Planting cover crops.

[jjeff]

Will planting an acre or two of cover crops like clover or something help deter deer from eating my sweet corn, pumpkins, and new Xmas trees? Very small scale hobby farmer on 15 acres. Or would it attract more deer in the area if they haven't found my unintentional wildlife sanctuary already? Deer have decimated my break even profit margin and has gotten 10x worse after they clear cut several hundred acres across railroad tracks from my property.

 

[fishheadbob]

Chances aren't good that a tasty cover crop will solve your problem. That has been tried many times. Many Christmas Tree farmers use two methods to deter deer; 8 to 10 foot fence, and that old standby lead. Problems are that good deer fencing is very expensive while lead takes a long time. Deer used to eat 3 to 4 thousand dollars worth of my Fraser Fir annually, and while a couple of blood thirsty hunters eventually resolved my particular problem I would have been ahead buying the fencing.

 

[jjeff]

Checking with local contractors, township codes, looking at diy kits, taking preliminary measurements, Problaby get a survey of property line s and of course will check with my neighbors before I start construction of a pretty big project like this. Problaby next spring..the Deer have finally got to me. So I'm going nuclear, Especially if I get a older deep well in operation for more irrigation. Will I recover expenses? hopefully. On the meantime taking full advantage of tax right off for other income. Prices of trees, sweet corn and pumpkins will go up, along with actual hard work to maintain "hobby farm" Preliminary estimates are quite
pricy. However it's just as frustrating spending money on sweet corn, pumpkin seed and Xmas trees only to have deer treat my somewhat hard work as a open free for all buffet. I've grown to detest deer these days. The occasional hunter that asks and I allow to harvest deer on my unintentional wildlife sanctuary does little to curb problem I used to think deer shy away from the smell of there dead sure doesn't seem like it (I encourage hunters to leave there field dressing gut piles on property line" they must be a cannibalistic species lol Like I said deer have gotten 10x worse after clear cutting took place on property next to mine. 7-8' high fence is in my near future along with a steel or galvanized mesh around bottom buried a foot or two to prevent rodents encompassing 10 acres maybe more. My stubborn ways have finally got the best of me for hobby farming it used to be an enjoyable side hustle hobby.

 

[LHF2019]

Will planting an acre or two of cover crops like clover or something help deter deer from eating my sweet corn, pumpkins, and new Xmas trees? Very small scale hobby farmer on 15 acres. Or would it attract more deer in the area if they haven't found my unintentional wildlife sanctuary already? Deer have decimated my break even profit margin and has gotten 10x worse after they clear cut several hundred acres across railroad tracks from my property.

No. Only way to protect any crop is to build a fence or exterminate the deer. They are bad here. I need more of these to help with the problem.

 

[jjeff]

Anyone have any luck with solar powered deer and other rodent repellant devices? For about 10 acres of tillable land Bought quite a few of various designs and reported effectiveness in a last ditch effort to not spend thousands on deer fence. I've came to the conclusion it won't be effective as a deer fence but hopefully losses will be tolerable. Like before the clear cutting took place. Figure it's at least worth a stubborn shot. I Put the word out to friends and family free use of land for deer hunting I deem as responsible hunters, hunter safety etc no shooting lanes in the direction of house or barn main road etc. no hunting thanksgiving week- Xmas eve. I'll gladly offer to use my tractor, nini ex as a temporary movable buck pole, and dragging deer to ones vehicle. Possibly pay for there initial and subsequent tags. Also figure I can't leave deer repellant devices on field perimeter permanently after growing season cuz I think the deer get so used to these devices it won't effect them. So sick of deer and other rodents eating my small scale once break even profits. Ultimate goal is to at least be able to double my sweet corn planting, successfully grow a acre or two of pumpkins, and successfully plant a few more acres of Xmas trees. Last night there was a small herd of deer on tree line seemed like they were eyeing down my new 200 irrigated Xmas trees I recently planted and I envisioned them licking there chops with anticipation of going to town on the freshly irrigated apparently delicious trees.

 

[nybirdman]

Electric fence would be much cheaper.Low and high ,two layers of fence,four feet apart,.Raccoons and porcupines like corn too.

 

[jjeff]

So last year which is subsequently the last year I planted sweet corn the deer ate corn directly off my roadside cart/stand . All I envisioned was the deer watching me tow that cart to the road acting like a dinner bell. I did quickly learn to tow my "food trough" back to the secure barn at night though definitely seemed to help curb harvested corn from being eaten. Wheels are definitely turning now thank you for the insight and experience.

 

[civilian]

Have you approached Michigan DNR? I think they may be able to help with some eradication (sp?) methods. Or to allow the property to be be open to a larger group of hunters to kind of control deer population.

If still wanting cover groups to attract deer elsewhere, have it as far from your valuable crops as you can. Also turnips are one item deer like around my area. Any possiblity of planting cover crop on neighbors property? Jon

 

[jjeff]

Talked with one neighbor so far. in terms of cost it definitely makes more sense to try a 3d electric fence with several gates, it's basically two rows parallel several feet apart at different heights. Parties involved including myself don't really want to feel like we're fenced in a compound surrounded by fence. Not to mention cost.

 

[jjeff]

So this upcoming spring I've made the decision due to cost and not wanting to feel like I live in a prison compound by putting in 10'high deer fence instead to try and diy install a 3d electric fence reportedly has a 25 yr life span if done somewhat correctly I'll also be clearing another acre or so of small popple and Aspen. Final goal is to grow sweet corn, pumpkins, and Xmas trees. Trying to get a unused abandoned deep well operational again for precision drip irrigation of new trees, Encompassing around 10:acres. I'll put in gates for my 2 neighbors and a large gate for u-cut customers. De energizing fence from late November - Xmas. . I have reliable ac120 volt power where fence will be located or I could try and setup solar with batteries . Anyone have any experience with a 3d deer deterrent electric fence? Definitely appreciate pointers and experience not criticism unless constructive. Depending how this goes I may end up running energized mesh along bottom to deter gophers and raccoons from making my all you can eat buffet less accessible. Thanks

 

[civilian]

Not sure where you are located, but not sure if I would have enough sunight to run solar electric fencing in Vanderbilt, MI. Jon

 

[jjeff]

Not sure where you are located, but not sure if I would have enough sunight to run solar electric fencing in Vanderbilt, MI. Jon

Yeah I'm problaby going with ac-dc plug in seems more reliable and less maintenance of batteries etc besides the fence itself. Most I've looked at has a 25 yr lifespan and is uv resistant not the cheapest out there but a 3d electric fence is a tiny fraction if I went with 10' deer fence even if I did it. l I'm also looking into coverage areas of the plug in electric fence controllers I do have 120 volt power in the old garden shed near my pond which is where I'll be starting and ending fence. I'll be measuring everything this winter. However I'm estimating it needs to encompass a ten acre perimeter. If I'm to grow enough xmas trees, sweet corn, and possibly pumpkins to sell to break even anymore.

 

[jjeff]

So after further research it doesn't appear a electric fence encompassing 10 acres or any acreage is allowed in my township despite being zoned ag. unless a non electric 5' fence is put in front of an electric fence. $$$$. Curious if anyone has had had any luck with deer repellant for large areas? Basically mix concentrate in a 40+45 gallon pull behind sprayer and apply around perimeter, and down rows of sweet corn and Xmas trees. Figuring a 5 gallon concentrate pail will run me about 4-500 per year minimal estimate. A decent a 25 yr lifespan permanent 3 d diy electric fence will run me about 3-5k. So if deer repellant concentrate is effective I'll start losing money vs putting up electric after 6 yrs if it's effective. Btw sweet corn seed is expensive, so are Xmas tree bare root or plugs I'm trying to grow. Bloody deer already took at least one of my newly planted irrigated plugs out of the the ground, roots and all, and chomped to the top off. I'll be in contact with food banks soon to see if they have hunters for deer to donate to food banks allowed in my state. I still unfortunately have no desire to hunt deer again even to donate to food banks or at the rate I need to kill the things to make any noticeable difference. Next spring I'm clearing about an acre of there bedding habitat mostly popple and Aspen. I'm also planning to put down quite the array a of solar deer repellant devices knowing the deer will eventually grow accustomed to the ultrasonic noise and light emitting devices. Any approved deer repellant concentrate suggestions that can be applied near or on sweet corn is appreciated. I'm not at the stage to set up 8-10 ft high non electrifies deer fence around 10 acres. Although I understand that may be the ultimate solution.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I have 8 acres. I have cover crops on about 2 acres. It has not deterred deer at all. Deer are opportunistic foragers. If they walk by something green, they are going to chew on it. I have rye, clover, buckwheat... The deer will still challenge an electric fence to get to my 1/4 acre garden. They browse all of our trees.

Lead is the best deterrent. Or you just accept the fact that half of your crop goes back to nature

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

I too have varmint problems. Deer, groundhawgs, squirrels, crows and beaver. Seems they all suffer from a mineral deficiency. I have to give them a high velocity lead inoculation. I have also found if I inoculate them in the gut they tend to run off in the woods and I don't need to drag em anywhere.

I planted strawberry plants about almost 2 months ago. Deer came by and ate the tops off almost all of them. We also have blueberry, blackberry, grapes, pecans, peaches and apples.

Short term fixes I have seen do "OK" are hanging up worn tee shirts around the area. They need to be rotated out and moved every few days.

I am thinking of getting a thermo scope for my 17. I have the binocs just can't see them through the scope unless its got moonlight.

I have offered hunters to come in and hunt but they usually don't do so well. The native deer I take out, the roamers from across the road don't show up until night. I'm not in a position to put in a 10ft fence nor want to put in electric.