Williston Observer

When choosing a type of fence to install, consider the reason for the fence. (Courtesy photo by Mark Donovan)

Three fence types to consider

By Mark J. Donovan

Creators.com

If you’re thinking about installing a fence in your backyard, you have a number of options to choose from today. When choosing a fence to install, you need to consider what the main reason is for the fence. For example, is it for enclosing a pool, or is it for privacy? Is it for aesthetics or for keeping the children or pets confined to an area in the backyard? By first understanding the purpose of the fence, you can then choose the most appropriate style fence for your situation.

Aluminum Fences

If you want a rugged high-quality fence, an aluminum fence is the ticket. Aluminum fences are aesthetically attractive, highly corrosion-resistant and very functional. They won’t rust and are virtually maintenance-free. In addition, because of how the paint color is applied to the aluminum fencing, there is never a concern of chipping or peeling paint.

Aluminum fences are ideal for enclosing pools and for keeping in pets. They come in numerous styles and designs, so there is a fence type for even the most finicky. They are a bit pricey, however, so plan to dish out a little more money than other fence types.

Wrought-Iron Fences

New wrought-iron fences are often used to enclose pools. They’re also more commonly found encompassing yards of high-end residential property. Besides providing a classic and sophisticated look, wrought-iron fences are heavy-duty. Consequently, they are ideal for security reasons. The only real downside with wrought-iron fences, other than the fact that they are very expensive, is that they can rust over time. As a result, they need periodic maintenance to keep them looking like new.

Vinyl Fences

Vinyl fences are the most commonly installed fence today. They can provide both security and privacy, and come in various sizes, styles and colors. They are often used for enclosing pools, patios and backyards. One of the main attributes of vinyl fencing is that it is maintenance-free. It will not weather, rust or fade, though it can crack if hit hard, particularly in colder weather. Vinyl fencing is also the most economical of fencing materials, relative to aluminum or wrought-iron fences.

After you’ve identified the purpose of the fence and the parameters of your budget, you can then better choose the appropriate fence to install. Then it’s just a matter of picking a style.

How much wood

Would a woodchuck chuck

If a woodchuck

Could chuck wood? 

Every 10-year-old boy in Lamoille county knew the answer to that question: He would chuck as much as a woodchuck could if a woodchuck could chuck wood.

As a 10 year old, I knew the opening dates of trout season, squirrel and partridge season, and of course deer season. I also knew the legal limits in each category and could tell when daylight began and dusk ended. But the best hunting season for me and my buddies was spring. It was Woodchuck Season!

You couldn’t find woodchuck season in the Vermont hunters guide at the time, but we kids knew when it began—as soon as the snow was gone and the woodchucks poked their heads out of their burrows to smell the first green clover.

We felt woodchuck hunting was our contribution to safety for farm animals. Every summer some farmer’s horse stepped in a woodchuck hole and broke its leg. Thus, the more woodchucks we eliminated, the safer Dad’s horses would be. At least that’s the way I saw it.

My companion hunters and I always followed our plan: first, we would get our 22 single-shot rifles and clean them. Then we would practice to make sure they were sighted in properly. Next we would crawl on our bellies over hills and meadows looking for those telltale mounds of fresh dirt. When we found one, we would study it to learn when the woodchucks came out and how they wandered around their burrow. It was big game hunting at its best.

We learned that woodchucks have an entrance and an exit for every burrow and that they react differently around each opening. After we gathered our information we made our move.

To add a little competition to our hunt we tried to shoot them from as far away a possible. This gave a little advantage to the woodchucks. My record was 75 yards. Not too bad for an open buckhorn sight.

One day I read in a book that woodchucks had rather poor eyesight; they could pick up movements but had difficulty distinguishing forms. This made it difficult for them to readily detect danger.

I devised a scheme: I found an old bed sheet and cut eye and armholes in it. I then located a burrow on a side hill that was about 100 yards away. I put on my chuck-sheet and stood still. I watched the woodchuck look at me and then put his head down and begin eating. Every time he looked down, I moved up a couple of steps and stopped. This continued until I was 35 feet away.

It was fascinating to stand that close to a woodchuck and watch his activities. Finally, I decided to take aim. It was then I realized in the excitement of my new hunting plan I had forgotten to bring my rifle.

SCORE: Woodchuck 1; Bill 0.

Bill Skiff grew up on a farm between Cambridge and Jeffersonville. After a career in education, he now lives in Williston, where he is a justice of the peace and Fourth of July frog-jumping official. In “Places I’ve Played,” he shares his experiences of growing up in Vermont. Comments are welcome at [email protected]