Natural Deer Repellent

[murphy1244]

I tried Mountain Lion when he had his cat that worked too.

 

[whistlepig]

We have horses. They don't smell near as well as deer (at least I don't think so). I have spooked our horses with some smells that they have never smelled before. They perk their ears up, snort a little bit, smell a little bit, and then go back to munching grass. They don't jump fences and run away to the next county never to return again. Drop some tiger poop next to a bucket of nice sweet feed and see what the horsies do.

 

[milkman636]

I really don't envision surrounding the garden with poo. I am employing some of the free deterrent suggestions first today. Hair and soap because they are immediately available at the house.

Funny timing this morning with the poo suggestions here. I woke up early this AM for a nature call and spotted some movement behind the garden as I was sitting on the stool. It was those %$#@! deer. The mom with her cute little fawns were at the edge of the woods. In my indisposed condition the only option I had was to yell out the window to "get out of my garden you %$#@! varmints!" My wife was still asleep in the bed less than ten feet away. Boy was she happy with my outburst.

 

[treefarmerguy]

I use Milorganite every year and have had excellent results. This past winter I forgot to spread it and the deer started to eat some ground cover. Threw some Milorganite down and never saw them again.

 

[sam5570]

well I have delt with the deer problem for years and have tried most all of the sugestions in this thread, and the hair thing works but everytime it gets wet it's got to be replaced. the soap works a couple weeks and then they pay it no attension. so far for the first time in over 30 years there has not been a deer in my garden. this is a method that is very easy and cost affective, just get you 4 stakes and put at each corner of the garden tie a rag on each one and about 2 times month take some under arm deodorant and rub on the rags and no deer. this has also kept the deer away from my apple tree's. oh yeah I have watched the deer get within 100' of my garden so I know they are there

 

[milkman636]

I use Milorganite every year and have had excellent results. This past winter I forgot to spread it and the deer started to eat some ground cover. Threw some Milorganite down and never saw them again.

Here is a part of the website that concerns me about using Milorganite in my garden:

Pharmaceuticals

Milorganite, like manures and other organic fertilizers, contains very low but detectable levels of pharmaceuticals and household and personal care products. To ensure consumer safety, Milorganite is actively monitored for a host of compounds that the EPA has ruled as being hazardous. Pharmaceuticals have been passing through humans since their invention, but only recently has analytic science gained the ability to measure chemicals at the extremely low concentrations we see today. When Milorganite is recycled to soil for nutrients, no evidence of harm has been found in earthworms, the primary exposure group. Research on earthworms continues as new classes of therapeutic drugs with distinct modes of action become popular.

When I was a kid I was told that human waste is not a healthy garden fertilizer, even though it does wonders for the grass over the drain field. It may work fine but I'm not ready to eat veggies grown in it.

 

[IkeRoberts]

Dish detergent. Mix your favorite brand 50/50 with water and load a standard spry bottle. Spray on your plants and the deer won't bother them until the next rain storm. Then you'll have to reapply.

 

[caps]

I have tried everything but the electric fence. This area is heavily overpopulated with deer and they eat everything. Even had one of them come up a flight of steps on to my back porch and eat a rose bush out of the pot. Human hair doesn't work more than 2 days, The deer repellent in the spray bottles that consists of putrified eggs only works a couple days. Garlic, cinamon, hot pepper, soap, dish detergent - no good. Someone told me to try WD40 as they didn't like the smell but WD40 will kill the plants if you get it on them. Hanging old CDs from strings around the garden only worked three days. I put a 6 foot high chain link fence around the garden and it keeps most of the smaller deer out but still one gets in now and then. I guess I need to figure out a way to run an electric fence along the top of the flower bed in the front yard without zapping any of our neighbors who come to call. My wife says no! to the fence but if the deer eat any more of the roses...... The deer are eating even the plants that are so called deer resistant. I did get the neighbor across the street to stop feeding the **** varmints. We have had many cars run into the deer in this area. They just stand in the road and ignore you. Honk the horn - they don't move. Open a door however and they run like ****.
I am ready to start shooting them but my neighbors would have a conniption.

 

[milkman636]

Dish detergent. Mix your favorite brand 50/50 with water and load a standard spry bottle. Spray on your plants and the deer won't bother them until the next rain storm. Then you'll have to reapply.

Are we talking about liquid dish soap here? That sounds fairly harmless. What types of plants have you tried this on?

 

[milkman636]

caps I feel your pain buddy. I am actually encouraged that I saw them this morning at sunup. I feel better now about my chances of shooting them if none of this other stuff works. In a perfect world that can wait until November when the flies will be gone. But just in case, I think I'll invest in a trail cam to see if they are developing a predictable pattern.

 

[caps]

Interesting article about repellents for deer. Deer Deterrents--Scents
Seems some things that may repel them attract other rodents.
Soaps/detergents containing coconut oil may attract deer.

 

[milkman636]

good link caps, thanks.

All four boys and myself got a fresh hair cut today. Our three year old daughter and a neighbor lady also contributed. I spread the trimmings all around the beans, peas, and corn this evening just before dark. Being a deer predator myself, I made a habit of relieving my own bladder at various locations between the garden and the woods all day as well. One more thing my wife was pleased with me about. From what she tells me we occasionally get visitors throughout the day and "they don't need to see that".

It looks like I'll need to decide on the what the next counter measure to will be for later this week.

Thanks for all the suggestions and please feel free to share any additional ones. This battle may continue on into October.

 

[milkman636]

I'm hesitant to mention anything because of ole Murphy, but so far so good. The hair has been working. I'll keep this updated as things evolve.

 

[TomSeller]

.
As for the deer, I have had very good results with Milorganite. It's a fertilizer made from human waste. .

Around the garden? I don't know if I could eat anything if I used human waste. Processed or not. Call me old school, but I want my natural fertilizer to come from the backside of a cow, pig or chicken.

 

[TomSeller]

Try getting a grandpa with a prostrate problem that likes beer and pees outside every half hour. Just make sure you don't have neighbors or a low electric fence.

 

[CliffordK]

I've been heavily "watering" one of my cherry trees. Both "natural" water, and hose water.

The other day I saw a deer foot print right where I had previously watered it :irked:

Perhaps they would pay more attention if I had more venison in my diet.

 

[TomSeller]

Maybe the middle aged single woman at work that is always chasing the young guys can stop by the garden periodically.

 

[milkman636]

I've been heavily "watering" one of my cherry trees. Both "natural" water, and hose water.

The other day I saw a deer foot print right where I had previously watered it :irked:

Perhaps they would pay more attention if I had more venison in my diet.

That's discouraging.

I have been encouraging my boys to go "water" the grass behind the garden by the edge of the woods. Maybe the combination of the natural water along with the increase in regular foot traffic will help keep them at bay a while longer.

If not I may have to recruit one of those cougars that Tom is suggesting. I'm not sure that I am young enough to attract their cooperation though, maybe I'll ask my.........no I better not.

 

[murphy1244]

I'm hesitant to mention anything because of ole Murphy, but so far so good. The hair has been working. I'll keep this updated as things evolve.

Murphy is a good guy!

 

[Dr_Zinj]

"Short of installing fences or moving the stuff back to where it was, what can I do to repel deer from the garden?"

Realistically?
(1) You spend all your time in the garden and sleep there. I have better things to do.
(2) Put a dog out by the garden. I like my dogs as pets and indoors, not an animated robot left outside all the time.
(3) Shoot the deer each time you see one in or near the garden. Fish and Game might get a bit persnickety over this, even if you have a nuisance animal permit.
(4) Bite the bullet and put up a fence. This is what I'll be doing this fall and using the tractor to level the perimeter for it. Just remember, a serious deer can jump a 12 foot fence. However, as long as I have a 5 to 6 foot one around the garden, that's enough due diligence to get a permit to shoot any of them that want to play illegal immigrant games in the garden.