Howdy,
I also weave small diameter sticks, slats, "things" into the hog wire fencing so the top of the fence looks taller than it is, also at different lengths/heights. I am using re-cycled wire fencing from friends and also get it from the scrap metal pile at local dump/waste transfer site here locally.
I also have 2 dogs and the fencing is to keep THE DOGS out of the garden and the dogs do most of the job of keeping deer away. I also take my dogs shedding and brushed hair and "hang" it around the garden area, more like casting it to the wind.
I do still see deer close, on my driveway, sometimes even crossing the yard, dogs asleep. I have had bears in my apple trees. outside freezer in shed dumped over and raided by bears. Dogs have treed cougar/mtn. lions even 50-75 feet from the house.
Years ago, when the one dog I had died, within days the fence was "downed' by deer and garden was ravished. I watched a 4-point buck trying to get away with wire fencing in his antlers.
I am also 70/single and some of this life is not getting easier, BUT I still enjoy my life here, 40 +yrs.....peace,rc