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Deer
Why some, but not all, work very well…
The only 100% deer barrier is an 8 ft tall woven wire fence or solid wall. But that's costly. Hence, electric fences that rely upon a powerful shock to persuade deer to neither jump nor penetrate a fence. Because they aren't physical barriers, electric deer fences require an understanding of deer behavior.
Most will fail if they're installed--
- At the wrong time.
- On the wrong site.
- Managed without an awareness of how a deer herd will interact with your fences.
1. Deer, like us, are creatures of habit.
Where they choose to feed, rub, walk and breed are habits learned over time. It's reinforced every time they do it safely. Fencing a deer herd from an area or trail they use forces the herd to break a habit. That is why the first day and week of denial of use (by a fence) is the most critical. Once a herd's daily pattern is broken, the change in feeding/walking/rubbing routines and location is easier to maintain.
2. Deer make "cost-benefit" decisions about feeding sites, trails and rubbing trees.
Electric fences use shock to raise the "cost" (the degree of risk and effort to use an area) and persuade deer that it is safer and less painful to feed, rub or trail elsewhere. So you can't keep starving deer out with electric fence if your site is its only food source.
3. Electric fences work best when deer are tentative and have time to make a decision.
That's why it's important to identify deer trails entering a new exclusion area and interrupt them with something physical (e.g. a brush pile) where the trail approaches the fence. Do this before the fence is installed.
Why? It makes them cautious and tentative.
5. Don't hunt near the fence.
Why not? Because frightened deer don't make normal decisions. They can be spooked into leaping over or through a fence. Once deer learn that they can do this without pain, they're likely to do so when not frightened. A habit that is once begun is costly to stop.
6. Don't fence the entire area all at once.
The intent is to change the herd's "habits." So install a new fence around a small area first. Leave it in place for 2 weeks. The local deer herd will encounter it, learn to avoid it and instead feed or rub in other areas.
Then progressively expand the enclosed area until 100% is protected.
7. Deer interpret a fence in their terms.
Their world is black, white and shades of gray. Therefore, barriers that contrast with their view of their world are the most visible to deer--and most likely to get their attention.
Warning! There's a natural urge, for those whose property and lives have been harmed by deer, to buy the largest energizer possible (a subconscious desire for revenge, perhaps?). We strongly advise that you restrain this impulse if those unfamiliar with electric fences (public, children, visitors) might encounter the fence. Why? Because high-output energizers do pose a risk to humans (though far less than sharks, ladders, knives, guns, cars, lightning and lethal jellyfish, but nonetheless a risk). Electrified anti-deer fences do work. But you must buy, build, use and maintain them intelligently.
