Frequently Asked Questions

1. I hear deer can jump at least 8 feet….Does this fence really work & why?
2. Which type of fence do I need, the Standard or the Heavy Duty?
3. How long can I expect this fence to last?
4. I have seen other “netting” and fence products for sale in home centers and through other outlets…Are these materials comparable to Benner’s Deer Fencing?
5. How strong is it?
6. Why do I need ground stakes?
7. How does this fence compare to an electric fence?
8. Is it really invisible?
9. Won’t the sun and the cold affect the fence?
10. Do I have to enclose my entire property?
11. Why can’t I just use a repellent?
12. I have rabbits, what can I do to prevent them from chewing holes in my fence?
13. I’m right in a deer path. How will the deer know there is a barrier located here now where there was none before?
14. What can happen if a deer runs into the fence?
15. I have no trees - can I just use posts? And how do I attach the fence to them?
16. Can this fencing be used to contain pets?

1. I hear deer can jump at least 8 feet….Does this fence really work & why?

Well for starters, we've been in business for over 10 year and have thousands of highly satisfied customers from coast to coast. Our fence, once it is installed, is about 7’ high. Because of the height and the invisibility of the product, the deer, due to poor visual depth perception, can’t judge how high the fence really is. For this reason, they are intimidated and will not attempt to jump it. We have many large enclosures well over ten acres that have been successfully protected for several years to prove it.

2. Which type of fence do I need, the Standard or the Heavy Duty?

A good rule of thumb is to base your decision on how much deer pressure you have and how large of an enclosure you wish to make. If you have a small backyard, and not much deer pressure, then the standard fence would be more than adequate. If you have more than 400’ linear feet and the pressure is fairly intense, we highly recommend using the Heavy-Duty Fence. If you reside on the west coast where the smaller Black Tail Deer predominate, then utilizing the Standard Fence even for larger enclosures can be acceptable in certain instances.

3. How long can I expect this fence to last?

The standard fence should last a minimum of 10 to 12 years. The Heavy Duty fence should last at least 12 to 15 years, but most likely much longer, particularly in shaded locations.

4. I have seen other netting and fence products for sale in home centers and through other outlets Are these materials comparable to Benner's Deer Fencing?

Rarely. There are a variety of products on the market with various strengths and formats. The bottom line is that if it doesn't say Benner's you simply have no idea what you are getting. Many netting products break down rapidly from UV, or aren't strong enough or easy to work with. Some have a different strand configuration that makes them much more visible. Our company pioneered polypropylene Deer Fencing in the early 90's and continues to offer only the highest quality deer fencing comprised of the strongest, least visible and longest lasting material available.

5. How strong is it?

The "Heavy Perimeter Fence" (constructed of the finest quality polypropylene) is virtually impenetrable to deer, particularly when reinforced with our nylon tension cable. We have many reports of deer repeatedly bouncing off the material in an attempt to escape when they have become accidentally trapped inside the enclosure.

6. Why do I need ground stakes?

The first place that the deer attempt to gain access into the new enclosure is along the bottom of the fence. They are notorious for pushing with their heads in an attempt to squeeze under the fence. For this reason, ground stakes, spaced 5’– 6’ apart are crucial for the proper installation and ultimate success of this fence.

7. How does this fence compare to an electric fence?

We have had many clients complain to us about electric fences. An electric fence may work indefinitely, or it may only work for a few weeks or months. If the deer want to get inside your “protected area” badly enough, then they can easily and repeatedly endure the mild shock from an electric fence. Also weeds and other growth are known to short out the fence, making it useless. Because Benner’s Deer Fencing is a grid, there is no way for deer to gain access unless they go under or over (very unlikely – see # 1 above)

8. Is it really invisible?

From 15’ away you’ll hardly know a fence is there - especially if there are trees or other plants and shrubs in the area. Black is the least visible color for a material such as ours, and it really blends in with the shadows produced outdoors in the landscape.

9. Won’t the sun and the cold affect the fence?

The fencing is UV stabilized to withstand the radiation from the sun and it has been installed for over ten years in all different types of climates from Alaska to Hawaii with little to no breakdown. The cold does not make it brittle, so low temperatures will not cause breakage.

10. Do I have to enclose my entire property?

While many of our clients will enclose the entire property to keep out the deer, some people will do several smaller enclosures with great success. Each individual enclosure must be completely sealed, because if one side or section is left open (as with a driveway) the deer will simply follow the fence to this “gap” and enter the property. The fencing is very successful at retraining the deer to permanently re-route their trails to go around your property.

11. Why can't I just use a repellent?

Repellents can be effective if applied thoroughly and frequently. It is also highly recommended that two or more repellent solutions be rotated regularly so that the deer do not become used to one particular taste and/or odor. If deer are hungry enough, damage may still occur, even on properly treated plants.

12. I have rabbits, what can I do to prevent them from chewing holes in my fence?

We offer a rabbit and a groundhog barrier that is available in 2’ and 3’ heights. It is constructed of vinyl (black) coated wire. It is all but impossible for the rabbits to chew through. For groundhogs, we advise clients to lay a foot of the barrier on the ground (outside the fence) to inhibit the critters from digging under the fence.

13. I'm right in a deer path. How will the deer know there is a barrier located here now where there was none before?

We provide white plastic streamers that are to be attached to the fencing every 10' to 12' approximately 36" - 42" of the way up from the ground. We ask that nothing be attached to the top of the fencing which could alert the deer to as to where the top of the fence actually terminates (e.g. - shiny reinforcing wire).

14. What can happen if a deer runs into the fence?

Standard Fencing by itself is susceptible to occasional breakage at full impact. Reinforcing the Standard material with cable will help decrease the frequency, but utilizing Heavy Perimeter Fencing with cable is by far the most impact resistant system, and is highly recommended for enclosure larger than ¼ acre in size.

15. I have no trees - can I just use posts? And how do I attach the fence to them?

If you have no trees or if your trees are 20’ or more apart, you can use our posts. The heavy-duty posts with inserts are recommended for use with the Heavy Perimeter Fence. We also offer U posts which can be used with the standard fencing. The method of attaching is to use the black lock ties (at least 5 per post) to affix the fence to the posts.

16. Can this fencing be used to contain pets?

Positively. We have many customers that use our material to keep dogs and cats in and/or keep deer out. For more information regarding using this material as a pet fence, please visit our other site: http://www.bestfriendfence.com/.