brush, stumps, rocks, fill, or other debris may be pushed or placed on the private lands. Obstructions, which in the opinion of the Bureau of Forestry representative will cause greater construction or maintenance problems, may be left in place. This path will lie on the outside edge of the fence and will serve as the access corridor for equipment during constructions, a level location for the fence to be installed, and as a maintenance corridor. Disturbance of the entire perimeter may not be necessary. In those areas where the ground is naturally level, free of stumps and/or free of rocks, no disturbance will be required. The contractor will be responsible for, and may be invoiced for, damage to standing trees. Tree damages will be calculated by using the Bureau of Forestry's timber stumpage values. The stumpage value will then be singled or tripled depending upon the severity and/or amount of contractor negligence. The Bureau of Forestry representative will determine the severity of negligence. The Bureau of Forestry reserves the right to having determination in all damage disputes. C. EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION CONTROL Equipment will not be operated when in the opinion of the Bureau of Forestry representative, when ground conditions are such that excessive damage will result in the opinion of the Bureau of Forestry representative. The contractor will be required to repair areas that become rutted due to work and install water-bars in areas that are of sufficient slope that may be prone to erosion in the opinion of the Bureau of Forestry representative. Small intermittent or perennial streams, adjacent stream banks, or seeps, which are unavoidable, will be cleared by hand. The Bureau of Forestry representative reserves the right to determine which areas are to be cleared by hand.

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D. FENCE SUPPORTS The contractor will erect the fence by fastening the fence to posts or pole-timber trees. No trees of a diameter of a breast height greater than 6 inches or larger will have fasteners driven into them, unless approved by the Bureau of Forestry representative. All trees will be protected by having a 2" by 4" board of sufficient length placed between the fence and the tree. The fence will be attached to the board. The Bureau of Forestry reserves the right to waive the above attachment rule in instances it determines tree damage is not a consideration. Posts that must be added to serve as in-line posts must be 4" by 4" treated square posts, or four inch round treated posts, or steel posts that weigh no less than 2 pounds/foot. Line posts are to be ten feet long and placed in the ground at least two feet. Corner posts must be at least 6" X 6" treated post or 5" round post and braced or supported in place. Bracing or guy wires will be used to support the corner post(s) but must be sufficient to prevent the post from bending, leaning, or pulling free of the ground. Corner posts will be at least 12 feet long with 36 inches placed in the ground. This may be waived by the Bureau of Forestry representative if adverse digging, driving, or drilling conditions exist. All bracing or guy wires outside the fenced area must be clearly marked to prevent a safety hazard to any and all persons. E. FENCE MATERIALS The fence will be at least a seven-feet (7) high fence using two 47" high rolls of galvanized steel woven wire fencing or one eight-foot (8) high roll of galvanized steel woven wire fencing. Wire fencing materials will have no more than 6 inches between stay wires and have at least 10 graduated line wires. The top and bottom wires will be 12 -1/2 gauge wire and stay wires will be 14 -1/2 gauge wire. No aluminum may be used in the construction of the fences. F. FENCE STRETCHING The fence will be at least seven feet (7) high including overlap and securing. The fence will be stretched so that the wire is pulled against a corner or turning support. Maximum distance between fence supports will be no greater than 30 feet between posts and 40 feet between trees. If two 47" high rolls are used, the top and bottom rolls of fence will be fastened to each other every 3 feet by twisting, tying, or fastening the bottom wire of the top roll to the top wire of the bottom roll. The rolls will be installed so that the small squares of the top roll are adjacent to the smaller squares of the bottom roll. Where a post is used, the top wire of the top roll must be secured to the post. Each roll of fence will be fastened in three places; top, middle, and bottom. Ties to secure the fence to metal poles will be 14-1/2 gauge galvanized or stainless steel wire ties or other commercially suitable ties. Stainless steel or galvanized hog rings may be used to fasten the top fence roll to the bottom fence roll. Twisting the bottom wire of the

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F. FENCE STRETCHING (continued) Top fence and the top wire of the bottom fence together may be used. Ties may also be used to secure the two sections together but must be 14-1/2-gauge stainless steel or galvanized wire. The Bureau of Forestry representative may specify the point where stretching begins to facilitate the driving of deer. G. FASTNERS Staples will be one and one-half inch galvanized steel. No staples will be driven into trees. The nails used to fasten the 2" x 4" board to the trees have no specifications but must hold the board securely to the tree while the fence is being stretched. H. SECURING FENCE BOTTOM The fence must be constructed so that deer will be unable to crawl under the fence by leaving a one-foot overlap on the ground on the outside of the fence or by making it flush with the ground as determined by the Bureau of Forestry representative. The fence is to be anchored to the ground with stakes or stapled to sound wood every ten feet. Stakes must be driven into the ground 12 inches. Gaps between the ground and the fence of over three inches in height and six inches in length will be filled with sound wood and the fence stapled at the bottom to the wood. Other means may be used if approved by the Bureau of Forestry representative. I.

ACCESS Walk-through and vehicle gates will be required for this fence, number and placement to be determined by the Bureau of Forestry representative on an individual fence basis. On fences where vehicle drive-through gates are required, the gates will be metal cattle type gates with a width of 12 feet and height of at least 7 feet. A keeper will be installed to keep the gate held open and the Bureau of Forestry will provide the locking system. All gate locations will be determined by the Forest District where fencing is being installed. Gate specifications are attached.

J. OPERATING AREA The contractor may operate vehicles on the cleared fence path. Vehicles may not cross over the area to be fenced without approval of the Bureau of Forestry representative. K. DEER DRIVE The contractor must drive all deer from the fenced area prior to closing of the fence. The contractor will notify the Bureau of Forestry representative two days prior to conducting the deer drive. The fence will be closed the same day that the deer drive takes place.

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ATTACHMENT F SPECIFICATIONS FOR ELECTRIC DEER FENCE DISMANTLING All dismantled electric deer fence must have materials salvaged for reuse. These are to include: 1. Removing all fiberglass Spider, fiberglass “T” and metal posts. 2. Remove tension springs and wire tightners 3. Rewinding wire in reusable coils with minimum inside diameter 20” and a maximum inside diameter of 22”. Wire rewinder must have a solid round core so the wire does not become kinked or bent. Wire to be rewound in as long lengths as practical. Each joint to be spliced with two approved crimping sleeves and joints must be wrapped with electrical tape to prevent wire from becoming tangled when it is reused. Coils to be tightly bound with wire ties and/or nylon adhesion tape with a minimum of 4 per coil. Outside end of wire to be tagged accordingly. 4. Remove all insulators and corner lags from trees and wooden posts. 5. Remove all signs. 6. Remove all materials from site, with all reusable materials delivered to the forest district office. All unusable materials are to be properly disposed of by the contractor at his/her expense. All labor, equipment, tools, etc. to complete the project are to be provided by the successful bidder.

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Specifications for Dismantling Woven Wire Deer Fence All dismantled woven wire deer fence may have materials salvaged for reuse. These are to include: 1. Remove all walk-thru and vehicle gates. 2. Remove all staples that hold wire to trees and/or wooden fence supports. 3. Remove all fence supports that were used to secure the wire to trees and any free standing wooden posts or supports. 4. Remove all nails and staples, used to fasten fence or fence supports, from trees. 5. Remove all signs. 6. Remove all materials from site, with all reusable materials delivered to the forest district office. All unusable materials are to be properly disposed of by the contractor at his/her expense. All labor, equipment, tools, etc. to complete the project are to be provided by the successful bidder. 7. Areas of disturbed soil that result from the dismantling and consolidation of fencing materials are to be re-contoured, seeded, and mulched.

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Appendix II

Deer Depredation Permit Information

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31

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35

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Appendix III

Maintenance Information

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Deer Fence Maintenance Tips Electric Fences Maintenance Procedure & Tips

Maintain accurate records of Fence Voltages and Dates checked. Variations in voltages can help in the troubleshooting. Dates can help in the scheduling of fences due to be checked. Make available to all crewmembers and supervisors. Comments section to inform others of work needed and condition of fence. Safety Concerns: Driving Conditions, Walking Conditions on rough terrain, Strains, Sprains, and Cuts, Eye injury’s, Bees in Battery Boxes or ground nests, Chainsaw operations, and Poisonous snakes Always wear the proper safety equipment, Safety Glasses are required when working with High Tensile Wire. Leather Gloves are recommended. Work with a partner during chainsaw operations. Chaps, Hardhats, and Ear protection is required. Snake Chaps in area of know dens or feeding sights. Carry a portable radio if working alone in remote area. Checking Procedure: Read fence voltage and compare to previous readings….any variation is an indications of possible problems. Read top wire Voltage, Small trickle charge voltage is normal, but voltages matching those of the hot wires indicate wires are crossed or tree or trees on fence. Low Voltages on all wires indicate all wires twisted or Tree on fence to the ground. Normal but low readings usually indicate problem with energizer system. Power Settings. Energizers are equipped with H, M, L settings. These are used to help put less drain on the systems during winter months or long periods without sunlight. High Setting should be used as soon as possible in the spring to eliminate browsing of new buds and “train” deer. Check condition of Battery by readout on C-12 controller, If the battery isn’t reading 12 + volts by afternoon, consider switching in newer battery or changing the energizer setting. Frequent changing of batteries is not normal and other problems with the energizer system need to be addressed. Walk Fence…WITH POWER ON…..Look for anything touching the wires, Broken insulators, Worn corner lags, Missing T-post clips, Snapping noise witch indicates a short to tree or earth. Items to carry while walking are: Hammer, Insulated Pliers, Insulators, Nails, Wire Ties, T-post clips, Hand Snips. Fences that become grown in with vegetation should be sprayed with Herbicide and a pre-emergence agent. AKA Round-up Pro & Oust. 43

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After the vegetation is dead it must be removed from touching the fence….wet dead vegetation will also cause a short. Hazard trees should be removed when they pose a threat to falling on the fence. Preventative work eliminates major repairs. Inspect Fences on a regular schedule, always after weather events such as Wind Storms, Rain, Snow, Lightning, etc.

Deer Fence Maintenance Electric Fence Equipment Required:

Safety Equipment:

Chain Saw & Wedges Wire Cutters Pliers Hammer Screwdrivers Nail Puller (Claw bar) Small Axe Daisy Tightner Tool Crimp Tool Wire Strippers Brush Cutters Brush Snips Weed Whips Multi-Meter (D.C. Low Voltage) Fence Meter

Chaps, Helmet & Gloves Safety Glasses Snake Chaps ATV Helmet First Aid Kit Portable Radio

Supplies

Daisy Tighners 14 Gauge Crimps 14 Gauge Wire Fence Nails 10 p Nails Mechanics Wire T Post Clips Insulators Wire Ties Wire Nuts Wire Clamps Insulated Wire

(1 ½ Inch) (20 Gauge Soft)

(12 Gauge )

Deer Fence Maintenance Tips 44

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Woven Wire Maintenance Tips: Maintain accurate records or dates fences are walked and worked performed. Make available to crewmembers and supervisors. Schedule maintenance of fences by area to eliminate travel time. Comments section to inform others of work needed and condition of fence. Check for tracks or signs of deer in fence. Safety Concerns: Driving Conditions, ATV Use, Walking conditions on rough terrain, Strains, Sprains, and cuts. Eye injury’s, Chainsaw operations, and poisonous snakes. Always wear the proper safety equipment, Safety Glasses are required when working with Woven Wire. Leather Gloves are recommended. Work with a partner during chainsaw operations….Chaps, Hardhats, and Ear protection is required. ATV Helmet and Gloves Snake Chaps in area of know dens or feeding sights. Carry a portable radio if working alone in remote area. Checking Procedure: Woven Wire fences need to be walked or driven around to be checked. At least once a month under perfect weather conditions. After a weather event,(Wind, Snow, Heavy Rain ) fences need to be checked as soon as possible. Priority should be made to do major repairs first (deer proof the fence) and address minor repairs at a later time. ATV’s are very useful in checking for major damage. Deer Proof repairs can consist of removing a tree on the fence and propping up with prop sticks. Wire Tying an opening closed, or filling an opening with logs or slash. Final repairs should be addressed after all fences have been checked and made deer proof. Wires spliced and use of a daisy tightner to repair stretched top wire. Prop Sticks staples to fence line. Over damaged areas replaced with new wire…(cut section from tree to tree and replace)

Deer Fence Maintenance Woven Wire 45

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Equipment Required:

Safety Equipment:

Chain Saw & Wedges Wire Cutters Pliers Hammer Hog Ring Pliers (Self Feeding) Nail Puller (Claw bar) Daisy Tightner Tool Crimp Tool Chain Grab Tightening Tool

Chaps, Helmet & Gloves Safety Glasses Snake Chaps ATV Helmet First Aid Kit Portable Radio

Supplies

Daisy Tightners Hog Rings (Self Feeding) 12 Gauge Crimps 14 Gauge Crimps 12 Gauge Wire 14 Gauge Wire Fence Nails (1 ½ Inch) Fence Nails (1 Inch) 20 p Nails Wire Ties Mechanics Wire (20 Gauge Soft) Medium Size Gripples

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Appendix IV

Woven Wire Deer Exclosures

Deer Fence Installation Tips Woven Wire 47

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Installation Tips: If you are new to Woven Wire Fencing, visit area where they have been in use for several years. All maintenance people need to be trained in the new procedures used. Layout of fence and sale should leave ample trees to be used in the fence installation. Trees left should be healthy and of substantial size (6+ dbh) Layout should also allow enough room to leave a dozer road around the fence to be used by ATV to check fence. Avoid wet areas which will be disturbed during installation. Avoid Rock beds or out cropping’s if possible. Avoid over cutting on ridge tops which will cause Wind Tunnels and potential blow down areas. Avoid short lived trees to be used on fence line. (striped maple, fire cherry, etc.) Avoid disease prone trees to be used on fence line such as Beech. Avoid Fences which directly border private land….leave a buffer if possible to help in the removal of hazard trees. Cut or insure the fence contracted cuts all hazard trees within tree height of fence prior to installation. Place walk through gates on Trails, Roads, and Signs informing forest visitors or fence purpose and unrestricted access. AKA Hunting, Trapping, Hiking allowed. DEER DRIVE: Prior to closing up a fence a deer drive is required to insure all deer are out of the exclosure. Leave a minimum of 300 feet to drive deer out. Select a location to leave the opening that will assist in the drive. Bottoms of hills, drainages, natural trails work best. Avoid attempting to drive deer uphill. Avoid fencing operations during “early fawn season” (Late May to Late June) Deer often use the fenced area to drop fawns and driving them out will not work. Once you are sure no deer are in area…close up ASAP, never leave this opening overnight. If so you will need to drive again. FENCE INSPECTION:

Once fence is complete it should be inspected before signing off to contractor. Items to look for are: Hazard trees, Proper materials, Bottom of fence in contact with ground, Post spacing, and Hog rings.

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Picture of drive thru gate.

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Picture of drive thru gate.

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Picture of overlap between two sections of fence material. Also, the picture shows the alternate hog rings.

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Picture of overlap between two sections of fence material. Also, the picture shows the alternate hog rings.

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Appendix V

High Tensile Electric Deer Exclosures

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Deer Fence Installation Tips Electric Fences Installation Tips: 7 Wire Systems are recommended. Wired as follows: Bottom 2 wires HOT, 3rd wire grounded to energizer system, 4,5,6 Hot, and Top Wire not connected Bottom Wire should be disconnected when snow covers it, 2nd wire also if needed. Placing Insulators on 2 X 2 Stickers to eliminate trees growing into insulators. Avoid oversize fences or those that cross Natural Trails, Saddles, Haul Roads. Consider using 2 fences to avoid such situations. The 2 fences can be fed by one energizer system.. Hazard Trees should be removed before fence installation, any dead or dying tree within tree height of fence. Energizer Systems: Solar Panel, Energizer, C-12 controller, 12 Volt Deep Cycle Battery, Ground Rods, 2 Lightning Arrestors, 1 Choke, Mounting Box, Porcupine Shroud. Place it in a position to access un-obstructed sunlight. Northern end of a landing works great. Panels should be mounted at approx 45 degrees angles and facing due south. Ground System should utilize wet areas if possible. Rock salt and Petro-Sorb mixture (50/50) can also be used to help earth ground in dryer locations. 3rd wire of fence connected into the ground system. Feed line should be #12 Insulated / Stranded wire. It is less likely to carry an electrical surge from lightning. Most times the wire will heat and melt under such a charge. 1 Lightning arrestor and Choke placed inline on fence feed to protect energizer system,1 lightning arrestor connected to top wire of fence to also protect energizer system. Electric Fences are best used when the regeneration goal is less than 5 years. After that they become less effective and maintenance burdens. If the plan requires more than 5 years consider using Woven Wire Fence.

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120-VOLT AC FENCE ENERGIZER HOOK-UP

Material List Plywood Box 18"x18" 1/2" Conduit 2 Waterproof Conduit Connectors 12 Gauge Wire G.F.I. Receptacle Waterproof Outlet Box (Outdoor) 30 Amp. Breaker

110 V. Energizer 3 Ground Rods 3 Ground Rod Connectors Lightning Coil Lightning Arrestor Lag Bolts - To secure box to pole

Box Hook-up 1. Mount the plywood box on a pole next to the main panel in-line with the side knockout plugs. Install the waterproof outlet box inside the plywood box. 2. Install a waterproof conduit connector in the feed panel and the other in the water proof outlet box. Connect the two with 1/2" conduit. 3. Install the G.F.I. receptacle and connect to a 30-amp breaker using 12-gauge wire. 4. Mount the 100 Volt energizer inside the plywood box. A standard grounded plug should be wired to the unit and plugged into the G.F.I. receptacle. 5. The energizer should be grounded by connecting three strands of fence wire to 3 ground rods set away from the power unit. The ground rods should be set approximately 33 feet apart. 6. Connect the fence feed line to the energizer. Make sure the wire is insulated so that it does not come in contact with the waterproof outlet box. 7. Install the lightning coil and arrestor on feed line. Make a connection to the strands of the fence to be charged. Use a separate ground rod for the lightning arrestor. Do not use the grounds for the energizer.

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Picture of man gate setup on electric fence.

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Picture of vehicle gate on electric fence.

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Appendix VI

Available Signs

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