Deer Fencing

Exclusion of deer

Deer were first introduced into Australia from Europe in the 1860's originally as a game animal. Since then, populations have exploded to occupy many areas throughout Australia.

Wild deer can destroy and trample crops, add excess grazing pressure, be a carrier of disease that can affect livestock, and can degrade the water quality of creeks and rivers. An effective solution to reduce this threat is to put up an exclusion fence. However, an exclusion fence is only as good as the materials used. 

Deer as livestock

Deer farming when coupled with livestock farming could be a profitable branch of any farm, whether it is selling antler velvet, venison or breeding them for hunting.

Deer as livestock can be difficult to farm and often the key to this is the use of the correct fencing. In some states, it is a legal requirement to use a specified fence height and type to ensure that deer are securely contained.  

Timber Post Fencing 

Benefits

• Timber posts are a sturdy, durable & highly visible option for your fencing.
• Timber posts are considered to be aesthetically pleasing and can easily be blended into the background in a subtle manner.
• Is often considered to be more durable and can last a long time.  

Drawbacks

• Timber posts are rigid, meaning if charged at too many times they will begin to crack and break over time. 
• Timber quality varies between posts and this can often create a weak point in your fence.
• Timber posts require regular maintenance to ensure that they are not in the process of breaking.
• Deer will often wear away timber posts by rubbing their antlers against the posts.
• Timber posts require time and machinery to install and can often be hard to install in rocky terrain.
• Timber can burn in most bush and grass fire prone conditions.
• Must be disposed of correctly, which can be quite costly.

Steel Fencing Systems

Benefits

• Steel posts have the right balance of strength, flexibility, visibility and security, which means if the fence is bent from regular use it can easily be restraightened.
• Steel posts have lower installation costs, can be installed with fewer people, and do not require heavy machinery, saving you time and labour costs.
• Steel posts are less rigid and if charged will not crack. Being less prone to breakages means your posts will last.
• If deer rub their antlers against a steel fence post it will not wear away.
• Less prone to being destroyed in a bushfire.
• Numerous accessories can be added to steel fences to increase strength, flexibility, visibility & security.
• Using steel fencing products that are part of a 'system', rather than mixing dissimilar components, creates stronger fences.

Drawbacks

• Using a combination of poorly manufactured wire and posts can create structural issues and can be prone to breaking.
• Can be prone to bending if aggressively charged at by deer, which can allow deer to easily jump the fence. However, when this occurs posts can be bent back into place.
• Deer are also prone to getting caught in the wire, which can pull off attachment points.