Buck and Rail Fence
As we continue riding the fence-line in our discussion of different styles of fences, we travel back to those fences we have all seen in vintage postcards of the American West, the Buck and Rail Fence.
The picturesque scene of a rustic Buck and Rail fence climbing up and over mountains, stretching through meadows and dipping down into creeks, has captured the romantic eye of landscape painters and photographers throughout history. These aesthetically pleasing fences seem to tell a story all their own. One of wide open spaces, of early settlers and of taming the wild west. The Buck and Rail Fence, also known as a Jackleg Fence, originated in the Rocky Mountains, where rough terrain and rocky ground made digging postholes not only time consuming and labor intensive, but in many cases, downright impossible. Pioneers built buck and rail fences as a quick solution to keep animals in, or out, of newly acquired property. Also quite beneficial, was the surrounding abundant timber, which provided all the raw materials needed.
Although they are becoming harder to find, due to National Parks tearing down the historic fences and replacing them with treated posts and wire fences in efforts to maintain a more “wildlife-friendly” 21st-century fence, Buck and Rail fences have not disappeared entirely. The weathered remnants of such fences can still be found along the back roads and scenic routes of American Byways. A Buck and Rail fence however, is not just a thing of the past, it still has qualities that make it a great choice for modern day fences as well.
First of all, let's look at a few of the benefits:
No postholes needed — enough said
It can be built in sections
It is movable, which can be extremely handy
It creates a beautiful and warm rustic accent that blends in with the natural landscape
It utilizes scrap poles left behind from timber harvesting as well as beetle-kill and standing dead timber
Now, for a few of the challenges:
It can be blown over by a good wind storm -- unless the bottom rail is heavy and stout.
Large animals such as elk or buffalo can knock the rails loose.
It will not keep small animals in (or out) unless it is adapted with some type of woven-wire fence.
It requires more material that post fences due to the X braces.
It can be hard for wildlife to maneuver, especially during winter months
Although this type of fence may not be the best option for long stretches of fence line that traverse across game migration paths as in days gone by, a Buck and Rail fence is still a great option for shorter stretches of fence line, including steep hills and other hard to get to places,as well as a decorative accent, extending out from gates to create a stunning entry.
For every type of fence problem, there is a solution and in some cases, a Buck and Rail fence is the answer; and a great looking one at that.
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