Deer proof fencing

[slowrev]

Virtually all fence is deer proof, they don't usually eat it or anything /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Keeping them out is another issue, need to go at least 6 ft or so and use something they can see well so they dont just get hung up in it.

I have found that using 4 ft high 2x4 welded mesh down low and 1 of the electric horse tape strips at 5.5 and 6.5 ft high works pretty well. The 2x4 stuff keeps out small critters and such and the deer see the tapes and don't try to jump it. Electric on the tape should not be needed.
Ben

 

[DocHeb]

An alternative to vertical fencing is Low-Cost Slant Fence. It isn't clear to me how to mow under it, however.

 

[DrRod]

DocHeb beat me to it -- I was going to point you toward the slant fence. This is essentially a psychological thing for the deer -- they just don't figure out that they need to take a running start to clear it. But put tapes or strips of cloth on it to discourage blind leaps of faith -- they'll tear it up that way. But if you discourage challenges, you can make it out of pretty light materials, even plastic netting.

 

[mrmotto]

Thanks for the info and the humor. I like the slant fence and the 4 ft with electric fence tape ideas.

 

[Boog]

I have a garden in my fenced (4 ft woven wire) yard. Deere and other critters are not a problem because I have the ultimate deer proofer "INSIDE" the fence -- DOGs. I only have one problem - one of the dogs will eat my sweetcorn. At first thought I thought it was coons sneaking in at night when the dogs were sleeping then I found it was the dogs themselves! They don't bother anything else but the corn. Oh, and the woven wire keeps the coyotes out too.

 

[slowrev]

I had a dog that loved sweet corn too. she would go to the garden a nd pull down an ear every now and then. She was a great dog so I figured she deserved it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif She was the ultimate rabbit dog, just sit on the porch and tell her to "go get a rabbit" , and she would come back in a while with a rabbit for me /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Ben

 

[txdon]

mrmotto, I got some of this deer fence from the farmer's Co-Op. It is 8' high. the picture shows the fence around my organic garden. In the center is my water storage tank which is supplied by my solar pump in a spring pond about 300' away- bottom picture. The water tank acts as a water distribution system. I have 3/4' PVC with small drilled holes and cut off valves for each raised bed. The solar panel is turned east so it get a controlled watering each day.
This was one experiment that actually worked. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[JimR]

Use an electric fence set at 3 feet off the ground. Put 6" aluminum strips every 15 feet hanging down. Put peanut butter on the strips. Turn on the juice and let the fun begin.