Let's discuss deer fencing...

[SanDucerro]

I've spent a hour or so looking on the web for a device that could extend the height of an existing wood post by 3' foot... and I found nada... This seems to me to be an item that "should" exist, but darn if I can find it. My thought was to use shorter CCA wooden posts to cut down on the expense, then suppliment the height with a simple brace that extends the post height by three foot, then add high tensile wire (3 strands) to the extensions to create a fence that is 7' tall. This would also allow me to use existing fence already in place. Anyone know where I could find such an extension? One could also use the same extender on a taller post to create a fence height the deer could not leap.

 

[Ed of all trades]

The key is not how high it is that the deer know it hurts, we ran a one barbwire fence around our gardens and even though there were many deer in the hay field that circled the garden no deer came in the garden. My sister did the same thing and it did not work until she wiped the whole thing down with syrup. No more deer in the garden. I just wish I could have seen the deer when they licked the fence. :shocked:

 

[Reyer Farms]

I've spent a hour or so looking on the web for a device that could extend the height of an existing wood post by 3' foot... and I found nada... This seems to me to be an item that "should" exist, but darn if I can find it. My thought was to use shorter CCA wooden posts to cut down on the expense, then suppliment the height with a simple brace that extends the post height by three foot, then add high tensile wire (3 strands) to the extensions to create a fence that is 7' tall. This would also allow me to use existing fence already in place. Anyone know where I could find such an extension? One could also use the same extender on a taller post to create a fence height the deer could not leap.

What about angle iron? How nice it looks is up to the how much work you want to do. I put my extension posts every 30'.

 

[PILOON]

What I have experienced---
Deer just love hostas, seems like it is desert to them. They chomp all my hostas all the time.
Now we also have a number of wind chimes and (I think ) being curious deer come to see and then taste the hostas.
Last year all the chimes got damaged from an ice storm and I did not repair them however the neighbor installed many chimes and coincidentally I had no hosta chomping but the neighbor just about cried as all hers were chomped down to nothing!
I'll add that my wife scatters sachets of scented soap (irish spring) as she read that repels deer.
Coincidence ? or an actual , either way we will continue doing this as it seems to work.(and encourage the neighbor to add more chimes)

And the population is not down, if anything way up as I see does and fawns every day. Even saw my first piebald deer last fall.
(A piebald kinda looks like a spotted pinto pony.)

 

[CHDinCT]

I've spent a hour or so looking on the web for a device that could extend the height of an existing wood post by 3' foot... and I found nada... This seems to me to be an item that "should" exist, but darn if I can find it. My thought was to use shorter CCA wooden posts to cut down on the expense, then suppliment the height with a simple brace that extends the post height by three foot, then add high tensile wire (3 strands) to the extensions to create a fence that is 7' tall. This would also allow me to use existing fence already in place. Anyone know where I could find such an extension? One could also use the same extender on a taller post to create a fence height the deer could not leap.

I'm not exactly sure what you're looking for, but where I can't use a mature tree to hang my deer fence from, I use some of these 4' fence posts, then screw an 8', 1.5"x2" PT post into it to give me 8' of above ground clearance. The PT posts were cut down from 2x4's on my table saw. Found it much easier to pound in 4' posts than 8 footers while standing on a ladder. The 4' metal posts have holes in them just about perfect for a wood screw.

4 ft. x 3-1/2 in. x 1-1/2 in. Steel Post-901154A at The Home Depot

 

[SanDucerro]

I'm not exactly sure what you're looking for, but where I can't use a mature tree to hang my deer fence from, I use some of these 4' fence posts, then screw an 8', 1.5"x2" PT post into it to give me 8' of above ground clearance. The PT posts were cut down from 2x4's on my table saw. Found it much easier to pound in 4' posts than 8 footers while standing on a ladder. The 4' metal posts have holes in them just about perfect for a wood screw.

4 ft. x 3-1/2 in. x 1-1/2 in. Steel Post-901154A at The Home Depot

That might just work in a reverse fashion. I could attached these to the existing 5" round CCA posts to get the extra height I'm looking for... :scratchchin:

 

[Ranger Rick]

That might just work in a reverse fashion. I could attached these to the existing 5" round CCA posts to get the extra height I'm looking for... :scratchchin:

You might to get the step in electric fencing post and drill a hole in the top your wood post. Looking at Tractor supply it looked like some of the post might lend themselves to working this way. Or maybe screw or staple a fiberglass one to the side of the post.

 

[Trials]

I lived in a zoo, consequently I only know how to keep animals in.
but I should think 8' chain link topped with 3 strands of barb leaning outwards, all set on a gentle downhill approach, that should do it.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

You can see our fence in the background of this picture. 12' long post, 8' tall deer fence. It will keep deer in or out depending on your use. Fence is around $450-$500 a roll now (330 foot rolls) but it will last a long time and will take a lot of abuse.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I'd like to know the answer to this question myself. I have fenced off about a quarter acre of my front yard for years to protect our ornamental shrubs from them deer, but the last two years they've been getting in somehow and it's driving me crazy. Been using the 7' heavy black plastic deer fencing. This year I raised it up to 8' or so in most places by putting eye bolts into trees then running clothes line through the eye bolts, then zip tie the fencing to the line every 4' or so. Used nails at the base of the tree to hook the fence and hold it down. If they're jumping it, I can't find an obvious marks in the snow where they're doing it. They come at night or early morning when we're sleeping, so haven't been able to "witness" it firsthand. Even looked into one of those motion activated cameras but it's a crap shoot where to place it, plus too much money.

I will say this - worked like a charm for years. I think we've got some smart-arsed deer that's evolved to figure out how to get in. Maybe I only need to get rid of that one deer? Arggg!

Deer will go under a fence. We have a divider fence and there is a low spot where the deer wore it out. One deer found if she put her head under the chain link there she could push herself through. once she did it all the other deer soon learned how to go under a heavy gauge chain link fence. All of our exterior fences are staked to the ground every 5'.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

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.

Although - if I were to use a 6 foot fence in back with 4' of woven wire and the rest in high tensil, then place a 4' fence directly in front with high tensil only...

My thoughts on the 4' woven wire come from an assumption that I could do this myself. I don't have the same confidence level for 8' woven wire...

8' woven wire isn't that bad. The rolls are heavy but when you start standing it up it actually stands up on its own. You will want a couple helpers but it isn't as bad as you might fear. Also, from my own personal point of view, a single 8' woven wire fence is a lot more attractive then a 4' fence with single strands above it. If you get your corners set good the rest of the fence is easy and it stays looking nice. Also, if you want you could plant a few grape vines along the fence and let them grow up it. The vines actually look real nice with the bunches hanging on the fence. Just don't plant them too close, just a few for decoration.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

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.

A deer will not jump that high of a fence unless they are scared. Generally they crash at the 6' high mark. A tall fence will keep most deer out as it is too much work for them to go over it.

 

[JakeBrake]

I have about 4 acres fenced with 5' chain-link fence to keep dogs in. The deer hop in and out of the fence at will. I've seen the deer stand by the fence and hop over it with no running start. I once saw 6 deer gather at the fence and hop over at the same spot one after the other. This happens so often that the dogs usually ignore them. I guess they believe in peaceful co-existence. The deer don't bother me. there's nothing fenced in that they can damage. My problem is that the deer occasionally bump the top rail while jumping over the fence and bend the top rail, so the top rail is bent in several places. Also, there are several bulges in the fence fabric where running deer have run into the fence.

 

[joshuabardwell]

My father shot this video in his back yard. It is relevant to the topic. And funny.

 

[SanDucerro]

My father shot this video in his back yard. It is relevant to the topic. And funny.

Well, 6' appeared to be a bit high for this one! He made it over, but that had to hurt! Also brings into question an earlier comment that deer will not jump a fence they can't see through...

 

[Reyer Farms]

A deer will not jump that high of a fence unless they are scared. Generally they crash at the 6' high mark. A tall fence will keep most deer out as it is too much work for them to go over it.

What are you calling tall. I would not say she was scared, she just left when she saw me. I don't want scared deer eating my crops either

 

[SanDucerro]

8' woven wire isn't that bad. The rolls are heavy but when you start standing it up it actually stands up on its own. You will want a couple helpers but it isn't as bad as you might fear. Also, from my own personal point of view, a single 8' woven wire fence is a lot more attractive then a 4' fence with single strands above it. If you get your corners set good the rest of the fence is easy and it stays looking nice. Also, if you want you could plant a few grape vines along the fence and let them grow up it. The vines actually look real nice with the bunches hanging on the fence. Just don't plant them too close, just a few for decoration.

I noted that you're in NY, so when I buy the 8' fence and it kicks my butt you're too far to assist! :laughing: But you've got me thinking again...

How did you stretch the wire?

 

[homeinwestIL]

Here is mine. 8-foot game fencing that encloses about .85 acres. Put it all up by myself. I think that some of the larger deer could jump it if sufficiently motivated but has been up for four years and I haven't seen any sign that a deer has been inside the fence.

 

[forgeblast]

I have a lot of deer pressure. This is what we did. 4' high field fence on the bottom and 3' high chickenwire on the top around our orchard. Its all on tposts and two pt posts (doorway).
Around trees we are planting we used tubex tubes 5' high ones worked really well.
Around regeneration plantings and around my hazelnuts I put in 3' high fieldfence (had it on hand) and then strung fishing wire around the top. They do not pass through it. When I do food plots I put in fiberglass poles and fishing line and the deer do not go through. I do put some flagging on it to let them know something is there but other then that nothing else.

 

[Ed of all trades]

WHY??? why spend all the $$$$$ and do all the work when one electric wire that you can push bown with a plastic bucket on and step over will work? We ran a wire like that up yhe side of the road and the deer would not even run that way when the dogs were chaseing them, they went around the fence. I don't understand.