Fencing of farm-raised deer that are not white-tailed deer
Wis. Stat. § 90.20
in effect(1) Definitions. In this section:
(a) “Farm-raised deer” has the meaning given in s. 95.001 (1) (ag).
(b) “Heavily galvanized” means having a zinc coating weighing 230 grams per square meter or 0.8 ounces per square foot.
(c) “High tensile” means having a tensile strength of 179,000 to 210,000 pounds per square inch.
(d) “Medium tensile” means having a tensile strength of 101,000 to 123,000 pounds per square inch.
(2) Specifications. Unless s. 90.21 or 95.55 (1) (c) applies, any person who keeps farm-raised deer shall keep the farm-raised deer enclosed by a fence that meets all of the following requirements:
(a) Except for animals of the genus rangifer, the fence is at least 7 feet 10 inches high and is a woven wire fence that satisfies sub. (3), is a high tensile fence that satisfies sub. (4) or, if made of other materials, is of a design and level of strength that provides equivalent retentive capacity. The top 6 inches of the fence may consist of a single strand of smooth high tensile wire.
(b) For animals of the genus rangifer, the fence is at least 5 feet high and is a woven wire fence that satisfies sub. (3), is a high tensile fence that satisfies sub. (4) or, if made of other materials, is of a design and level of strength that provides equivalent retentive capacity.
(c) If the fence is made with wood posts, all of the following apply:
1. The posts are at least 12 feet long.
2. The tops of the line posts are, if rectangular, at least 3.5 inches in the smallest dimension or, if round, at least 3.5 inches in diameter.
3. The tops of the corner and gate posts are, if rectangular, at least 5.5 inches in the smallest dimension or, if round, at least 5.5 inches in diameter.
4. The wires are held securely to the posts, allowing for free movement of the horizontal line wires, using 9-gauge staples of at least 1.5 inch size.
(d) If the fence is made with steel or iron posts, the posts are at least 11 feet long or, if the posts are of the type known as T post, the posts are at least 10 feet long.
(e) The wires are installed on the side of the fence toward the farm-raised deer except at corners.
(3) Woven wire fence. A woven wire fence satisfies the requirements of this subsection if all of the following apply:
(a) The wire is 14 1/2 gauge or heavier.
(b) If the wire is 14 1/2 gauge, the mesh is not larger than 36 square inches.
(c) If the wire is heavier than 14 1/2 gauge, the mesh is not larger than 48 square inches.
(d) The posts are not more than 12 feet apart.
(4) High tensile fence. A high tensile fence satisfies the requirements of this subsection if all of the following apply:
(a) The horizontal line wires are not less than 2.5 millimeters in size and are heavily galvanized high tensile wire.
(b) The vertical stay wires are not less than 2.5 millimeters in size and are heavily galvanized medium tensile wire.
(c) The knot wire is not less than 2.24 millimeters in size and is heavily galvanized mild steel.
(d) The distance between vertical stay wires is not more than 6 inches.
(e) The distance between horizontal line wires is not more than 4 inches in the bottom foot of the fence, is not more than 6.5 inches in the next 2 feet of the fence and is not more than 8.5 inches in the rest of the fence.
(f) The posts are not more than 20 feet apart.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/90.20Fetched: 10/7/2026