Dang deer. Pretty things but stay the hell out of my yard!!! Before I buy any plants I check to see if they are deer resistance. Nothing is deer proof. I have a 44 acre field across the street so during the summer they usually stay away, but they like to munch in my yard in the winter. Soon the tulips will start coming up so I have to protect them.

When I came to TN 33 years ago the rut started in late Nov-early Dec and lasted into early Jan. Now it starts in late Dec and lasts into early Feb. I still see occasional fresh rubs now. The deer herd here is enormous, there are lots of deer-vehicle 'interactions'.

I always pound two sturdy metal pipes (or whatnot) into the ground on opposite sides of any upright conifer or shrub that I want to protect against rubbing. Those that do not receive such protection get stinky stanky human urine splashed on them regularly during the rut season. I always have zero buck damage when using the two methods.

An area of fair size can be enclosed with 10 ft. high plastic deer netting stapled to peeler poles of suitable height for maybe 300 dollars.