In over 30 yrs deer have never been a problem. This year the deer destroyed the green cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts and kale. For next year wife wants something like a picket fence. My concern is necessary height? From watching them I don’t believe 4 ft is enough.
Thanks
ps they don’t seem to care for the red cabbage. lol

I’ve seen them jump an 8ft fence, lol. 4ft definitely won’t do it. You’ll need an electric fence, ribbon at least 8ft. Either that or get a good dog inside that garden area.

I've read about using fishing line, but am very skeptical. Theory is they can't see it, so it scares them.

Bad idea. Birds and fishing line is a bad recipe.

22lr is the only way I've found to keep deer away
And fill the freezer at the same time
It's a win win

We have 4 strands of electric fence around our horse pasture at the plantation. Deer either jump it or go through it without touching it. During the rut we have a morning patrol around the pasture because about every other day one section is torn down from bucks running does.
I don’t think fishing line is gonna do anything to deter deer.

Do a search for 3D electric fence for deer. Have never used on myself, but the theory is sound.

An old buddy told me he tried everything till someone gave him a roll of that orange plastic safety/construction fence. He put it around his garden and the deer dont go near it. I tried it around my apple orchard and they stay out of there too. They could easily jump it, or go under since its only like 40" tall but they dont. We have talked about it a lot and think they have trouble seeing through it clearly so they are uncomfertable jumpimng into something they cant see good. Also, it moves in the slightest breeze and of course, its hunter orange..

Deer can clear a 10 ft fence from a standing start!

4 feet is a small hop, 6 feet might deter them, but all the deer fencing around here is 8'. Yeah, it's expensive, and ugly but it works.
The deterrent sprays only work until they get used to it, then they think it's a flavor enhancer, the blinking red "eye" lights are a joke, Milorganite fertilizer only works for a short time, then they get used to that too.
Fishing line holds them back about a minute. Some people claim success with a motion operated sprinkler system , I'm pretty sure they'll think its free shower. Electric fence can work, but they'll figure out they can jump over it eventually.
An outside dog that hates deer works if you leave them outside at night, bullets work good too, might not be an option many places.

Can you tell I have a deer problem?

I’d have to see some video of that. Orange makes absolutely no difference to a deer, lol. I’ve seen them jump privacy fences in our little neighborhood.

the 3D fence concept seems the best
basically it is rows of fence or an angled fence

so rather than a fence 3 inches thick and 6 feet tall

you space your strands of wire out so that your fence is now 8 feet deep but never needs to be more than about 4 feet tall

several ways to go about it

For the first time in 4 years this year nothing has eaten my garden.

Last year I got the Patriot SolarGuard 150, plus ELECTRIC TWINE, 9SS - WHITE 1,320' from Kencove, plus insulators. Total cost was $230 with free shipping. All my "fenceposts" are from HT pallet wood (free). Find a restaurant supply store and they'll almost pay you to take it.

I have a mix of fishing line (to fill in gaps) and 9 strand electric twine setup. If you wanted more details just ask. It works very well I think.

If orange bothered Deer, all the Deer hunting clothes would be Florescent Yellow/Green, or Pink!

8 foot fence works well. Yes, they can get over it, but it’s rare.

I put in a 6’ fence and haven’t had any problems. Ive heard on the internet that deer can jump a 20’ fence but personal experience has shown they cant clear my 6’er. As per previous conversations on this subject, some deer in other places might be lighter in the loafers

The neighbor bought a dog kennel for his plants the deer eat. They plant their vine plants on the outside.. works pretty good, been receiving green beans, cucs and zucchini.

It’s so bad in the orchard country here that they are individually fencing new trees. And thats within orchards that are entirely fenced on perimeter. They seem to get habituated to whatever fence and get past it. 20yrs ago the first fences here were plastic mesh kind. They just plow threw thise now. You could snare them in the holes they rip thru lol. Hardly any mesh left nowadays. Ten feet doesn't even phase them once they’ve figured it out. The weed growers are using much higher fencing but I havent heard much details about how that’s working.

All I know is, I have 1st hand experience with the orange safety/construction fence working in Nebraska and Oklahoma. As to why, we’ve only really guessed. As far as orange goes, it’s definitely brighter than the rest of its surroundings. That’s why it’s required when rifle hunting in most states. Deer may not see color, but they see contrast. Not saying that’s it, but you can’t say it “has absolutely nothing to do with it.”

We’ve run electric wires right over and on each side of the row so they get hit in the nose, it works sometimes I think it depends on how hungry they are.