A few setbacks and a new path forward
After three 12-hour days at work, including the 4th of July, I was really looking forward to having a rare four days off to work on the ranch. However, sometimes things don't happen the way you'd hope. On the evening of the first day, I got a text message from Jess, who was supposed to be enjoying a Washington Nationals baseball game, that a baseball had hit her in the face and she was on here way to the hospital. The ball hit her cheek-bone and broke it in at least three places, but, after about a day-and-a-half of doctor visits, it seems like she will be okay.
As soon as I received the text I began packing up things at the ranch and drove home. On the long drive home, in addition to worrying about Jess, I also began re-evaluating the fencing plan. My primary goal was the have bison on the ranch by this fall. To accomplish this I basically needed food, water, and a fence. I already had the first two things and was working on the third item and it was this third item that concerned me. The plan I have been pursuing has been to establish a strong permanent perimeter fence around the entire property and, then, if necessary, subdivide it with smaller less permanent fencing at a later time. Although I've been making progress and getting faster at fencing, there's no way I will be able to finish fencing the entire property by this fall.
To resolve this issue I've decided to install an effective yet temporary fence around part of the river/pond and about 30 acres of pasture. This will give me a starting point where I can begin to raise a few bison. As I progress with the permanent fencing, I can begin to add it to the temporary grazing area in increments. I've chosen to use a four wire electric-type fence that has been demonstrated statistically to effectively contain bison in western states. I will probably blog about it in more detail as I install the fence.
As soon as I received the text I began packing up things at the ranch and drove home. On the long drive home, in addition to worrying about Jess, I also began re-evaluating the fencing plan. My primary goal was the have bison on the ranch by this fall. To accomplish this I basically needed food, water, and a fence. I already had the first two things and was working on the third item and it was this third item that concerned me. The plan I have been pursuing has been to establish a strong permanent perimeter fence around the entire property and, then, if necessary, subdivide it with smaller less permanent fencing at a later time. Although I've been making progress and getting faster at fencing, there's no way I will be able to finish fencing the entire property by this fall.
To resolve this issue I've decided to install an effective yet temporary fence around part of the river/pond and about 30 acres of pasture. This will give me a starting point where I can begin to raise a few bison. As I progress with the permanent fencing, I can begin to add it to the temporary grazing area in increments. I've chosen to use a four wire electric-type fence that has been demonstrated statistically to effectively contain bison in western states. I will probably blog about it in more detail as I install the fence.
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