What is the Best Fencing for Bison?

Dear Gerald:

My wife and I live on forty acres in the nine mile area by Missoula in Montana.  We have about 15 acres of pasture without trees and 35 acres with light to heavy timber.  We were thinking of drilling another well for water as irrigation and for stock. We do not have a year round stream.

What type of fencing would be right, both for the bison and for
us?

Also, what type of water availability system might be good for a
small number of bison?

Ronnie

Answer:

Dear Ronnie:

The right type of fencing for bison ranges from 5 1/2 foot woven wire game fence to 3-4 strands of barbed wire. Bison will usually stay home if you don't give them a reason to get out. Keep them well fed and watered and why would they want to get out? Most people make their decision on the right type of fence based on themselves. How well will you sleep at night with your bison behind a 3 strands of barbed wire? Are you next to a highway, railway, school, town or any other place that could have grave consequences if your bison escape? Or are you in an area that is relatively uninhabited and if your bison got out, it wouldn't be a big deal?

We have a link to an article on fencing on this website at:
BCE130 - Fencing for Bison

I will also refer you to a response to a previous question on our website:
BCE180 - What Kind of Fence Do I Need For Bison?  February 2002

For water, many people use a watering bowl filled by a well. The actual type of watering system attached to the well doesn't matter as bison adapt to most systems.

People also water their bison from dugouts and ponds if they are
available.  If your area gets enough snow in the winter, that can be used as a water source if the snow does not become packed or ice covered. Some people suggest that bison will do better if given fresh water all year around but I don't know if this is true.

Gerald Hauer
Bison Centre