Deer Fence Gates

Gate Installation

Gate installation is important. Almost any good deer fence needs one or more gates, because it must completely surround the property or garden protected. Otherwise, deer will persistently explore the entire perimeter and in due course get around the fence to find their way in. Even so, gates are relatively vulnerable points. So they should be placed where the deer are unlikely to go, to the extent possible, and in any event should be kept away from established deer paths.

Installing McGregor Gates

Install any McGregor gate with one door as follows: Start gate installation with the support post that is on the hinge side of the gate door where you want it, preferably putting it in a cement footing and making sure it as close as possible to absolutely vertical. Then assemble the gate door, following the assembly instructions in the kit, and mount the door on the support post you have installed after the cement has dried. Next, use the latches on the mounted door to show you exactly where the other support post should to go. If the gate has a frame bar across the top, also use the frame bar assembly to guide installation of this second support post. Naturally, this second post should also be installed in a cement footing.

For installation of a two-door driveway gate, use the same approach. Install the first support post. Assemble the gate door that will carry the cane latch. Mount this first door on the installed post, and use the door’s cane latch to show exactly where the cane latch receptacle should go. Install the receptacle and secure the installed door to it with the cane latch. Now assemble the other gate door; close its latches on the first gate door (on the cane latch side); and use that second door’s hinges to show where the second support post should go.

If the fencing has been installed before the gate, install the first gate support post, cut the fencing at that point, after the cement is dry, and pull the fencing back so that you have room to install the gate as described above. Then, after the gate has been installed, cut the fencing carefully so that you can attach it to both support posts and still have enough left over to mount on the gate door or doors.

Pedestrian Gate Installation

Pedestrian gates, also known as “access” gates are relatively narrow gates, typically between 3 and 7 feet wide, that give access to people, lawn mowers, and rototillers but not cars. Such gates should be put between trees or well-anchored posts that are relatively close together. Then one should end the tensioned cable (if there is one) at the trees or one post back from the gate. The gate and gate frame should not be under tension.

Access gates offered on this website come as kits with assembly instructions. These gates are 6,. 7, or 8 feet tall when installed and come in widths of 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 feet.

Driveway Gate Installation

Driveways can be spanned with gates very like the access gates above, only wider and without frame bars across the top. Such driveway gates can be custom-built or they can be bought as a kit. In either case, they can be equipped with a wide range of devices to open, close, and lock them manually or by remote control. Like the support posts of the access gates, the frames of these wider driveway gates should not be placed under any tension. For this reason, any long monofilament lines should not end at the gate support posts, but rather at trees or posts located as close as possible to each support post. Then the remaining short distance to the frame, on both sides, should be spanned by nothing or by a few feet of metal tie wire. The driveway gates we offer are 6, 7, and 8 feet tall and have either 1 or 2 doors. The 1-door gates come in widths of 8 to 16 feet, while the 2-door gates come in widths of 8 to 20 feet.