I tried to create a privacy fence about ten or so years ago with Arborvitae (not sure of the cultivar or if it matters), it was not long before the deer ate them. Again, deer tastes can be regional and it also depends on the severity of the weather. Not a conifer expert but many of them do seem to be eaten by deer. I replaced Yews with Cephalotaxus (Japanese plum yews) and they will even occasional munch on them, unless it's rabbits. I eventually resolved my living property fences on one side with an allee of Southern Magnolias on the west side, east side with Cherry Laurel (Schip/Skip) and deciduous smoke bush, and the south side with Holly (Blue Prince/Princess), Nellie Stevens, Japanese, Chinese) and boxwoods. I have NEVER seen them touch boxwoods, ever. I have noticed them occasionally munching on the softer blue hollies, and Japanese Holly in a bad winter, EVEN the odd magnolia leaf in deep snow. They don't go near either the Nellie Stevens or the even more prickly, Chinese Holly. Cherry Laurels, are never touched, I think it's the cyanide, LOL. Other plants that I may be used as borders that deer tend never to bother with (in my personal experience) include, rhododendrons, bamboos (use the clumping ones, not the runners unless you are prepared to live in a bamboo forest), and Osmanthus heterophyllus 'goshiki', which is a very colorful, prickly, hardy, broadleaf evergreen. P.S., You won't find barberry on my list, I HATE them and ripped out all the ones the prior owners had planted to outwit the deer.

Maryland - Shasta Daisys (blooming) were ignored right next to perennial black-eyed-susans which were literally mowed down (just before blooming) in one garden. On the other side of the house, both were mowed down to the ground; both were JUST before buds opened; I think they prefer the young greenery. Once the flowers are open, they might be safer from deer. Really pointy hollies they leave alone (so far) but any hollies without the stickers, they eat them, especially new growth. Invasives? They ate a fence full of Virginia Creeper, but only on one side of the fence--of course, the side we get to look at. Daffodils? They don't eat them, just bite off the buds and spit them out. Hyacinths have been untouched. Marigolds? They just pull them out of the ground, then spit them out to dry up and die. Forget about the hydrangeas and daylillies. I've seen them eat the neighbor's barberry bushes, thorns and all. My barberries, they just step on and break. Iris goes untouched. Coral bells survive some nibbling. Periwinkle groundcover survives unless they pull it out. Most of my neighbors have arborvitae--there's a contest for the best "deer topiary." I'm trying some ferns now, some wild from our woods, some purchased. The nursery had a sale for "a buck a piece" but I hope that doesn't mean they are FOR the bucks. I know, lame joke. Motion activated lights? The deer look happier, oh thank you, now they can see what they are eating! Motion activated water? Oh, thank you, what a nice bath. Motion activated sound? Oh, thank you, piped in music. Barking dogs? Oh, don't worry, they can't get out. Coyote urine? Oh, just eat around it, there are starving children in the next county. My hairdresser gave me a bag of hair cuttings to try. One of her customers swears by it. Didn't help my poor hydrangea, though. Maybe I'll try tying little mesh bags full. The hydrangea has become the "deer test" for many supposed deterrents. None have worked so far. BlueBars

As evidence of deer intelligence. We hunted a ranch near San Saba where about 50 acres surrounding ranchers home was off limits. Deer only stared at us while in that pasture but not so if in the war zone. The lady put a cowbell on a buck which she had special attachment. Eventhough he would have been spared (unless hunter didn't believe what rancher said) ,we never once heard his bell outside that small pasture during season,,,,,except during rut. Can you imagine the campfire stories regarding what does thought about a lovesick buck with a bell on his neck? Come and get it was never mentioned.

They may not chew and swallow but they will definitely sample anything new planted in their path. And if the plant is small the sampling involves pulling the entire plant out of the ground- some days you can find them quickly enough to save them and other times I just find the empty hole. I'd plant it, cage it with some wire border something as a deterrent, and spray it down with Liquid Fence so that first taste is terrible. Once the roots get established and it is stronger it can fend for itself but the first couple of weeks are when you need to watch out.