(Mule) Deer fence construction recommendations

[kiotirocky]

Hello fellow tractor users. This is 2nd post, and my 1st thread. I've lurked, learned, and leveraged what I've gained here. I thank you all and hope to distill more wisdom from you; and somehow contribute.

Given the old saw of "Good, cheap, and fast...pick 2", I need to construct a ≥8ft mule deer fence to protect a 1ac. vineyard in Northwestern Nevada. Prices are fluctuating wildly out there, so I don't know whether to bank on 10-12' t-posts, wooden round/square/rectangular posts, etc.

I have time, since I'll be doing it myself, so I need good and affordable. Plan is to use hydraulic auger for punching the holes, which is handy because it's how I prepare for vines.

Trial fence comprised of 9'6" pvc tied to shorter metal fenceposts, with bottom 4' chicken wire and 1' spaced wires (orange bailing twine) above that, worked very well, but it's neither permanent nor inexpensive. It's in the photo. Ignore the angled bottom section, as it was a relic from a prior attempt.

From the opinions on fence for mule deer from this page, 8' is the minimum height I'd want to go: How tall should a fence be for a mule deer? - The Environmental Literacy Council

Would you go 10'-12' T-posts anchored in concrete? Wood anchored in concrete? A combo? What questions am I not asking myself?

 

[workinonit]

I used 8' fixed knot fencing. 6"x6"x10' corner and line posts and 2"x8" bracing. I filled in the spaces with 10' T-posts. Fenced in about 3 times what you are fencing for a garden. Got the wire from Deer Busters.

 

[workinonit]

I sunk all of my 6x6s in concrete. Just drove the t-posts. Used a 12" auger.

 

[Williy]

I have seen deer jump over a 20 ft high chain link fence as long
as they can see whats on the other side they jump. I have seen
deer stop when they can up against a solid fence they can't see
what's on the other side and walk around it never seen one jump
one

willy

 

[workinonit]

Sorry for the white tail that jumps mine. I hope he can jump back over it before I get out there. He will be supper for the orphanage if I catch him in there.

 

[redman135]

Have you thought about how to discourage deer from jumping in the first place,ie minimise their run up, make the landing bad?
New Zealand style deer fences are just rammed into dirt. The regular posts are 9'ers rammed in 3' for a 6' fence hight, I can not recall how deep the straiers are rammed. In general Ag fencing is just rammed into dirt as concrete footing is cost prohibitive.

Deer Discouragement
1) Strain the fence slightly slack as this will throw the deer back with out injuring or killing it, AND it results in less fence damage.
2) Design your fence so there are no sharp corners (high preassure) that create jump points.
3) Try to minimise run up space to reduce jumping.
4) If a tree can fall on the fence remove it first. My neighbour used to have deer and sometimes a treee would fall on the deer fence leading to escapes.
5) If you have a hill and deer are tramping the fenceline you can get scouring (2 - 3 ft deep), this can lead to deer actually digging under the
fence!!! I had never heard of that before. To stop this my neighbour would dump branches in tracks to force the deer to track out from the fence

 

[workinonit]

I just put up a fence and didn't have to worry about all of that. I could have pounded the posts but That fence would have pulled them over. I tried different solutions for 5 years. The only things that work are a gun and a fence.

 

[jfsawatzky]

I’ve read that two fences one high the other short interferes with the deers lack of depth perception and ability to jump. I don’t recall the spacing or the height of the short fence right now. I haven’t tried it but need to do something around the garden

 

[Williy]

I know if you spray with a mixture of hot peppers, hot sauce
vinegar some water grind so it will go threw sprayer spray
where the deer feed they will not return no fence needed

willy

 

[ning]

I have seen deer jump over a 20 ft high chain link fence

willy

No, you haven't.

 

[workinonit]

Deer can't jump a 20' real fence. Hot peppers, vinegar and hot sauce or double electric fencing won't keep them out. Ask me how I know. I tried it all. The only way to stop them is with a physical barrier that they can't cross. Can they jump an 8' fence? Maybe. Have I ever seen one do it? Never.

 

[Williy]

ning when I was deer hunting in northern Wisconsin I was
sitting by a ditch approx 20 ft wide the deer co;me running
jumped the ditch two bo;unds and sailed over this 20 ft high
chain link fence. I was there I see what happened with my
own eyes! I have seen deer leap across the road never touching
the payment! You are welcome to think what ever you want

willy

 

[Williy]

The hot pepper spray works for me and it even keeps the
cotton tails out

willy

 

[ning]

ning when I was deer hunting in northern Wisconsin I was
sitting by a ditch approx 20 ft wide the deer co;me running
jumped the ditch two bo;unds and sailed over this 20 ft high
chain link fence. I was there I see what happened with my
own eyes! I have seen deer leap across the road never touching
the payment! You are welcome to think what ever you want

willy

 

[jyoutz]

I built a one acre mule deer fence around my garden and orchard using pipe braced corners set in concrete and 10’ t posts. I stacked two rolls of 4’ field fence to create a 8’ fence. It has kept deer out for the past 8 years. But my fence is a rectangle and this works well. Since you have an irregular area to fence, I recommend strong braced pipe corners set in concrete, 10’ t posts, and 9 strands of high tensile wires instead of field fence. High tensile strands can be stretched in curved runs, not just a straight pull.

 

[ning]

I built a one acre mule deer fence around my garden and orchard using pipe braced corners set in concrete and 10’ t posts. I stacked two rolls of 4’ field fence to create a 8’ fence. It has kept deer out for the past 8 years. But my fence is a rectangle and this works well. Since you have an irregular area to fence, I recommend strong braced pipe corners set in concrete, 10’ t posts, and 9 strands of high tensile wires instead of field fence. High tensile strands can be stretched in curved runs, not just a straight pull.

View attachment 3331668

Stretching high-tensile in curves tends to pull posts over, especially t-posts.
Field fence doesn't need to be under much tension to keep deer out since they'll see it, so IMO a better choice for an irregular boundary.

 

[jyoutz]

Stretching high-tensile in curves tends to pull posts over, especially t-posts.
Field fence doesn't need to be under much tension to keep deer out since they'll see it, so IMO a better choice for an irregular boundary.

True. It does help if you have a few pipe stretch panels (or trees) at the apex of the curves. Field fence is just not fun to work with, but your point is well taken. Definitely for an 8’ fence, stack two 4’ rolls of field fence. Eight foot field fence is a beast to work with.

 

[workinonit]

It is a beast to string that's for sure. I actually did most of mine by myself. I made a contraption to hang a roll of fence from my FEL. It hung on a swivel hook. I would fasten the end and back the tractor up to the next end post. Stretching it wasn't so bad. It does have to be decently tight or it will sag unless you use a ton of posts.

 

[jyoutz]

It is a beast to string that's for sure. I actually did most of mine by myself. I made a contraption to hang a roll of fence from my FEL. It hung on a swivel hook. I would fasten the end and back the tractor up to the next end post. Stretching it wasn't so bad. It does have to be decently tight or it will sag unless you use a ton of posts.

I did exactly the same thing, but stacked 2 4’ rolls instead of trying to stretch an 8 footer.

 

[jyoutz]

Deer can't jump a 20' real fence. Hot peppers, vinegar and hot sauce or double electric fencing won't keep them out. Ask me how I know. I tried it all. The only way to stop them is with a physical barrier that they can't cross. Can they jump an 8' fence? Maybe. Have I ever seen one do it? Never.

Before I built my 8.5’ fence, I tried motion lights, motion sprinklers, electric fence, baited electric fence, and double fences. None of those things worked for mule deer. My tall fence has now worked great for 8 years.