Further bull preparation and update

Our target date for picking up our new bison bull is January 3rd, which isn't soon enough for our all female bison herd.  In addition to the three-year-old bull, will also be getting two bull calves.  Each will have a separate compartment in the trailer during transport.

Last year we had set up the temporary electric portion of our fencing using untreated pine logs.  These have now been replaced by more reliable pressure treated posts.  Below are photos of the replacements starting from the northernmost portion of the temporary fencing.
The new posts (left) were first install next to to old posts, then each wire was transferred.  Once all the wires were transferred the old brace was disassembled, the old posts were pulled, and the holes filled in.  The final phase of transferring the wires and pulling the posts is the most exhausting because once you start you usually can't stop until you're finished.
The next brace was an inside corner brace. 
Then an outside corner brace on a hill. 
Another outside corner brace.
Two end braces near the pond. 
An inside corner brace.  I decided to use a modified N-brace for part of this (the left portion in this photo).  Normal post holes need to be several feet deep or the posts may be pulled out of the ground by the tension of the attached wires.  In my case I was faced with the fact that there is a large piece of bedrock about 18 inches below the surface of the ground.  My first thought upon encountering this problem was that it would be a perfect excuse to obtain the blaster certification and explosives use permit I always wanted.  However, because time was limited, I felt that this problem would be better addressed by a modified N-brace.  I won't go into detail on N-braces, but only mention that to add stability to the small post used to support the diagonal portion of the "N," I dug a hole about two feet wide that went down to the bedrock, filled it with concrete, and then embedded the small post. 
The last part of the fence which meets with the permanent fence. 
For added robustness we are also replacing some of the fiberglass posts with metal t-posts.


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