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Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hi everyone, we are planning and prepping for next years patch on our new property on Vancouver Island, and deer fencing of some kind is going to be needed.

Honestly, I'm shocked by the first profession quote I received and am wondering what the rest of you do when deer fencing is "needed".

Do I bit the bullet and have it professionally done, or is there another way.

Patch is 75' x 55' (4125 sq ft) and my first quote was almost $5000.

Information, advice, knowledge...any help with others that battle deer and rabbits would be appreciated.

9/26/2017 11:26:27 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I have lots of deer and keep them out inexpensively. I have a real hot electric fencer. I run 2 wires down low to keep groundhogs and coons out. Then I have a hot wire at nose height. above that I run 2 strands of orange plastic baler twine. Once they get zapped they learn to stay out. And they don't want to jump and risk getting hung up on the baler twine. I use 8' steel tee posts to keep the twine about 6' high. I had a deer get in to eat some brassica cover crop a couple weeks ago, the first time in several years. I also plant clover outside the garden to give them an alternate feeding area.

Electric fencing won't stop rabbits unless you can get some kind of netting that you can electrify. Then can run right through between electric pulses or just barely get tickled. I just use repellents and an air rifle to keep rabbit damage to a minimum. Sometimes I put chicken wire around pumpkins and melons.

9/26/2017 2:17:13 PM

Jericho Vermont

Glenn there is a patch near me that has deer pressure and they did it themselves very inexpensively. The fence can be very light and if you go to amazon and search for deer fence you will find 100 feet 7 feet tall for $30 or less. They take theirs down every fall to make patch work easily and even made their own posts which don't need to be huge as the fence weighs very little.

9/26/2017 6:14:57 PM

Morgantown, WV

I did both of my patches this year in electric. Front is 60 x 40, back is 60 x 50, both with 5 strands of 14g aluminum wire. Bought a post pounder, took me a day for each fence. Went with a 30 mile charger for 130 bucks ( have 1/2 mile of wire) and it'll turn a bull around. Hit me in the wrist and I felt it in my shoulder. Under $1,000 for everything, kept the bears, deer, and groundhogs out, turkeys pop right through it.

9/26/2017 8:02:52 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

Both my neighbors use the cheap deer fencing above and they use ten foot electric conduit as post. they leave the post in and take down the netting in the fall. They just zip ty the netting to the posts.

9/26/2017 10:41:36 PM

Bethlehem CT

Electric will be the cheapest and easiest. I use a single strand about 3' off the ground. I set it up early. The deer need to get a shock off it and then they will be trained that danger is in that area.

9/27/2017 6:58:31 AM

Bethlehem CT

Deer like to eat the little leaves off the vine tips. They also like to eat the pumpkins. Covering the pumpkin will keep the deer from eating your fruit. As for the vine tips, spray them with a good deer repellant spray. If the deer get a taste of that repellant,you can steer them away from browsing in your pumpkin patch. I have done this before with good results. The problem is that every area is diffferent. If your deer are under a lot of pressure and are starving they will got to further extremes that go against there natural aversions.

9/27/2017 7:03:19 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Besides the deer fencing, am I reading that square footage right Glenn?

Sounds like someone is getting serious up there!

9/27/2017 9:53:07 AM

Hadley Ny

Got my 7' x 100' for $18 at home depot. Very light and reusable for 2-3 years. Posts will cost you more or make your own..the whole roll might weigh a couple pounds. Won't stop wood chucks but it keeps the deer out. Bury the bottom of the net to keep rabbits ouut. Run a little flagging tape so there is some motion. Deer central around my house with oak, beech and apple trees.

9/27/2017 12:53:09 PM

Southeastern Illinois

Another option out there is a motion sensing water sprinkler. I have never used one but many people swear by them you might check them out online.

9/27/2017 5:02:49 PM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

Sit in patch all night and drink beer .... scare them off.. or I have herd a simple radio will keep things away... I prefer the drink beer all night method haven't seen a deer since May..

9/27/2017 9:02:07 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks everyone, great info. I was pondering electric and something like VTJohn mentioned (put up and take down each year) that way if they get past the hot wires, there is some netting. Everyone in this area has similar fencing with the treated 4-6" round posts, and stretched deer fencing that narrows down on bottom for rabbits. Ya, there are raccoons too, and also bear.

Thanks again, lots to consider.

9/27/2017 9:06:49 PM

Bethlehem CT

I use the fiberglass step in posts they sell at most ag stores like tractor supply. Quick and easy. Although it is still a pain in the butt.

9/28/2017 4:54:44 PM