Anyone have any experience with these packable electric fences? I see that counter assault makes one. Not sure if any other companies are out there.
Maybe I just need to grow a pair and not worry about the bears.
I'm not sure one would really stop a grizz if it wanted what was on the other side.
Check out Speedrite.com for the fencer itself. I bought the AN20. It's a little bigger than a pop can. Looks like they have another small unit available now too (AN90). Looks like either one would hopefully do the job! Speedrites were the cheapest/smallest decent ones I could find.
If you're using it for the lower 48, I think peace of mind is about all you're going to get.
Don't worry. People camp in grizz country all the time without issue. The problem encounters are usually when you're out and about and stumble on an unexpecting bear or a confrontation over a carcass. Your worry at base camp is all in your head.
DJ
Last year I made 3-pc posts from carbon arrow shafting. I epoxied inserts in place and added stainless all-thread to screw them together. They worked but unfortunately were a little too flexible in high winds, plus the all-thread connection bent in some cases. This year I'd like to find a way to create a ferrule which could be glued onto the sections and make a stronger joint.
I'm interested in your set up. Do you put up 3 strands? How tall is the top strand? How long are your posts? What do you use as a grounding rod & how long? Any other info would be appreciated as well!
Mule
I looked at Gallaghers fencers, & in fact I have several of their battery powered ones that I use on my food plots. The Speedrite was less expensive & smaller. I haven't had a chance to try it out yet, but it seems to be well made.
Mine works great on Kodiak....
I believe my post sections are 16" and 3 of them make a 48" post. It might be 45", but you get the idea. I like them shoved in 10-12" deep if possible in tundra. I went to a building supply store and bought a long aluminum gutter spike (7"?) to use as a grounding conductor. In dry ground you should keep it wet around the spike.
Incidentally, I used the equine (horse) tape conductor instead of braided polywire last year. The tape is white and shows up great, but it is a wind-catcher and my fence took a beating in a 5-day hurricane. I think I'll be going back to the polywire and flagging tape.
The bear in the picture visited my camp one day in the middle of a foggy rain. I was inside and had my Smith ready for the show if he pushed things. I heard him vocalizing just before he touched the wires and then he whuffed several times as he trotted away.
It hasn't happened yet. I believe I would move camp a hundred yards first, then I would come back to gut and skin the bear.
To help cover up my own 'post bear-in-camp' odors.
Kevin
Beendare's Link
One of my rancher buddies told me the trick to to these is getting them grounded right ...and he was right on. I use a 3/8" copper pipe for ground....and have another section of pipe connected by copper wire 6' away. Plus bring a tester to check it- they are only $10.
When setting mine up in one spot on the islands it was real rocky and it wasn't working right until I pounded in the second grounding rod
I use sections of bike inner tubes as the insulators
Probably gonna go with polywire & flagging tape as well. I'm going to set up my fencer & test it out this weekend just to be sure it has enough snap to it.
I bought the unit. The least my buddy that's going with me can do is test it!
BULELK1's Link
Brand as mentioned above.
Good luck, Robb
Glad to see the fencer I chose has some real world experience. Totally agree on how hard the testers are to see on bright day. I usually test my plot fences by using a wire wrapped around a DRY stick or using pliers with rubber handles, and shorting the fence out over to one of the tee posts. At least I can tell how much snap the fencer has.
Idyllwild
I've got the best of both worlds. I'm bringing along a tester so HE can pee on it! I guess I can put up with a little whining as long as I know the fence is woking. Testing a couple times a day should be plenty.
How long is the battery good for and would you have any need for aback up in a 7 or 9 day hunt?
That charger takes 2 D-cells and it will easily run 14 days on them...probably longer. The key is to keep any brush or weeds from touching the wires, or the wires from somehow contacting anything that would ground them. If the fence is set up 'clean' and kept that way you won't have a battery issue. An extra set of batteries could be taken, but I don't do that. I just work to keep my fence in order.
May message me if interested. Thanks