DEER

[grampy210]

can anyone tell me how to repel DEER. my garden is bening destroyed. Thank you for any help

[Frog]

A big angry dog

[kygreg]

Have heard good reports about the product Liquid Fence, but have never used it.

[ddsack]

I use electric fence, three strands. One garden is powered from a marine battery, the other uses house current. My oval flower garden is surrounded by deer netting held up with tall shepherd's hooks. My cement planters next to the cedar swing are covered by chicken wire. The deer will come right up onto the cement pad under our 2nd story deck to chew on my tuberous begonias and other potted plants.

A dog actually is a great idea. We had less trouble near the house while we had them. Last fall our neighbor got a little yappy mix of some kind, and this summer we have seen virtually no deer in the yard. We know they are still out in the woods behind the houses, but that noisy little dog sure has widened the deer-free area this summer. I fully expect they will return this fall when the fawns are bigger, but for now it's nice to enjoy the flowers on my deck.

[nctomatoman]

The only thing that consistently works, from what I've experienced and read, is either a tall (unjumpable) fence, or a not as tall but well installed electric fence. Deer seem to adjust to any sort of chemical substance. Surprisingly, I am having good luck (so far, fingers crossed) with motion activated sprinklers, the water scarecrow.

[PaulF]

I have not installed an electric fence, but for three years have put up a seven foot tall mesh fence and it has kept the deer out. This morning a doe with twin fawns were nosing around and moved on not able to get to the snacks inside.

I would suggest buying the heaviest mesh you can find. Not to keep the deer out, but so that the fencing will last several years. I tie strips of white cloth at deer eye level so they don't try to go through the fence at night. That seems to catch their attention and they go around.

[bluelytes]

GRAMP,
If you go with the electric fence idea, you might want to try attaching some tin foil tags, about 2" x 8", and coat the bottom couple inches with peanut butter on both sides.

From what I understand from our local game agents, deer LOVE peanut butter, and will come up and lick at the tin foil tags, take them in their mouth and chew. Then they get a BIG surprise. You might be able to git away with one strand.

Best;
bluey

[fatboy]

Originally Posted by nctomatoman

The only thing that consistently works, from what I've experienced and read, is either a tall (unjumpable) fence, or a not as tall but well installed electric fence. Deer seem to adjust to any sort of chemical substance. Surprisingly, I am having good luck (so far, fingers crossed) with motion activated sprinklers, the water scarecrow.

I had good luck with them also as long as I move them around once in awhile.

[PaulF]

Yesterday, mid afternoon, a yearling couldn't get into the garden because of the fence, so it began to eat my wife's daylillies. I got a loud,"Paul come here and do something!!"

So out came the pellet gun. I walked to within 30 or 40 feet of the deer and popped it on the rear end with a pellet shot. The deer jumped a couple of feet in the air and took off for the woods that surround our place. Will it be back? Probably, and will I shoot it again? YES. Will I get frustrated and go to a .22? NO, I'm not sure I could do that. Not unless it begins to tear up the tomatoes. Priorities, you know.

[g8shot1]

A 7ft fence and mesh top has fooled them enough not to jump in so far. They're capable, but I think the landing area has them fooled.

[discrepancy]

Originally Posted by PaulF

Yesterday, mid afternoon, a yearling couldn't get into the garden because of the fence, so it began to eat my wife's daylillies. I got a loud,"Paul come here and do something!!"

So out came the pellet gun. I walked to within 30 or 40 feet of the deer and popped it on the rear end with a pellet shot. The deer jumped a couple of feet in the air and took off for the woods that surround our place. Will it be back? Probably, and will I shoot it again? YES. Will I get frustrated and go to a .22? NO, I'm not sure I could do that. Not unless it begins to tear up the tomatoes. Priorities, you know.

Hahaha!!

I have a little toy pellet gun that uses big plastic pellets that I bought to use on the raccoons -- I got a little desperate last year when they kept ripping my porch apart trying to get at the cat food I was leaving out for the local ferals -- it'll work on deer, too.

... if I can hit them.