If you build it, they will come

[crazyfarm]

Totally true. We saw our first ever deer. 6 years we've lived here and never once have we seen them. We were pretty sure it was because of the dogs. Anyway, about scared me half to death when I drove up and there was this gigantic deer EATING MY NEW FRUIT TREES. ! Now what?

[FakeMountainMan]

Time to get a bigger dog?

[PNP Katahdins]

Or a better fence. Or wait until hunting season.

Peg

[Nimrod]

If you don't have too many trees, you can put a fence around each one. I hammered in three 2X2s around each tree and stapled this fencing/netting to the 2X2s.

http://www.menards.com/main/building.../p-1908088.htm

The deer don't like anything touching them, like the netting, and will leave your trees alone until they are tall enough so the deer can't get that high.

If you get an infestation of bears you are on your own.

[crazyfarm]

Originally Posted by Nimrod

If you don't have too many trees, you can put a fence around each one. I hammered in three 2X2s around each tree and stapled this fencing/netting to the 2X2s.

http://www.menards.com/main/building.../p-1908088.htm

The deer don't like anything touching them, like the netting, and will leave your trees alone until they are tall enough so the deer can't get that high.

If you get an infestation of bears you are on your own.

Bears. lol

[crazyfarm]

Originally Posted by FakeMountainMan

Time to get a bigger dog?

Haha We have the biggest dog anyone has ever seen. Seriously huge dog here. lol We have 3 big ones!

[crazyfarm]

Originally Posted by PNP Katahdins

Or a better fence. Or wait until hunting season.

Peg

Haha my DH says I should get a hunting permit.

[JoePa]

Most of the work that I do around the property is trying to keep the deer from eating my garden, fruit trees and other bushes - they are a pain in the butt - the trouble is they come down from the mountain at night even during hunting season so it is hard to shoot them - if you have a dog tied up outside it will keep them away -

[crazyfarm]

Originally Posted by JoePa

Most of the work that I do around the property is trying to keep the deer from eating my garden, fruit trees and other bushes - they are a pain in the butt - the trouble is they come down from the mountain at night even during hunting season so it is hard to shoot them - if you have a dog tied up outside it will keep them away -

I figure if we open a U-pick here we'll need to have the entire thing fenced so the dogs can roam and protect the trees from thiefs. Maybe I should just do that early and let the dogs out now.

[lurnin2farm]

I have 2 dogs. I think it provides entertainment for the deer while thyey are munching away on my cherry trees. They dont touch the peach trees though.

[tnvarmint]

Make sure you go with an 8 foot fence. Standard 4 foot fence are just a little exercise for a deer...

[crazyfarm]

Originally Posted by tnvarmint

Make sure you go with an 8 foot fence. Standard 4 foot fence are just a little exercise for a deer...

If I do a short fence and let the great pyr loose there will be no deer, at least live ones. :P

[Rustaholic]

Originally Posted by tnvarmint

Make sure you go with an 8 foot fence. Standard 4 foot fence are just a little exercise for a deer...

I have seen a deer on the run clear a six foot fence by four feet.
Better is an eight foot one that has webbing in it up at least six feet because they won't generally jump what they can't see through.

[Convoy]

well why not eat the deer then? Kinda like on this one documentary where up north a bear ate 1/3rd of the fish this guy had caught so he shot it for dog food - probably equals out to alot more food either way.

[Home Harvest]

Originally Posted by Rustaholic

I have seen a deer on the run clear a six foot fence by four feet.
Better is an eight foot one that has webbing in it up at least six feet because they won't generally jump what they can't see through.

Last time I was in NJ visiting my parents we saw a fenced orchard crowded with deer. My wife actually thought the fence was to keep the deer in. It looked to be 8 foot high, and there were at least 12 deer in that herd. Need I mention my parents live in a nice suburban neighborhood where hunting isn't permitted.

In contrast, my rural PA property rarely sees a deer. (I did find a single set of print in my unfenced garden soil after I tilled this spring.) I'm surrounded by privately owned farms that are heavily hunted every fall. What deer we do have know not to show themselves around buildings.

Somewhere in these 2 stories I think you'll find your answer. The deer need to learn to respect your property, otherwise nothing you do will make much difference.

[Cygnet]

Rather than big dogs, a couple mid-sized high energy stock dogs would work well for chasing the deer off the property. We have elk here, and a seven foot fence -- which discourages elk, but definitely doesn't stop them. Our aussie/heeler and her "mini me" (a now seven month old heeler mix -- probably heeler/catahoula) have been quite effective at keeping elk out -- as well as smaller critters. They chase off everything from squirrels to coyotes to elk, and have a blast doing it.

[crazyfarm]

Originally Posted by Cygnet

Rather than big dogs, a couple mid-sized high energy stock dogs would work well for chasing the deer off the property. We have elk here, and a seven foot fence -- which discourages elk, but definitely doesn't stop them. Our aussie/heeler and her "mini me" (a now seven month old heeler mix -- probably heeler/catahoula) have been quite effective at keeping elk out -- as well as smaller critters. They chase off everything from squirrels to coyotes to elk, and have a blast doing it.

I already have the dogs. lol