Fencing is the most effective deterrent for deer around gardens and yards. Deer can easily jump a 5′ fence, many can clear a 6′ fence, some a 7 footer, and a very few can even jump an 8′ fence. Deer have also been known to “broad jump” streams up to 14′ wide. The good news is that deer cannot high jump and broad jump at the same time. Deer resist jumping over something if they cannot see the landing site. Knowing these behavioral traits, you can design your fence to outwit unwelcome deer.
Fences can be costly since they need to be at least 7′-8′ high. An 8′ fence is the most expensive, but it is probably the most effective. New on the market are heavy plastic prefabricated deer fencing materials. They are heavier than the standard garden bird netting and are usually 7′-8′ tall. Being rather opaque, they blend into a variety of backgrounds, and many times all you see are the upright posts. These are durable, long-lasting fences.
Double row fences 5′ high and 4′-5′ apart will keep the deer from doing the simultaneous high jump and broad jump. A variation of this is a 5′ high fence with wire that slants at a 30 degree angle for about 4′-5′ along the ground.
Electric fences are not as costly as most traditional 7′ or 8′ fences. For the best results, place the wire 18″ or more off the ground. To prevent some deer from learning to jump over this single strand, place a second wire 40″ off the ground. It is recommend that you use a voltage of 4000 or higher. To introduce the deer to the electric fence it is recommended that you attract them to it with peanut butter. One method is to hang aluminum foil strips smeared with peanut butter on the wire. When deer come to lick the peanut butter, they receive a jolt to the nose and mouth and learn their lesson.
