Let's discuss deer fencing...

[Redneck in training]

I need to fence off 4 acres and protect said acreage from deer. Internet research indicates there are a million and one (exact number no less) ways to keep deer off your property. And the cost for the various solutions seem to vary almost as much. The "given" seems to be the deer can jump higher than you can build. The trick is to convince the deer they don't want to jump the fence to begin with.

So, based on the above given - what's your fence look like and - more importantly - how's it working?

We used to have an electric fence that kept the deer out. The pictures are the best I could find. The fence was built using 8ft T posts and poly string. The key was, as you might see from the pictures, addition of outside pointing cantilever that also carried charged string. The cantilevers were made from long T post insulators that were drilled axially so fibreglass round post could be inserted in. The cantilevers were held in approximately horizontal position by a string attached to the top insulator. This makes the fence tridimensional. Initially we had only three horizontal strings. It worked for few years until one doe learned to sneak between them. Then we added three more string to put stop to that.

Year ago we replaced it with 5ft wire fence (to keep our dogs in) with two electric wires on the top but so far without the cantilevers. My wife takes the dogs for walk around the fence every other day and possibly the scent they leave helps in keeping the deer away. So far we didn't have one intrusion with new fence. If the deer jump it I will add the cantilevers again.

 

[joshuabardwell]

Offset fences are generally done with two 4' fences placed 3' apart. The fences are generally electric. I'd like very much NOT to electrify the fence. Since my particular needs are vineyard related, I need to consider the fact that my customers (we'll have a winery on premise as well) might wander over to take a look at the vines. Obviously, shocking my clients with anything other than my prices would not be a good business practice. That said, having an 8' tall fence is going to obstruct the view as well.

There are indications on the web that the offset fence doesn't need to be electric, so I'm wondering if anyone has done this without charging the fence. I'm thinking of two 4' fences, the first would use woven wire to control coons and rabbits and the second would be high tensil wire only. The thought is that the deer would come to the first fence, look over and see the second, and then move on.

I recall that the interior fence was not electrified in the Premier One design, but again... On the phone. Can't really research well.

 

[randy41]

for many years we used the premier 3d fence around our market garden. a couple of acres or so. but after a while it took but one deer to jump it and it became the local eatery for deer. last year we put up a 7 1/2' plastic deer fence and it worked very well. the sweet potatoes were planted right next to it with no damage. we'll see how long that lasts.
another smaller field has a cattle fence with 2 strands of barbed wire along the top. i haven't seen deer in there either. this one has been up for at least 5 years.

 

[riptides]

Wow, I got a four acre pasture with hot mesh, both top and bottom.

The deer are usually in the pasture with the horses. heck, just the other night I called to the horses, who ran past the deer. The deer, seeing the horses in full gallop, proceeded to bolt after them. I almost had a herd of deer in the barn stalls with the horses. They only stopped a few feet from me, when they saw me. I still have the skid marks in the pasture.

I told the wife, that I should put a freezer in the barn.

 

[nybirdman]

If you use an electric fence;you can put it on a dusk/dawn sensor.Off during the day.I have been told a deer won't jump a fence if it can't see the other side.

 

[tractchores]

I have a neighbor who has a 8' high fence. its made out of wire (maybe the thickness of bailing wire) mesh. The supports are probably 10' apart and are just think metal rods driven into the ground. They fence of 10 acres with it and said it wasn't too expensive to install. It is good at keeping the deer out (or in if a tree falls down on the fence and they don't fix it quick enough). They've got gates and the gates have the things that people use to keep sheep in pastures in Iceland, they're like grates made out of metal rollers, so any hoofed animal can't stand on them, but people and cars can. I believe the wire mesh came in big roles and the poles are just cheap metal that sort of looks like angle iron with holes in it.

 

[Reyer Farms]

Very interested! I know that a deer can jump7' 1/2", she slapped the top but cleared it. We are fencing our place to keep deer out of fields. Did not have much money- never good when talking fence- so: I put 8' posts on angle and welded to top of five strand barb wire. The post top is to the outside and we put three wires on it. Corner posts are plumb to keep wire in tension. Steel stake is drove at bottom of 8' post and welded to secure to ground. I have spots were some squeeze through but it is still a work in progress. Any spot growed up is still just five strand. Hope it helps and I will keep checking for more suggestions from y'all.
Jody
P. S.
The deer that jumped it was on inside, my hope was the angle outward would mess up their depth perception. My theory is not proven but I saw the other direction fail.

 

[GGB]

I'm trying to recall where I had read that you could keep deer out by using heavy clear nylon fishing line a few feet in front of the regular fencing. If I remember correctly, the thought was that the deer couldn't see the fishing line, and would scare away if they touched it.

I've never tried it, as my dog's bathroom habits seem to be keeping them away. Perhaps someone else will recall this article or has tried this to see if it really works. The nice thing about this if it does is that it wouldn't be difficult or expensive to add to other fencing.


GGB

 

[joshuabardwell]

If you use an electric fence;you can put it on a dusk/dawn sensor.Off during the day.I have been told a deer won't jump a fence if it can't see the other side.

Yes, but has anybody told the deer?

 

[bullbreaker]

Electric Fence Options, page 1

Boone