Too many deer!

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Loughlin

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Hi guys. I have extensive boundaries and have always allowed deer into my fields of about 8 acres, but things are getting really out of hand.

We can have 40 grazing here from dusk and I'm trying to get the grass in. Are they eating other plants. Do they promote growth or am I right to be freaking out?

Does anyone have a means of deterning deer that's not deer fencing... cannot afford at present.
 
FieldOrnaments said:
Dvds/Cds on string attached to the fence so it swings in the wind and catches the light
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Never worked at my yard sadly. 6 ft fences on one side didn't either.
Marksman over a few nights did sort the issue out. (Sorry to those who are offended)
The muntjac used to get chased by the shetlands, so wisely kept clear.
 
Cheaper the 6ft deer fencing is an offset strand of wire that is close enough they can't "bounce" the fence but far enough out to stop them considering it a spread - about 40-50cm

I've een this work fairly well with the offset strand on the outside of the fence, even better when electric. Not sure how well it would work on the inside (I'm assuming you can't put up a wire beyond your boundary).

But might be an option to consider?

Otherwise local stalker will reduce numbers and make them a bit wary of coming into your open space. Could also just change the hours they come...
 
YourValentine said:
Cheaper the 6ft deer fencing is an offset strand of wire that is close enough they can't "bounce" the fence but far enough out to stop them considering it a spread - about 40-50cm

I've een this work fairly well with the offset strand on the outside of the fence, even better when electric. Not sure how well it would work on the inside (I'm assuming you can't put up a wire beyond your boundary).

But might be an option to consider?

Otherwise local stalker will reduce numbers and make them a bit wary of coming into your open space. Could also just change the hours they come...
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That could be a go for me too. It's forestry with a big bank forming the boundary, so yes. Worth a try. thank you!
 
You need a dog like mine. Where ever we live the local deer population clears off within a day or two. Everything about him just screams predator to deer, even though hes just a whippet. The deer just know.

Id get a marksman in though and fill the freezer. The deer population is absolutely out of control and getting worse, so youd be doing them a favour as well as yourself.
 
I hear you. I've always been very accomodating to the deer, and they are smaller deer, but it's not unusual to have 30 at a time at the top of the hill. They are growing in number every year, and even leave their fawns in my meadow like grass while they feck off during the day. I would love a whippet or lurcher... as long as it doesn't actually catch anything! Thanks. :)
 
Loughlin said:
That could be a go for me too. It's forestry with a big bank forming the boundary, so yes. Worth a try. thank you!
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I'd be very careful with this approach... having seen deer get caught up in all manner of types of fencing - temporary, electric, deer fence, wire - I don't think they are always wise enough to assess before take off and you may well end up with a very stressed deer tangled up in your fence at some point - injured, hard to untangle and release, and make knitting of your fencing.

Putting some pressure on them with a few initial visits from a licensed deer stalker, then regular drop-ins, will move them on and deter them. The deer population has gone insane across the country, so you'll really only move them on to the neighbours, but they'll stop eating your fields! You say smaller deer, so I'm guessing roe... in which case the doe season ends today, but you could still get someone in to shoot some bucks - should still move them on, and obviously make a start towards slowing down future population increase!
 
poacher82 said:
I'd be very careful with this approach... having seen deer get caught up in all manner of types of fencing - temporary, electric, deer fence, wire - I don't think they are always wise enough to assess before take off and you may well end up with a very stressed deer tangled up in your fence at some point - injured, hard to untangle and release, and make knitting of your fencing.

Putting some pressure on them with a few initial visits from a licensed deer stalker, then regular drop-ins, will move them on and deter them. The deer population has gone insane across the country, so you'll really only move them on to the neighbours, but they'll stop eating your fields! You say smaller deer, so I'm guessing roe... in which case the doe season ends today, but you could still get someone in to shoot some bucks - should still move them on, and obviously make a start towards slowing down future population increase!
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poacher82 said:
I'd be very careful with this approach... having seen deer get caught up in all manner of types of fencing - temporary, electric, deer fence, wire - I don't think they are always wise enough to assess before take off and you may well end up with a very stressed deer tangled up in your fence at some point - injured, hard to untangle and release, and make knitting of your fencing.

Putting some pressure on them with a few initial visits from a licensed deer stalker, then regular drop-ins, will move them on and deter them. The deer population has gone insane across the country, so you'll really only move them on to the neighbours, but they'll stop eating your fields! You say smaller deer, so I'm guessing roe... in which case the doe season ends today, but you could still get someone in to shoot some bucks - should still move them on, and obviously make a start towards slowing down future population increase!
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I will. Well said.
 
We have a massive problem with deer up here - and they're red deer, some of which are absolute units.
They cause all sorts of issues, not just in taking over our (very limited) grazing, but in eating entire gardens.
We have tried CDs, hologram tape, things that squirt water, things that supposedly make high-pitched noises...everything seems to work initially and then, once they've got used to it, they just ignore everything.
High fencing is pretty much our only option now and we are talking thousands of pounds (that we don't currently have). Even keeping them out of the garden will cost a fortune. I agree with the post about the offset wire - I've seen deer caught up and they can be there for a long time before being dispatched (and that's if they're lucky enough to be caught in a place where someone sees them).

We have some skilled marksman round here but there are strict rules about shooting deer as they are supposedly the property of the various estates, so permission is needed and, it would seem, rarely given. Apparently you're allowed to shoot them if they're on your own land, but this isn't an option for us as we'd be too close to other buildings.

In the seven years we've been here it's got worse and worse. We took the dog for a walk up the lane the other day and there were seven hinds, literally a couple of yards away, just staring at us.

If you can get a skilled marksman, this is the best option IMO.
 
I hear you. I can scream and yell at the larger herds and there's no response. Seriously considering a sight-hound. I had a lurcher before and she didn't tolerate it. I shone really spring LED long-rang torch at them last night and they did book. It's maddening as the grass is just coming in. x
 
poacher82 said:
I'd be very careful with this approach... having seen deer get caught up in all manner of types of fencing - temporary, electric, deer fence, wire - I don't think they are always wise enough to assess before take off and you may well end up with a very stressed deer tangled up in your fence at some point - injured, hard to untangle and release, and make knitting of your fencing.

Putting some pressure on them with a few initial visits from a licensed deer stalker, then regular drop-ins, will move them on and deter them. The deer population has gone insane across the country, so you'll really only move them on to the neighbours, but they'll stop eating your fields! You say smaller deer, so I'm guessing roe... in which case the doe season ends today, but you could still get someone in to shoot some bucks - should still move them on, and obviously make a start towards slowing down future population increase!
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Ive found more than one dead tangled up in a fence, and even worse a couple still alive that Ive had to try and free with my dogs going absolutely off their rocker. The worst one I got it free but I got knocked about a fair bit and fell over twice in thick mud and limped back to the car wishing I'd just called someone else to deal with it! I do always have sharp secateurs in my dog walking bag, though, not sure what i would have done without those. Not something Id want to be doing on a regular basis.
 
Yes, I had to help with a deer strangled in a bale of bailing twine.... not mine, just over in the forestry. It took a rugby tackle by a 300lb local farmer and me jumping in with a knife to cut it off his neck as he was just passing away. They are so strong. We did do it.... got up after 10 mins and staggered off. A stag died in my garden two weeks ago from an injury. Horrendous. Nature is cruel, never mind people.
 
O/H had to jam on the brakes coming home from the yard tonight, in broad daylight, as a stream of young stags poured across the lane. Think our marksmen had better up their game, these numbers are getting well out of control - and freezer is too full for any more venison 🙈
 
Muntjac deer are very good eating. It doesn't taste strong at all. There are numerous people who will stalk deer, but you want to make sure that they have proper licence, etc. and can sell to game dealer (they need an extra qualification to handle the venison as food).

I know someone who is part of a group who have a contract at a local estate to take out a certain number every year and he often gets asked to shoot on other land. But, the problem is, he said, is what to do with the carcase. He doesn't want to shoot one and leave a dead deer lying around for someone to come across. They take the muntjac for their own larders, but a roe deer, for instance, is quite large and heavy, so you have to have a means of disposal. The butcher they sell to only wants head shots!
 
Orangehorse said:
Muntjac deer are very good eating. It doesn't taste strong at all. There are numerous people who will stalk deer, but you want to make sure that they have proper licence, etc. and can sell to game dealer (they need an extra qualification to handle the venison as food).

I know someone who is part of a group who have a contract at a local estate to take out a certain number every year and he often gets asked to shoot on other land. But, the problem is, he said, is what to do with the carcase. He doesn't want to shoot one and leave a dead deer lying around for someone to come across. They take the muntjac for their own larders, but a roe deer, for instance, is quite large and heavy, so you have to have a means of disposal. The butcher they sell to only wants head shots!
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Dog food if people dont want it. Theres a group on FB for unwanted game and its snapped up, often with a payment being exchanged as well.
 
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