Electric fence will stop anything if it's laid out properly........ I've even used it to keep robins out of my strawberry patch. I observed that they would land on the fence, so I placed two parallel wires at the point where they liked to roost before descending on the strawberry patch....They'd roost there until they decided which was the biggest fattest juiciest strawberry, then fly down to the bed and walk in and drill a hole, then fly back up and choose another...... a 410 with dove and quail shot works well, but I really didn't want to kill them. Once I placed the wires and energized them, each robin had to experience it once..... and it was fun to watch.......They would get a foot on each wire and get nailed..... taking off with a surprised squawk............ I then laid a piece of hardware cloth on the ground next to the berries, and several wires, some grounded and some hot..... that stopped them walking into the patch, but they would then circle and dive in........At that point I decided that if they wouldn't take the lesson, the 410 was the only remaining answer, and I killed all the repeat offenders..... which were few.
The next year, I made a small steel framework with a tiny gear reduction motor and a bearing assembly. I mounted an aluminum tube with a bunch of streamers ...... surveyors tape.... with weights on the bottom of each, such that they just barely brushed the leaves. The unit turned about one RPM......... it worked on both robins and deer. I also used a motion detector to turn rainbirds on when deer came into my garden............ I one doe stand in my garden and challenge me.... stamping a hoof at me and trying to drive ME out of MY garden. I dove one doe out by hitting her with a shovel again and again....... She'd just move away and wait for me to leave..... Needless to say I resorted to other and more permanent solutions with her.
I would try to observe how the predators are getting into your hop patch.........or theorize on how they do it, then try to design an electric fence layout to deal with it. If you buy an electric fencer.........buy a powerful one.......... an Australian fencer that will knock you on your ass and leave your arm numb for the rest of the day.......These critters need a serious lesson, not just as minor tickle. Most fencers pulse.........I have one that is always hot.....which is nice.
This year I'm ahead of the bunny game......... Just killed another one a few minutes ago.......... My yard is a "no bunny zone"........
H.W.
