permie solutions to deer fence issues?

Diane:  this can be done much more simply and cheaply with zap straps, on any kind of fence using any sort of branch/pole/bamboo some string, and flagging tape.  

Yes, it is effective - with deer you need only have a "visual barrier" and/or something that moves.  To be clear, the flags must be placed, at minimum, every two feet (at one point they say every 20 ft...I suspect that is a typo) and can be done with multiple layers of string/flags to a minimum height of 8 ft.  If you are in a snow zone, or on a slope you will need to be higher.

Lorinne Anderson wrote:Diane:  this can be done much more simply and cheaply with zap straps, on any kind of fence using any sort of branch/pole/bamboo some string, and flagging tape.  

Yes, it is effective - with deer you need only have a "visual barrier" and/or something that moves.  To be clear, the flags must be placed, at minimum, every two feet (at one point they say every 20 ft...I suspect that is a typo) and can be done with multiple layers of string/flags to a minimum height of 8 ft.  If you are in a snow zone, or on a slope you will need to be higher.

I think they were saying place the poles every 20 feet, not the flags themselves. On their website, they show how they did it. They used green flagging tape.

I went on and ordered just some of the post hardware pieces from their website (cheaper) because I’ve got plenty of my own pipes and poles here and want to try it with fishing line and maybe some artsy-looking mobiles and twirlies made from cutting up soft drink cans or CDs. I’ve got neon pink flagging tape, which would be easier, but I’m in a residential neighborhood and people might not think it looks very good.

I really do hope I get to have a garden next year.

Old CD's or computer discs work well suspended as they are reflective and twirl; as does strips of foil or mylar in place of flagging tape. The key is a moving/flickering visual barrier.

Gord Welch wrote:What sort of shrubbery? Deer can jump 8' if they're scared and almost that high under normal circumstances.

I don't know if this is true but I heard that, although deer can jump an 8 foot fence, they won't jump any fence if they can't see what's on the other side. That makes sense to me. A prey animal wouldn't jump into a place where they don't know what's waiting on the other side. Point being, if they can't easily see over or through the hedge, they prolly won't jump it.
Anybody got more wisdom on this point?

We have very successfully used a 4ft pallet fence. We just used t-posts every 3-4 pallets (with the pallet slipped onto the t/post) and then screwed the palettes together.
It really seemed, if they can’t see through, they don’t jump it. While neighbors sometimes had deer crossing 8ft wire fences, they stayed out of our garden.
As an extra I was able to use the sturdy fence to support my tomato plants and tue raspberries up to.
We added 2ft of chicken wire on the bottom to keep rabbits out.
We even used this kind of fence to keep feral cattle out, which commonly crossed 5-string barbed wire fences.

Dorit, I love your pallet fence! I have done exactly the same thing but used to keep my buck securely housed. He and his buddy can stand on the fence and look over at the girls but I have a single hot wire running about 6 inches above the pallets to discourage climbing over. It works so much better than cattle panels because they won't try ramming each other through a pallet and when the pallet rots, I can just replace it by pulling a few screws out. Since I get pallets for free, it's win-win!