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Using Electric Fencing To Control Deer
By P. Savory
Deer have become an increasing problem in nearly all areas of the United Kingdom and the deer population is thought to be higher now than at any time in history. Coppice re-growth and natural regeneration of trees is impossible in many places without fencing or other protection. In some areas muntjac deer are causing significant damage to the ground flora of woodlands. Where they choose to feed, rub, walk, scratch and breed is a habit learned over time and reinforced every time they do it safely. To exclude a deer herd from a food source, area or route that they habitually use, forces the herd to break this habit. Thus the first day, week and month of denial of use (by a fence) is the key period. Once the habit is broken, the change in routines and location is easier to maintain. However, don't expect success in persuading a starving deer herd to feed elsewhere if your site is its only food source.
There are four basic approaches to controlling deer damage to woodlands, which may need to be used in combination:
- Conventional fencing is difficult to erect, cumbersome and expensive.
- Alternative source of food may be supplied.
- Culling the herd, not for the squeamish.
- Electric Fencing is highly effective and being intrinsically lighter than conventional fencing is substantially cheaper and easier to erect.
Permanent Fencing.
These generally utilise wooden posts combined with suitable ring insulators. Plain hotShock wire is the most suitable due to its longevity and most important, its excellent conductivity. The number of strands depends on the type of deer being excluded. The UK is populated by three varieties, Muntjac Deer are small (size of a medium dog) at 50cm, through Fallow Deer 100cm to the taller Red Deer at 130cm. The first wire goes in at that height as that is the nose height at rest and the nose is what animals use to investigate un-familiar objects. Muntjac have the habit of going under wire so put in 2 lines below that and one 20cm above. So for Muntjac spacing would be 15,30,50 and 70cm above ground. Red Deer have a habit of jumping so 5 wire fence is preferable at 50, 80,110,130 and 170cm.A total exclusion fence for deer would therefore be a combination of the two and require 7 strands. (It is important you read the section on Training the Deer)
Deer have a natural insulation due to the hooves and hair and this has proved to be a problem in the past. has in the past been thought to be not totally effective but this has been rectified by new technology and improved exclusion techniques. hotShock or HoriSmart energisers have been developed to cater for natural insulation qualities of some animals. These run at higher voltages than standard models
to enable them to bridge this natural insulation. (Again the section on Training the Deer is important)
Temporary Fencing.
Poly Posts are very useful in temporary situations. They are very simple to use and are quite adequate. Use the longest available, especially for Red Deer and at 150cm above ground they are adequate for most situations. The ends and corners still need to be wooden posts to enable you to tension the wires adequately. Poly twines or rope is preferable to wire as they are easily handled and easily wound onto reels for transporting to another site.
3 Dimensional Fences.
There are reports coming out of the USA where an additional single line 1 meter on the pressure side of the fence greatly improves fences that are less than 150cm high. The principle is based on the belief that deer have less than ideal depth perception so are more tentative with wide fences rather than tall. The Australian technique of leaning the fence probably replicates this.
Training the Deer.
There are two methods of increasing the effectiveness of the fence.
The first is by clearing the brush about 3-5 meters away from the fence. The smaller deer have an inbuilt tentativeness crossing open areas that is reinforced by contact with the fence.
Red Deer in particular have a habit of not investigating the fence and simply jump over it. This is in common with the Springbuck and Impala of Africa (both of which do comfortably clear a 2 meter high fence) and consequently an effective technique has evolved whereby the fence is initially baited to attract the target to investigate the fence. With deer this is done by two methods;-
- Little metal bait caps containing cotton wool soaked with an apple scented essence attached to the fence. (Neat apple cordial works well.) These may be left on the fence and re-baited when necessary.
- Lengths of kitchen foil smeared with molasses/treacle or syrup wrapped around the wires at strategic positions of the fence. These should be removed and replaced if pressure on the fence re-occurs.
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