In WA our black-tail deer dont nibble maples much, but we have had trouble with rubbing antlers - several smaller trees destroyed.

As well as I can: tell deer rub only between 1 and 3 feet up the trunk; they tend to return to the same trees; and they are uninterested in the larger established ones.

We have had good luck wrapping the trunks with chicken wire.

We would like to avoid building complete fences around each tree, but we need protection for the larger branches above the main fork which tend to be ripped off.

My questions are:
1. Would it protect the branches above the main fork to wrap them loosely with straight wire?
2. How tedious would it be to use barbed wire for this?
3. Have you other suggestions.

Thank you very much,

Dwight Gibb