Creating Natural Barriers and Funnels: How to Guide Game

By Heritage Brokers & Auctioneers
August 09, 2024

Assess Your Land’s Natural Features
Begin by thoroughly examining your property to identify existing natural barriers like thick vegetation, water sources, and elevation changes. Mapping these out will help you understand where game animals naturally move and where you can best influence their paths.
Enhance or Create Natural Barriers
Use dense brush, hedges, deadfall, or even fencing to create or strengthen barriers that guide game movement. These barriers should be placed strategically to block undesirable paths and push animals toward specific areas where you want them to travel.
Develop Effective Funnels
Funnels are narrow paths that direct game between two barriers. Create or enhance funnels by narrowing existing trails, guiding movement along terrain edges, water sources, or low-lying areas like valleys. The goal is to make it easier for animals to follow the path you’ve set.
Use the Terrain to Your Advantage
Utilize the natural topography of your land, such as hills, valleys, and ridges, to create funnels that animals are more likely to follow. Animals tend to take the path of least resistance, so guiding them through natural low points can be particularly effective.
Monitor and Adjust Your Setup
After implementing barriers and funnels, monitor animal movement using trail cameras to see how they’re responding. Be prepared to make adjustments if necessary to improve the effectiveness of your setup, ensuring your hunting land is optimized for the season.