Deer Proof Fencing & Deer Deterrent Fencing

Electric Fence

Electric deer proof fencing is designed to deliver a mildly painful shock to deer, keeping them from penetrating the fenced area. Baited deer proof fencing has a foodstuff attached to the wire fence strand that, when the deer sniffs or licks it, will shock them. Baited electric fencing will fail as a deer deterrent method if the baiting of the fence is not maintained or the deer learn to go over or under the strands. Multi-strand deer deterrent fencing is designed to prevent deer damage by shocking the deer as it attempts to go through the strands. Many are constructed 5' to 7' tall to deter deer from jumping. Multi-strand electric deer deterrent fencing will fail if the deer (whose hollow hair acts as an insulator) learn that if they move through the fence quickly or carefully, they will receive little or no shock at all. Both types of electric deer proof fencing are susceptible to falling limbs and growing weeds that "ground out" the fence, rendering it useless. Dry ground conditions can also make deer essentially "not grounded" and the resulting shock can be all but non-existent. Bottom Line… Electric deer deterrent fencing is fairly effective for providing deer damage control for large farms in rural areas where the deer pressure is less extreme and where some crop damage is acceptable. For residential neighborhoods with moderate to high deer pressure, multi-strand electric deer proof fencing may work for a while, but if the deer learn how to push between the wires, the fence becomes all but useless for deer control.

Scare Tactics

Scare tactics include anything that is supposed to scare or steer the deer away in order to prevent deer damage. The current offerings include a variety of motion activated devices including: strobe lights, sirens, sprinklers, scarecrows, sonic and ultrasonic devices, continuously pulsing ultrasonic devices, and many other commercially produced "gizmos" meant to scare your deer away. Of the "home remedy" variety, many people try playing the radio or setting a disco strobe light near their plantings. These may work in certain locations for some amount of time; however, these are usually effective for only a few days to a few weeks. The deer simply learn that there is no physical threat and this deer control tactic becomes ineffective.

Physical Barriers

A physical barrier is a deer control device or natural feature that keeps deer from physically entering an area. Deer deterrent fencing is the most common man made barrier used to keep deer out of an area. To exclude deer, a variety of different materials have been used with varying success. Whitetail deer can make a standing jump as high as 10'. However, in most instances, deer will not risk jumping fences over 8' in height. In most cases any traditional deer proof fencing (wood, decorative iron or steel, decorative aluminum, chain link, or PVC) 8' or taller that a deer cannot go under or through will keep deer out of an area. The downside to a traditional 8' fence is its high cost and visibility. The least expensive traditional deer proof fencing is chain link. Chain link is highly visible and typically costs in excess of $15.00 per linear foot installed. Wooden, iron, steel, aluminum, and PVC deer deterrent fencing prices start at about $40.00 per linear foot installed at 8' in height and can exceed $100.00 per foot.

The only deer damage deterrent method that is capable of being virtually 100% effective is a physical barrier. The main problems with physical barriers are their prices and their high visibility. If what you are in search of is of is a low visibility solution, few options are available. Black colored grid-like materials prove to be the least visible deer deterrent fencing material in most environments. In steel fence the available products include black PVC coated chain link and black PVC coated welded wire. These products are extremely durable. They are also extremely heavy, requiring a heavy-duty framework constructed of wood or steel posts. Also, these deer proof fences are almost impossible to install yourself. The installed price for these products can range from $15.00 to over $30.00 per linear foot.

Deer Control Alternatives

The least visible and least expensive physical barriers capable of keeping out deer are heavy-duty "grid-like" black colored plastic mesh materials, typically called "deer fence". This type of deer control material, although very strong and durable, is light in weight making it easy to handle and maneuver through rough terrain and wooded areas. Existing trees are typically used in lieu of posts whenever possible as they make the deer proof fencing even more invisible and eliminate the material and labor costs associated with posts. This type of deer proof fencing does vary greatly by manufacturer. Buyers need to be wary, as most deer deterrent fencing products referred to as "deer fence" are thin plastic nettings that are not able to keep a deer from breaking through them.

Benner's Deer Proof Fencing

Benner's Gardens, Inc has offered a line of extremely effective, black polypropylene deer proof fencing for over 10 years, and provides the most comprehensive deer deterrent fencing system for deer damage control on the market. Benner's fence, once it is installed, is about 7' high. Because of the height and the invisibility of the product, the deer, due to poor visual depth perception, cannot judge how high the fence really is. For this reason, they are intimidated and will not attempt to jump it. Benner's deer proof fencing has proven to be incredibly durable, highly-effective, and has the least amount of visual impact upon the surroundings. Best of all, Benner's fence is very affordable, and quite easy to install in most locations.

Professional Deer Deterrent Fencing Installations

Should you have a large enclosure, or simply wish to have a professional install the material, then Benner's installation company, Deer Fencers, LLC, is available to install all of Benner's products in many areas throughout the U.S. Please call: 1-800-BIG-DEER (244-3337) or visit us online at DeerFencers.com .