A deer fence is a specialized barrier designed to deter deer primarily through its imposing height rather than physical strength. This enclosure exploits the deer’s natural reluctance to jump a high barrier when they cannot clearly see the landing area. Wood posts are a popular choice, offering superior durability against weather and ground contact compared to metal stakes, and a more natural, aesthetically pleasing appearance. Building a robust fence requires careful planning to ensure the structure withstands environmental pressures while maintaining the necessary vertical dimension.
Preparation and Material Selection
Effective deer exclusion begins with selecting the correct height and materials. To deter most North American deer species, the fence must achieve a minimum height of eight feet. Choosing appropriate wood for the posts is important, with materials like pressure-treated pine, cedar, or black locust providing excellent resistance to rot and insect damage when in ground contact.
The barrier material typically consists of UV-resistant polypropylene mesh or woven wire. Polypropylene mesh is lightweight and provides a low-visibility barrier, requiring a breaking strength of at least 650 pounds per linear foot. Woven wire offers greater longevity and resistance to chewing animals. For hardware, you will need fasteners appropriate for wood, monofilament tensioning wire to ensure the fence remains taut, and materials like gravel or concrete for securing the corner and end posts. A specialized bottom guard, often a two-foot strip of metal mesh, is also recommended to prevent smaller animals from chewing through the base and creating a breach.
Installing the Wood Posts
The stability of the entire fence depends on the proper installation of the wood posts, beginning with marking the exact fence line. Corner and end posts bear the heavy tension of the attached fencing and should be the largest available, such as 4×4 or 5×5 timbers. These terminal posts require substantial depth, set into holes approximately 3 to 3.5 feet deep to anchor them securely.
Intermediate line posts primarily maintain the fence’s height and profile and can be spaced between 8 and 12 feet apart. Closer spacing is recommended for uneven or hilly terrain. Setting the posts plumb (perfectly vertical) is important for a clean, straight fence line. Posts can be secured by backfilling the hole with tamped earth, a mixture of dirt and gravel, or concrete. Using gravel at the base helps promote drainage and prolong the wood’s life. Corner and end posts must be braced with diagonal supports or anchor systems to counteract the high lateral forces applied during tensioning.
Attaching the Fencing Barrier
Securing the fencing material is the most important step for achieving a functional deer barrier that maintains height and tension. The process should begin at a braced corner post, where the mesh or woven wire is securely fastened using heavy-duty staples or specialized fence fasteners. Before attaching the main mesh, run a line of monofilament tensioning wire along the top and bottom of the entire fence line.
This tensioning wire, typically an 8-gauge monofilament, is secured to the end posts with tensioners or gripples, allowing the line to be cranked taut and straight. The fencing is then attached directly to this pre-tensioned wire using hog rings or zip ties, which transfers the tension to the mesh and prevents sagging between the wood posts. The top wire maintains the 8-foot height across the span, while the taut bottom wire anchors the mesh near the ground. To prevent deer from crawling under the fence, secure the bottom edge of the mesh to the ground, often by folding the bottom six inches outward and staking it down every few feet.
Building Access Gates
Access gates must maintain the same overall height and structural integrity as the rest of the fence to prevent animals from identifying a weak point. A simple wood-framed gate, constructed to match the fence’s eight-foot height, is the most common solution. The frame should be built with sturdy lumber, such as 2x4s, and reinforced with diagonal bracing to prevent the tall structure from sagging.
Heavy-duty, non-sagging hardware, including robust hinges and a secure latching system, must be used to support the gate’s weight and prevent exploitable gaps. Once the frame is built and hung on a securely set post, the same mesh used for the main fence is attached to the gate frame. This ensures the visual barrier is continuous and seamless, maintaining the psychological deterrent effect. The gate should close tightly against the latch post, ensuring no space remains large enough for a deer to squeeze through.