Deer eating my small apple trees

[plowhog]

I've been planting bare root apple trees to replace a mature apple orchard that is slowly dying out. This summer, my small trees were nearly wiped out by deer. A drought year left little for the deer to eat elsewhere, so they got aggressive even in spite of fencing.

At first, I used two T-posts and a circle of 4' wire fence around the trees. The deer easily defeated that by pushing on the wire. I then tried three T-posts and a wider fence radius of protection. The deer learned to push on the wire mid-way between the T-posts and they could still get to the apple tree leaves.

What are some alternatives to keeping the deer away from the apple trees? I have plenty of T-posts and wire fence, but I either need a better approach or a way to reinforce the upper part of the fence so it can't be pushed.

Any ideas?

 

[ruffdog]

Deer will get on their hind feet and reach way up to get leaves. DNR here has said deer numbers are about the highest they have ever been. If I plant a nice tree, you have to protect it until it gets bigger than they can reach, then you protect it so they won't rub it.

 

[Roadworthy]

Check with the local game warden. You are probably within your rights terminating the offending animals. The warden will tell you about how you may legally dispose of the carcass.

 

[Diggin It]

'Terminate' an animal for being hungry? Really?

OP, is there something else you can plant that they might like better and allow them better access? Do you have room for a food plot for them?

 

[Torvy]

Yes. The alternative is that the growing numbers of deer will have higher populations die of starvation, impact with vehicles, or freeze due to lack of cover. There are not enough predator species around to keep deer populations on check.

In some places, they will manage the remains by feeding the poor.

 

[Thomas]

Good strong fencing least 6' high only thing works found works for me.

 

[rademamj1]

'Terminate' an animal for being hungry? Really?

OP, is there something else you can plant that they might like better and allow them better access? Do you have room for a food plot for them?

Yes Indeed. Put out Apple flavored corn in large easy to eat from buckets for them. Put out water for them to drink. They will not go for the trees, and will prefer the flavored apple corn. Put all this about 100 yards away from your fencing. Then each week move the feeding center an additional 50 yards away. Eventually you get them feeding far away from your fenced apple trees, and are no longer a threat.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Deer will eat anything if they get hungry enough. During the harsh winter of 1993, they actually got up on our neighbors deck an ate their plastic marigolds. Of course they threw it all up almost immediately but the plastic flowers were ruined.

My wife and I have had pretty good luck with all natural sprays that contain Coyote urine and a bunch of other noxious smelling ingredients. They have to be applied after it rains and weekly if it doesn't. Not practical for a large orchard though.

We also use 6' high fencing abound our fruit & ornamental trees. We use heavy gauge wire with 4 or 6 pieces of 1/2" rebar in a 6' circle around the trees. Yes, they can push it in but usually not far enough to do any damage. Again, this may not be practical for an orchard.

We tried putting out food to keep them away from the plantings but it just attracted more deer. It eventually got too expensive and we gave up the idea.

We inquired with the state game commission about shooting the offending deer. We were told it is only legal for farmers or landowners who make a living from the land. Besides, the desire to kill them is just a knee jerk reaction which passes quickly. We really aren't that cruel. I suppose it would be different if we depended on a crop for our livelihood.

We know several people who keep dogs outside on a lead near their plantings. It works fairly well but to us, it seems rather cruel to the dog.

 

[Doughknob]

Yep, i was going to say dogs too. Fence in the whole orchard and put dogs with doghouses inside the fence. fence is to keep dogs in, dogs keep deer out.

Man's best friend has so many uses.

 

[ponytug]

Sorry to hear about your deer issues. It always seems so unfair to bare root trees.
Things that I have tried over the years that worked somewhat;

• Stronger, taller fence.
• Liquid fence (I can't stand the stuff, but it worked for us. Practically threw up applying it.)
• We have an IR motion sensing sprinkler which helps some on smaller animals.
• Food plots elsewhere.

I like the dogs idea, but I have never tried it.

All the best,

Peter

 

[plowhog]

Our wild animal populations seem to have a good balance. So I won't be shooting any deer. Just two weeks ago a cougar took down a deer very near our orchard. In the same general area, I have a trail camera picture of 5 cougars in the same photo-- walking along at 4am.

My small apple trees are individually fenced, as the overall area is way too large to outright fence. So I am trying to do protection for individual trees.

btw, the primary purpose of the trees is to feed the bears in the fall. We try to promote good habitat for wildlife and mama bear and her cubs always come in to feed on the apples in fall-- fattening up before winter.

So I really need some better solutions for fencing and protecting each small tree.

 

[jyoutz]

I've been planting bare root apple trees to replace a mature apple orchard that is slowly dying out. This summer, my small trees were nearly wiped out by deer. A drought year left little for the deer to eat elsewhere, so they got aggressive even in spite of fencing.

At first, I used two T-posts and a circle of 4' wire fence around the trees. The deer easily defeated that by pushing on the wire. I then tried three T-posts and a wider fence radius of protection. The deer learned to push on the wire mid-way between the T-posts and they could still get to the apple tree leaves.

What are some alternatives to keeping the deer away from the apple trees? I have plenty of T-posts and wire fence, but I either need a better approach or a way to reinforce the upper part of the fence so it can't be pushed.

Any ideas?

I had the same problem with my orchard and garden. I tried small fences, electric fences, motion activated lights, and sprinklers. Nothing worked until I built an 8 foot fence around the orchard/garden. I see the deer tracks around the perimeter, but they cannot get in.

 

[Doughknob]

Aaaaaahaaaaa. Cougars and bears will eat the dogs. So, yeah, dogs are out. 8' high fence around tree several feet beyond any branches using more posts only option.

Deer repellant made for this, but i have not had good luck with it and it costs a lot to keep replacing it.

 

[old and tired]

...Just two weeks ago a cougar took down a deer very near our orchard. In the same general area....

So I really need some better solutions for fencing and protecting each small tree.

You need more cougars then....

We used 4 posts and tied the 2x4" fencing to the posts with wire around each tree (3' or 4' square) so it doesn't move. Most of our fences are down except around a couple of the small trees. Now we have way too many apples - we picked out varieties so there would be a constant flow of apples, we still have a couple trees dropping apples...

Now if you can only tell me how to keep my dog from eating apples....

 

[plowhog]

8' high fence around tree several feet beyond any branches using more posts only option.

I am unsure about fence height. The existing fence is only 4' tall.

The entire diameter of my fence circle, using 3 T-posts, is 10-12 feet. So only 5-6 feet from the tree trunk to the fence fabric. It's enough to let the tree mature *if* the fence would hold up. I doubt a deer would jump into such a small space. I've never seen one do it in my small fence circles. But I'm not sure.

 

[old and tired]

Another thing you can try is to put 2 fences around the apples a few feet apart.

 

[Doughknob]

I am unsure about fence height. The existing fence is only 4' tall.

The entire diameter of my fence circle, using 3 T-posts, is 10-12 feet. So only 5-6 feet from the tree trunk to the fence fabric. It's enough to let the tree mature *if* the fence would hold up. I doubt a deer would jump into such a small space. I've never seen one do it in my small fence circles. But I'm not sure.

They will step (maybe 'hop') over a 4' fence and just walk up to the smorgassbord. Small space makes no matter. "Fabric"?? Gotta use real wire pasture fence. 8' high.

 

[plowhog]

"Fabric"??

Used the wrong term. It's metal welded-wire type.

 

[Goose1776]

You can use a double fence system a small fence, inside a larger fence, it works wonders..

Milorganite spread around the tree will work, or at least help. as long as you keep it applied

And the best solution that worked for us was running 5 strands of electric fence around each tree,
We just used the fiberglass step in electric fence posts, with electric tape.
And yes we had them hooked to a charger.
Keeps everything off the trees.
We also are building a wildlife sanctuary, and trying to plant as many wildlife beneficial trees as possible,
The wildlife just seems to want to make it difficult for us. Hahaha

 

[Diggin It]

I did the t-post and wire thing until the apple trees got taller. That helped the rutting as well as the nibbling.

They were able to reach over enough to nibble the fresh shoots on the cherry trees though. I raised the posts with plastic pipe for extensions and added another layer of wire mesh above the first. That took care of the cherry shoot nibbling and by next year they should be tall enough to survive on their own.