How High Can A Whitetail Deer Jump? The Facts You Need to Know

There are a ton of things hunters need to know for a successful hunt, and one of those things would be about the game they are capturing! When hunting for whitetail deer, you’ll want to ensure that you do not only know about how deer sound, but also how they move. And yes, this includes how high they jump. It isn’t only for estimating their movements when targeting, but it also prevents them from getting into your property. So, how high can a whitetail deer jump, exactly?

Read on as I show you the facts you need to know about the whitetail deer, specifically on their jumping capabilities.

How High Can A Whitetail Deer Jump?

Whitetail deer have been known to jump as high as eight feet, usually over fences. That’s a pretty steep height, and they can even run as quick as 65 kilometers per hour! But this depends on their age and capabilities.

There have also been adult whitetail deer who are able to jump higher than the usual eight feet. Some have jumped over 12-feet high barricades, sometimes even higher. However, this is a rare occurrence and may only happen during times of distress or when trying to escape.

Here is an amazing video of whitetail deer jumping over fences gracefully:

Why Do They Jump?

I’m sure that you aren’t only wondering about how high they jump, but why they jump over such high fences and barricades in the first place! Here are some of the reasons why they do so:

1. To Get What They Want

Sure, food is everywhere for a deer. They are also present in current places where they live in. But deer would still search for something new, as anything they see unfamiliar or new would be edible and enticing. So when you see deer looking over your fences, they may have found something they’d like to consume, which is why they jump over fences and onto the food source.

2. For Love

Just like us humans, animals are capable of loving and also experience love at first sight. Oxytocin, which is a hormone that has people and animals treat their loved ones with care and compassion, would increase. This hormone would grow the more deer would see one of their own of the opposite sex. And if a male deer sees a female deer over your fence and outside the boundaries, he will do what it takes to get to her, even jumping and going over your territory.

3. Chase and Escape

I’m sure we all know that many predators feed on deer, which is why they have learned to run as quick as they cou​​ld, taking all measures to survive. This includes jumping over fences and other barriers that block their way. The deer’s first instinct is to run away, so you shouldn’t be surprised to see deer that jumps very high over fences and barriers to get away from whoever is chasing them.

A Deer’s Eyesight

Take note that a deer won’t jump over fences unless necessary. It’s rare to see them jump over one, as they have a difficult time recognizing whether the fence or barrier is jumpable or not. So when they feel like they have to jump, such as when they try to escape from predators, they will.

Building A Deer Fence?

If you plan to build a deer fence, then you should consider the deer living there, their food sources outside your fields, as well as if there are areas where deer would usually gather. If there are a lot of deer on your property who are always around, then it may be time to build a fence.

When building a deer fence, get an affordable one and do not build it near bushes or woody plants, as this costs a lot to remove when setting it up. A good material would be polypropylene with monofilament line and a steel hex grid, which are stronger and more durable than wood.

As for the height, it’s best to have the fence over eight feet to block deer away from your field. But of course, don’t expect it to fully block deer, as they are interested in the plots you plant or whatever food they are interested in getting. So watch out!

See also:

• When To Plant Buck Forage Oats: What You Need To Know For Healthy Deer
• When to Plant Turnips for Deer? The Facts You Need to Know

In Conclusion

And there you have it. Through knowing how high a whitetail deer jumps, you’ll be able to build an effective fence that works well for you. It will also help you estimate the heights deer would jump while hunting, and you won’t have to worry about deer going into your property.

I hope that this article answered your question: “How high can a whitetail deer jump?” Now that you know the answer, start building an effective deer fence and hunt successfully!

If you have any questions or would like to share your tips and experiences with building a deer fence, then comment down below. I would love to hear what you have to think.