How tall must a fence be to keep deer from jumping over it?

• A. 8 feet (2.4 m)
• B. 12-13 feet (3.6-4 m)
• C. 9-10 feet (2.7-3 m)
• D. 6 feet (1.8 m)

Answer: (C)

Deer can clear surprisingly tall obstacles, so the barrier must be high enough to exceed what they can jump. A height in the 9 to 10 feet range is typically the most reliable for keeping deer out—high enough to deter most jumps without the extra expense of a much taller fence. An eight-foot fence can be jumped by many deer, while six feet is easily overcome. Going to 12–13 feet is often unnecessary and costly for most applications. For best results, build a solid, smooth fence without footholds and consider an angled top or overhang to further discourage climbing.