Ranch and wildlife-friendly fencing
Fencing for acreage around Bozeman and Livingston: hold your horses or cattle, mark the line, and let elk and deer pass safely.
Out of town, a fence has different jobs. It may need to hold horses or cattle, mark a boundary across rough ground, keep deer out of a garden, or simply look like Montana. And it almost always crosses a path wildlife already use.
Common rural fence types
- Buck-and-rail (jack-leg). Lodgepole rails on leaning crossed legs, with no post holes. Useful on rocky ground and a familiar sight across southwest Montana.
- Post-and-rail and pole fences. Set posts with wood rails for horse pastures and driveways.
- Barbed and smooth wire. The standard livestock fence on larger parcels.
- Woven wire and horse fencing. For smaller animals or horses that lean on fences.
- Electric and high-tensile wire. Lower material cost over long runs; needs a charger and upkeep.
- Deer exclusion fencing. Tall fences around gardens, orchards and haystacks.
What makes a fence wildlife-friendly?
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks' landowner guide to wildlife-friendly fences recommends:
| Part of the fence | FWP recommendation |
|---|---|
| Top wire or rail | About 40 inches high, no more than 42 |
| Top two wires | At least 12 inches apart so legs don't twist |
| Bottom wire | Smooth, at least 18 inches off the ground |
| Visibility | A top rail, white wire or markers on the top strand |
| Crossings | Gates, lay-down sections or dropped rails where animals travel |
FWP also describes let-down fences that can be lowered in fall and winter when elk and deer are moving, and suggests dropping rails on jack-leg fences at game trails and creek crossings.
What's a legal fence in Montana?
State law defines a "legal fence" (MCA 81-4-101) as generally 42 to 48 inches tall, with standards for barbed wire, woven wire, rail and electric fences. That definition can matter if livestock get out, so ask the contractor how your fence compares.
The contractor prices the fence after walking the line, checking the ground, gates and access, and talking through what you want. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone before anyone has seen the property is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can a ranch fence hold cattle and still be wildlife-friendly?
Often, yes. FWP's guide shows wire spacings that hold most livestock while letting deer and elk jump over and fawns and calves pass under.
Do I need post holes for a buck-and-rail fence?
Usually not. Buck-and-rail sits on crossed legs on top of the ground, which is one reason it's popular on rocky land.
Related services
More background: Bozeman fence guide.
Fence down after a windstorm, or ready to fence the yard?
Call now and a local fence contractor will look at the job and quote it directly.