Deer fence

allenwrench · Intermediate Crude Joined: Apr 23, 2008 Posts: 661

In a semi-urban environment (2/3 acre with houses next door) will a 4 foot fence keep the deer out of a garden.

Ludi · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:28 am Post subject: Re: Deer fence

No, it isn't tall enough. With our very short deer, five feet is the minimum.
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WyoDutch · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:11 am Post subject: Re: Deer fence

I use 52 inch tall sheep panel fencing and 8 foot wooden posts, set 2 feet deep. That gives me nearly 2 feet of post height above the fence, which I staple a strand of barbed wire to. The barbed wire strand discourages deeer from jumping the fence... it keeps my turkeys from roosting on the fence as well. At the bottom of the panels, I attach an 18-inch tall rabbit fence.

This setup keeps out all creatures.. great and small.
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biofuel13 · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:18 am Post subject: Re: Deer fence

12' fence with razor wire, a multi-point lock system, and some motion lights should help keep those pesky deer and/or zombies out of your veggies! Laughing

killJOY · Fission Joined: Feb 21, 2005 Posts: 2346 Location: ^NNE^

Wren · Tar Sands Joined: Apr 30, 2008 Posts: 63 Location: Oregon

I'm not sure about the height of the fence, but an older experienced gardener around here told me to plant chives around the perimeter of anything I grow, bc the deer hate it. Apparently the smell dispells them. I haven't tried it. But they have a very short fence (like waist high?) and we have deer EVERYWHERE here- they come right up to my back kitchen window- and their garden is doing great. The deer totally leave it alone. Now, I don't know if they do some other tactics, but they do have a lot of chives.

Homesteader · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 10:42 am Post subject: Re: Deer fence

Back in the day while in college a class I was in visited the NY dept of conservation deer management unit in eastern NY state. They had done extensive research on how to keep deer out of orchards etc. . .

The head of the unit said "deer can jump high and they can jump far but they can't jump high and far. They had tested all the silly methods like hanging pie plates, planting borders, etc. . . the best way and most cost effective way was a 6 strand electric fence set at (if memory serves, its been 25 years or so) a 45 degree angle to the outside such that the height was about 5' and the width was about 5'.

The other effective option was a double fence consisting of one 6' stock fence on top of another making a 12' high fence. The cost of that was high, hence the first method.
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Ludi · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 10:48 am Post subject: Re: Deer fence

http://www.ext.vt.edu/news/periodicals/commhort/1997-10/figure1.html
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"...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow..." - jboogy

Homesteader · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:05 pm Post subject: Re: Deer fence

Ah Ludi, you are a doll. Thanks.
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"The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to a close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences…"
Sir Winston Churchill

Ludi · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:08 pm Post subject: Re: Deer fence

No problemo. Smile

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"...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow..." - jboogy

mercurygirl · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Jan 29, 2006 Posts: 1042

I've been told that no critter will come near an electric (solar-powered) fence, even the diggers. I could be misinformed.

truecougarblue · Heavy Crude Joined: Dec 21, 2005 Posts: 471

I've got problems with the deer in my area jumping over my 5ft. fence often enough that they end up tearing it down.

It is built from 8 ft. posts sunk 3 feet deep, every 8ft., with 4ft. field fencing from the ground up and a cross bar on teh top between posts TTTTTTTTT.

The little buggers are tenacious, I just hope I get to eat one some day to find out if their tastiness equals their tenacity.

I like the diagonal idea and I will probably try it out.
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Koyaanisqatsi · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 1:54 am Post subject: Re: Deer fence

As a short-term solution I use 8' wooden poles sunk 1.5' into the ground, with 7' bird netting strung between. Also I try not to give the deer much room to jump anywhere on the other side. This deters the deer just enough to go visit the neighbors' yards. I've heard that 12' is the minimum though if you want to be absolutely safe. By the way the netting is fastened to the poles with clips, so the protected areas can be entered from any point.