Protecting a Young Tree From Deer Damage
Q: My husband and I fence our younger trees to protect them from deer damage when they rub velvet off their antlers. Are the deer done yet? I would like to take the fencing down but don’t want to do it prematurely.
A: Male deer rub trees with their antlers each fall (September through December) to mark territory and to attract females. The rubbing is vigorous enough to remove bark and break branches. Young trees that are ‘thrashed’ might be killed. At the very least, the lower branches will show damage for a long time. That said, I think it’s safe to remove your deer fence by February each year. All the ‘starch in his pants’ the deer had in November has dissipated. The male deer go back to nibbling the tips of branches like they did previously.
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