Prevent Deer From Damaging Your Property: Here’s How

Straight Shooter Game Fencing

While deer are an important part of the local ecosystem, they can cause a lot of damage to property if left unchecked. Vehicle collisions, crop and landscape damage, and suppressed forest regeneration are problems that can occur when deer congregate near manmade structures.

Here are strategies you can utilize to help mitigate deer inflicted damages.

Fencing 

High fence installation is the most effective long-term solution to prevent deer damage. Deer are capable of jumping over a 10-foot high fence, but they often choose to go under in most cases. For this reason, standard fences must be no more than 6 inches off the ground. Electric fences on the other hand must be no more than 10 to 12 inches above the ground.

Your high fence must be maintained, and any damage should be repaired immediately. Once deer have penetrated the fence, it is difficult to keep them out. Gaps and gates must be closed at all times.

The fence must be visible and should have a clear perimeter. Deer may accidentally run into fences and damage sections if they were not aware it was there.

Electric Fences

Electric fencing need not be a huge investment. Smaller properties can be protected by portable electric fences which can be installed and taken down all on the same day. Owners of larger fields who want to put up permanent electric fences can cut down on costs by investing in solar chargers.

Portable electric fences can use regular electric wire or hot tape, a wide colored tape embedded with wires. It is visible at night and generates an electric shock on contact. 

Enhance your electric fence’s effectiveness by baiting it. Adding a metal tab smeared with peanut butter will lure deer in to approach the fence. By licking the peanut butter its nose and tongue, the deer will be trained to stay away from the fence. Maintain a 30-foot distance between tabs and keep it baited for several weeks after the high fence installation. Otherwise, you may never know if deer will test the fence that shocked them or if there’s a new herd in the area. 

Above all, keep your electric fence charged at all times.

Hunting

Hunting effectively controls deer populations, which reduces the risk of damages. 

Out-of-season shooting permits are issued for properties experiencing extensive deer damage and crop losses outside the normal deer hunting season. This permit is only valid within a specific time frame as determined by a local wildlife biologist. 

Deer Management Assistance Permits (DMAPs) are issued during deer hunting season only. These permits are valid for antlerless deer and are intended to help individuals reduce future crop damage by decreasing the deer population on their property.

A site visit may be required to assess the extent of the damages. The harvested deer may either be kept or donated.

Deer Repellants

Deer have a strong sense of smell. Deer repellants emit scents that falsely alert deer to predators, which keeps them away.

Please note that repellants may not work 100 percent of the time. For best results, test them out during different times of the year and combine these with other preventive strategies.

Liquid Fence. This liquid concentrate produces an odor that repels deer. For crop applications, make sure to use a non-toxic formulation. Re-apply Liquid Fence after a downpour, as rain washes it out and reduces its potency.

Blood Meal. Made from dried animal blood, this high-nitrogen fertilizer has proven to be an effective deer deterrent. Blood meal is often used in orchards and is applied to areas that can potentially attract deer.

Human hair. The scent of human hair is believed to keep deer away. Place hair in mesh bags and hang these on trees and shrubs at the onset of spring; these bags should be no more than three feet apart and should be replaced monthly.

Soap. Wrap highly scented, tallow-based soap bars in mesh or cheesecloth and hang them within three feet of the plants you want to protect from deer.

Scare Tactics

Use scare tactics sparingly as deer can eventually get used to these. Like repellants, combine scare tactics with other measures as these can be ineffective in the long run when used on their own. Scare tactics should also be used with discretion; some might be practical for rural settings but could be a nuisance in suburban areas because of the noise they create.

Siren screamers. These emit a loud, siren-like noise that scares deer off. You can get siren screamers and the device used to fire them from your local wildlife office. 

Flagging. Deer are naturally sensitive to movement. Objects that move with the wind, such as strands of Mylar tape hung from stakes, have been used to prevent deer damage. 

Flashing and strobe lights. Lights startle deer at night when they are more likely to cause damage.

Motion-activated water sprinklers. Sensors detect movement from up to 40 feet away, which triggers a spray of water. This not only deters deer but smaller critters, too.

Straight Shooter Game Fencing works with property owners throughout the US to provide the best high fence installation, service, and fencing materials at competitive prices. Get in touch with us to know more.

Setting Your Deer Fence Height

Straight Shooter Game FencingTo many, deer are graceful and enchanting animals. It’s easy to associate deer with the great outdoors and country living. Although they have a docile reputation, deer are also capable of destroying fruits, vegetables, and flowers in cultivated areas such as a garden or farm. If you live near an area with a large deer population, you can prevent this by having professional deer fence installation done on your property.

The Basics

Deer fences and posts are usually made from plastic or metal, but wood is also an unusual choice. While metal is more durable, plastic offers more variety in terms of style and color options. Think about your property’s terrain, purpose, size, and cost implications when selecting a material to use. 

How High Should a Deer Fence Be?

The size of the deer and the kind of game that lives in your area will largely determine the height of your deer fence. A four-foot fence, for example, would be sufficient to keep out deer in the Florida Keys. In certain parts of the American Northwest, you will need a taller fence to protect your property from deer – and the occasional moose or elk.

A typical North American deer can easily clear a six-foot-high fence. An eight-foot-high one should keep even the strongest and most determined of them away from your garden, orchard, or farm. Consult with your local planning commission or check zoning regulations in your area to know all your options.

Deers are wonderful animals best observed from a respectful distance. With expert deer fence installation, you can enjoy the best of both worlds – nature’s majesty and a safe, damage-free property.

Straight Shooter Game Fencing works with property owners throughout the US to provide the best deer fence installation, service, and fencing materials at competitive prices. Get in touch with us to know more.

Game/High Fence Regulations in the Southeastern States

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High fences have been used across the country since the 1930s to manage game and game breeding. High fence installations are considered essential to a property’s security and safety. An increasing number of property owners have been engaging the services of high fence contractors through the years due to the following benefits:

  • Herd control. Deer and other game can be efficiently fenced in or out of a property. This can help to prevent disputes, theft, and potential property damages. The landowner can also use high fences to help regulate populations depending on the capacity of the land.
  • Improved scientific data gathering. Using high fences, biologists can estimate herd size, adult sex ratio, reproduction, and other parameters.
  • Prevents the incidence of vehicle collisions. High fence enclosures near public roads can lower the risk of accidents.

High fence regulations vary from state to state. Learn more below about high fence installation regulations in the Southeastern states. 

Alabama

The state of Alabama is free-wheeling when it comes to high fence properties and enclosures. There are no minimum acreage requirements or permits to be filed, but hunters are required to adhere to state hunting regulations.

Florida

There are no high fence regulations in Florida, and any resident can install a high fence around a property. The maximum height of any fence is eight feet, and it must be installed 2 to 8 inches from a property line. Any game enclosed within a high fence is considered state property.

Hunting preserves in Florida must be at least 200 acres to qualify for a license; at least 50 percent of that area should be well-vegetated and posted every 500 feet, and a preserve’s high fence must be at least 8 feet in height.

Georgia

The state of Georgia allows anyone who owns 640 acres of land to install a high fence on their property. All game within high fence properties is considered state-owned and local hunting regulations must be followed. 

Properties smaller than 640 acres must obtain a permit to erect a high fence.

Louisiana

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries does not officially approve of high fences. Landowners may prevent anyone from hunting or fishing in their property. However, any captured wildlife, despite the prohibition of entry, belongs to the captor.

Mississippi

High fence property owners in Mississippi are required to obtain an annual Facility Permit, which costs $300 a year for enclosures up to 300 acres. Properties larger than 300 acres must pay a fee of $1 per acre. 

The state’s Enclosure Management Assistance Program oversees all high fence enclosures. A wildlife biologist from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) will draft a management plan for the licensed enclosure and conduct inspections as needed. 

Breaches or openings in an enclosure must be reported to the MDWFP within 24 hours of discovery.  Any game that escapes from a high fence enclosure and poses a risk to public safety may be captured and/or euthanized by MDWFP representatives or by any law enforcement agency.

Virginia

With the exception of high fence enclosures registered before August 2001, all fences that impede game movement are considered illegal in the state of Virginia.

Should there be a need to build a fence between neighbors, an owner of the game or livestock has to pay for the construction, maintenance, and preservation of the fence. 

High fencing regulations are continuously evolving, and seasoned high fence contractors should be familiar with all of state and local laws. Consult with your state wildlife agency and local law enforcement officials for the latest updates.

Straight Shooter Game Fencing is a high fence contractor specializing in high-tensile game fence. We deliver the best fencing installation and maintenance services, as well as fencing materials, at competitive prices. Get in touch with us to know more.