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An adult deer can easily jump 7 ft. or higher, and can squeeze through small gaps in vertical or horizontal slatted fences. While short fences (4 ft.) may be effective at reducing damage in very small areas or around individual trees or shrubs, a “deer proof” fence would need to be 8 ft. or taller and constructed of strong impenetrable material like welded wire or chain link to be effective long-term. This type of fence is expensive, it is not aesthetically pleasing, and may not be feasible in many situations. However, the one-time cost of erecting a permanent 8 ft. fence may be offset by many years of a damage free area.
The peanut butter fence is effective for small gardens and ornamental plantings (1 acre or less) with moderate deer pressure. Deer are attracted by the peanut butter and encouraged to make nose-to-fence contact. After being shocked, deer learn to avoid fenced areas. To build a peanut butter fence follow the steps below. (1) Install wooden corner posts. (2) String one strand of 17-gauge (0.15-cm), smooth wire around the corners and apply light tension. (3) Set 4-foot (1.2-m) 3/8-inch (1-cm) round fiberglass rods along the wire at 45-foot (14-m) intervals. (4) Attach the wire to insulators on the rods 2 1/2 (0.75 m) feet above ground level and apply 50 pounds (22.5 kg) of tension. (5) Attach 3 x 4-inch (7 x 10-cm) foil strips to the wire at 3-foot (1-m) intervals, using 1 x 2-inch (3 x 5- cm) strips of cloth adhesive tape. (6) Apply a 1:1 mixture of peanut butter and vegetable oil to the adhesive tape strips and fold the foil over the tape. (7) Connect the wire to the positive (+) post of a well-grounded fence charger.
Check the fence weekly for damage by deer and grounding by vegetation.
Several forms of polytape or polywire fencing are very strong and portable. You can use these fences to protect slightly larger acres of vegetable gardens and even some small field crops under moderate deer pressure. Deer receive shocks through nose-to-fence contact and they learn to avoid fenced areas. To build a polytape fence follow the steps below. (1) Drive 5/8-inch (1.6-cm) round fiberglass posts 2 feet (0.6 m) into the ground at the corners. (2) String two strands of polytape (white or yellow are most visible) around the corners and apply light tension (one strand 2 1/2 feet (0.75 m) high can be used). (3) Use square knots or half-hitches to make splices or to secure the polytape to corner posts. (4) Set 4-foot (1.2-cm) 3/8-inch (1-cm) round fiberglass rods along the wires at 45-foot (14-m) intervals. (5) Attach the two strands of polytape to insulators on the rods at 1 and 3 feet (0.3 and 0.9 m) above ground level and apply 50 pounds (22.5 kg) of tension. (6) Connect the polytape to the positive (+) post of a well-grounded fence charger. (7) Use the applicator described below to apply 2-foot (0.6-m) swatches of peanut butter to the polytape every 6 feet (2 m) where deer presence is expected to be high. You can make a simple applicator by mounting a free-spinning, 4-inch (10-cm) pulley on a shaft inside a plastic ice cream pail. Fill the pail with a peanut butter-vegetable oil mixture that has the consistency of very thick paint. Coat the entire wire with peanut butter by drawing the pulley along the wire. Apply peanut butter once a month. Attach foil flags to the fence near runways or areas of high deer pressure to make the fence more attractive. To maintain the fence, check it weekly for damage by deer and grounding by vegetation.
Vertical fences are effective at protecting large areas from moderate to high deer pressures. Because of the prescribed wiring, deer are either effectively shocked attempting to go through the fence or they are physically impeded by the barrier. Vertical fences use less ground space than three-dimensional fences, but are probably less effective at inhibiting deer from jumping over fences. There is a wide variety of fence materials, wire spacing, and specific designs you can use. While you can build this fence yourself, local fencing contractors may also be used. To build a 7-wire vertical deer fence follow the steps below. (1) Install rigid corner assemblies where necessary (see the section on fence construction—rigid brace assemblies). (2) String a 12 1/2-gauge (0.26-cm) high-tensile wire around the corner assemblies and apply light tension. (3) Set 8-foot (2.4-m) line posts along the wire at 33-foot (10-m) intervals. (4) Attach a wire to insulators at 8 inches (20 cm) above ground level and apply 150 to 250 pounds (68 to 113 kg) of tension. (5) Attach the remaining wires to insulators at the spacing indicated in the diagram below and apply 150 to 250 pounds (68 to 113 kg) of tension. (6) Connect the second, fourth, fifth, and seventh wires from the top, to the positive (+) post of a well-grounded, low¬ impedance fence charger. (7) Connect the top, third, and sixth wires directly to ground. The top wire should be negative for lightning protection. (8) Clear and maintain a 6- to 12-foot (1.8- to 3.6-m) open area outside the fence so deer can see the fence.
Maintenance includes weekly fence inspection and voltage checks.
This fence is mostly for gardens, truck farms, or nurseries up to about 40 acres (0.16 ha) that experience moderate deer pressure. Deer are repelled by the shock and the three-dimensional nature of the fence. You can add wires if deer pressure increases. To build an offset or double fence follows the steps below. For the outside fence: (1) Install swing corner assemblies where necessary (see the section on fence construction— rigid brace assemblies. (2) String a 12 1/2-gauge (0.26-cm) high-tensile wire around the outside of the swing corner assemblies and apply light tension. (3) Set 5-foot (1.5-m) line posts along the wire at 40- to 60-foot (12- to 18- intervals. (4) Attach the wire to insulators on the line posts, 15 inches (38 cm) above ground level and apply 150 to 250 pounds (68 to 113 kg) of tension. (5) String a second wire at 43 inches (109 cm) and apply 150 to 250 pounds (68 to 113 kg) of tension. For the inside fence: (1) String a wire around the inside of the swing corner assemblies and apply light tension. (2) Set 5-foot (1.5-m) line posts along the wire at 40- to 60-foot (12- to 18- m) intervals. (3) Attach the wire to insulators on the line posts at 30 inches (76 cm) above ground level. (4) Attach all wires to the positive (+) post of a well-grounded, low impedance fence charger. (5) Clear and maintain a 6- to 12-foot (1.8- to 3.6-m) open area outside the fence so deer can see it.
Maintenance includes weekly fence and voltage checks.
This fence is used where high deer pressures threaten moderate-to-large sized orchards, nurseries and other high-value crops. It presents a physical and psychological barrier to deer because of its electric shock and three-dimensional nature. To build a slanted seven-wire deer fence follow the steps below. (1) Set rigid, swing corner assemblies where necessary, (see the section on fence construction— rigid brace assemblies). (2) String 12 1/2-gauge (0.26-cm) high-tensile wire around the corner assemblies and apply light tension. (3) Set angle braces along the wire at 90-foot (27-m) intervals. (4) Attach a wire at the 10-inch (25- cm) position and apply 150 pounds (68 kg) of tension. (5) Attach the remaining wires at 12-inch (30-cm) intervals and apply 150 pounds (68 kg) of tension. (6) Place fence battens at 30-foot (9-m) intervals. (7) Connect the top, third, fifth, and bottom wires to the positive (+) post of a well-grounded, low-impedance fence charger. (8) Connect the second, fourth, and sixth wires from the top directly to ground. (9) Clear and maintain a 6- to 12-foot (1.8- to 3.6-m) area outside the fence so deer can see it. Maintenance includes weekly inspection and voltage checks.
Woven-wire fences are used for year-round protection of high-value crops subject to high deer pressures. These fences are expensive and difficult to construct, but easy to maintain. Before high-tensile electric fencing, woven-wire fences were used most often to protect orchards or nurseries where the high crop value, perennial nature of damage, acreage, and 20-year life span of the fences justified the initial costs. The high cost has resulted in reduced use of woven-wire fences, however, this is the single most effective fencing option there is. Unless you are familiar with fence construction or fencing a very small area (<.5 acres) it is recommended you consult with or hire a fencing contractor to ensure proper installation and that your investment is effective and durable. To build a deer-proof woven-wire fence follows the steps below. (1) Set rigid corner assemblies where necessary. (2) String a light wire between two corners and apply light tension. (3) Set 16-foot posts along the wire at 40-foot intervals, to a depth of 4 to 6 feet. (4) Roll out an 8-foot roll of high-tensile woven wire along the line posts. Attach one end at ground level to a corner post with steel staples. (5) Apply 100 pounds of tension to the wire with a vehicle or fence strainers and attach the wire to line and corner posts with steel staples. (6) Repeat steps 4 and 5 as necessary around the perimeter of the fence. (7) Attach two strands of high-tensile smooth wire to the top of the fence to raise the height of the entire fence to 9 to 10 feet.
Minimal maintenance is required. Inspect for locations where deer can crawl under the fence.
To protect small yards or to utilize a more aesthetically pleasing barrier you can construct wooden panel, iron, vinyl or masonry (brick, stucco, rock, etc.) fences. These fences are of course the most expensive to build but are likely the most permanent. Regardless of construction material, the fence should be a minimum of 10 feet tall to prevent almost all deer from accessing the area. While 8 foot fences likely will work in most situations deer can jump an 8 foot fence and sometimes the addition of 2 strands of wire above the fence might become necessary. Use of fences such as these is often prohibited by local HOAs and similar organizations. In residential areas experiencing extreme deer damage, changes may be needed in covenants and restrictions to allow permanent fencing which effectively excludes deer from yards.