Protection from or Deterrants for Deer?

[Diggin It]

In past years, I lost most everything to deer or other critters. To the point it really wasn't worth planting anything. I may try again next year now that I have a bunch of new fruit trees and need to try to protect them. Plus, I need to try to produce a food crop for other reasons.

I've heard and read a few things, but I'm asking about experiences in what others have tried. Some say a deer won't jump anything it can't see over. They say to plant taller crops like corn or sunflowers. Others say an electric fence wire about nose high will deter them with another a few inches above ground to deter smaller ground animals. Somebody even said to hang bags of human hair clippings since the deer can smell our scent and will avoid it. I don't know if I buy any of those ideas. Traditional fencing is all but useless for raccoons, squirrels and anything else that can climb.

Before I go spending a couple of hundred dollars on a solar charger, t-posts and wire, what others ideas can TBNers suggest?

I was planning on trying a few rows of corn anyways, so I could try to use that as a perimeter around the fruit trees. I also have to mow around the area and between the trees, so I have to allow for that.


Then there are the chemical deterrents found in stores, but they're not cheap and don't last long.

 

[nybirdman]

Electric fence will work for sure;cost a little more to start but will last the season and future seasons.Two rows are required with the second(inside) not electrified.

 

[wagne223]

Nothing is 100 percent when it comes to deer, however an 8 ft high fence is the most effective.

You can also do 2 parallel 4 ft fences leaving 5-6 feet between them.

Electric only works if they touch it. Once one jumps over without touching it first, it is all over.

A human waste fertilizer called Milorganite will deter deer for about a month. That is what we use on food plots to let the soybeans get some size before the deer mow them down.

 

[oosik]

Quit putting in so many food plots and attracting them..................

 

[atsah]

Planting corn is not going to deter deer, it's going to attract them and they will eat most everything in short order.

First year here I put in a big garden, I looked out one afternoon when the plants were just about to give me enough to put me through the winter and I counted 29 deer in the garden, I have gone to the local farm stand ever since..

 

[tcreeley]

I have good luck with 5' page wire fencing around the garden on t posts. They always came though electric, shiny flashy tapes. Now I just have to put it to the ground and keep the wood chuck out. He likes the broccoli. The deer would even eat the potatoes!

 

[oosik]

Three times the wife bought different plants/shrubs that were supposed to keep deer away. Never worked. Deer around here will come into your garden and taste EVERYTHING ONCE. About half of the stuff - they will spit back out. We never really had that much damage in the garden from deer. Where they did the most destruction - the orchard. Pulling down and breaking limbs to get at the apples.

We always considered ourselves lucky if we got anywhere near half the apples from our trees. The deer - standing up on their hind legs - - the adult coons - sending the babies way out the smallest limbs to get at the apples. But - all in all - we usually got all the apples we needed.

 

[HillStreet]

I planted 60 apple trees this year (they are about 4 feet tall). I bought the hotel sized soap bars and hang one on each tree. I strip half the wrapping off each bar and hang it with string. Believe me, I have deer in this apple orchard property, and it has been effective.
With apple trees, you also need to be concerned with voles and mice. For that, I need to find some polyethylene sheets like they make small signs out of. You know, the FOR SALE sign you find for .98. I will get the 24 inch width and cut lengths to enclose the trunk with room to spare, then staple the edges.

 

[Big Chief]

Motion activated sprinkler, noise and water scares the crap out of them. Amazon has them

 

[mapper]

A mixture of eggs, Tabasco sauce and garlic will deter the deer around here for about 4 weeks per application.
3 dozen eggs
1 cup of Tabasco sauce
1 cup of garlic cloves, pureed with a bit of water then strained to remove pulp.
Blend together and store in a warm place for about a week before application.
Cut 2:1 with water and spray on plants to be protected. Stinks a bit when applying but soon smell drops below what humans can detect. Smells like dead prey to a deer and they get nervous a stay away!
This is similar to what they sell for about $20 a gallon premixed at the local garden center!

 

[Diggin It]

It's been OK for a while. A short while. No noticeable damage. Until today. They hit three of the apples pretty bad, broken or nibbled branches on the ground. Not sure what to do. Put some tomato cages around the damage ones which I know won't do any good. Psychological for me I guess. Also set some ammonia out. Ordered some commercial deterrents but that will be a few days before it arrives.

Annoyed because they have basically a whole forest to mess around in just a few hundred feet away. And dozens of other trees on my property, just a few feet away.

 

[beowulf]

I don't know if this would work for you but it did for us. A buck came in one night to the orchard - presumably jumping a high fence. Ate a lot of fruit. We turned the lights on because we heard something - he bounded away. The next night he returned with 3-4 friends - took out most of the fruit on several trees. Lights on - they ran.

So, I put up a post in the orchard, attached a motion activated solar light. Deer came, lights go on immediately. No deer. They have not been back, but my wife tells me the light is no longer working - will have to check on that.

 

[Diggin It]

I thought about that too and I have a couple of solar motion lights I could put down there. Might try that tomorrow.

 

[Looking4new]

30-06 or a 30-30 and a long range flashlight. A scope will help but peep sights are just as good.

 

[DaddyFlip]

I predict the game warden will be knocking on L4n's door within a week. Oh, wait; I guess you can do that in Canada?

I live on three acres adjacent to a neighbor's 17 acre field, all of which is surrounded by woods filled with deer. The field is primarily used for haying, but a small portion of it close to my house the neighbor put in a row garden. He tried everything, including electric fencing to keep out deer and other critters; didn't work. What finally solved the deer problem forever was the presence of my rescue dogs being allowed to roam free in my yard and his field. My wife and I used to take in strays for a few years. We had a pretty large group for awhile and the good thing about strays is they take ownership of their "home" in short order. The presence of a dozen territorial dogs will make the deer forage elsewhere. My pack slowly dwindled down to four: a rat terrier, a rat terrier mix, a catahoula mix, and a lab mix. This crew would not let a deer in my yard to eat acorns or his garden to eat veggies. You need a pack large enough to think they are hunting but small enough not to concern the neighbors. Three or four good mix strays or pound dogs who need a home should fix you up.

 

[Diggin It]

I'm remote enough that I can apply liberal doses of human processed liquids without concern. I hung some bits of hair also as a local suggested that method. Put a second solar/motion light down there today.

Don't soap flakes melt in the rain?

 

[Looking4new]

I predict the game warden will be knocking on L4n's door within a week. Oh, wait; I guess you can do that in Canada?

It is not legal up here, but that being said, it has happened from time to time. Just not around my place.