We found a way to keep the Deer out of the garden

[VeggieGrower]

My grandpa always hung his sweat soaked shirt in the garden. He swore it kept the rabbits and raccoons out.

[tedln]

jmoore,

I've seen them get shot at and missed. If you wait around, they often will come back to see what made that loud noise and then get shot.

Ted

[jmoore]

jmoore,

I've seen them get shot at and missed. If you wait around, they often will come back to see what made that loud noise and then get shot.

Ted

I've never done that. :cough: :cough:

[rootsy]

Deer are very adaptable creatures.... They will not enter an active logging area while loggers are there... But as soon as the loggers leave you better be there and set up because the deer will come out of the wood work to browse the buds from the tops of the trees that were harvested during the day.

[TZ -OH6]

This morning a doe was eyeing my little corn patch so I walked up to her clapping, which usually sends them running. She would only run back a few feet and looked like she wanted to kick my butt, so there is probably a fawn in the weeds behind the garden. That's probably a good thing because the adults tend to stay away from the areas where the fawns are. We have a couple of bambies playing in the yard every year but the does don't hide them in the same areas every year. The last time they were behind the garden was a couple of years ago.

[tomf]

I can not fence every thing so I put some "Deer be Gone" on some areas, the plants did not get eaten at that time but it is an expensive and the rain washes it away. I am not sure if it works long term. Some people mix water, eggs and pepper then spray it on plants.

This is a link to a photo story and argument with a deer trying to get her not to eat my plants.

http://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25851

[mansgirl]

Have you tried human hair or bar soap? I've collected whats in my hairbrush, grab a scissors, and walk the perimeter of the garden making little snips here and there. You can also hang bar soap around too. Maybe if you alternate the three you can trick the deer?

[rootsy]

I finished cultivating sweet corn last night about dark and put the tractor away and made sure all of the chickens were present and accounted for. Walked into the back yard and here was a big doe standing there looking at me... Hollar and yell and she just stood there 40 yds away looking at me... Pretty soon she just went back to eating grass in the yard until I walked toward her... Then she took a few bounds out into the field and went to browsing again... Fearless...

[tedln]

I've seen videos on you tube I think, showing a deer attacking a home owner. The animal was standing on it rear legs throwing punches with it's front legs like a boxer. Those hoofs can hurt you. I'm certainly not afraid of deer, but I am respectful of wild animals. I don't hand feed the bears and I don't try to hand pet the bison in Yellowstone. Most wild animals do have some kind of defensive ability.

Ted

[rootsy]

So do I... It's called my M&P 40c... goes where I go 98% of the time...

Deer can do a number with those hooves... Just like most farm animals...

[Kisal]

Those hoofs can hurt you.

They sure can!

I always wore a heavy jacket when I went out on a deer call, regardless of the weather. Because there were only a few of us who did rescue of larger animals, we often had to go on calls alone. That meant that, when we needed an extra pair of hands, we had to ask bystanders for help.

I had already roped the particular deer that kicked the blankety-blank out of me, but I had to have someone keep the rope taut while I hogtied the critter. So, I asked the guy who had called to report the injured deer. The deer was down, but bucking, and the guy got scared and dropped the rope. I, sadly, was down on my knees right beside the deer. The animal shredded my coat in short order, but I was mostly unscathed, just a few bruises. Let me tell you, Bambi packs quite a wallop!

[tedln]

So do I... It's called my M&P 40c... goes where I go 98% of the time...

Deer can do a number with those hooves... Just like most farm animals...

Me to rootsy. I just have a different brand and a license that tells everyone I'm legal. The problem is the animals don't care anything about my license.

Ted

[tomf]

My father in law had a friend who had a buck for a pet, when rutting season came the buck gored him in the back and killed my father in laws friend.

[tedln]

The point I was making telling about the deer fighting back was simply a warning to people who think it isn't a big deal to go in the back yard or the garden and simply shoo a deer away. Like all Boy Scouts, you need to be prepared for the unexpected and you need to have a planned method to protect your self or a planned route of retreat.

Ted

[dave103069]

I don't know if this will work or not but I mixed garlic, cayenne pepper & dish soap with water to spray around to try to keep critters away. After reading some diffrent things it sounded like this may work. So far I have not had any critter issues. I have not sprayed this stuff on the plants but just on the ground around them.. I figure I will just do it one or two times a week and see what happens..

[rootsy]

So do I... It's called my M&P 40c... goes where I go 98% of the time...

Deer can do a number with those hooves... Just like most farm animals...

Me to rootsy. I just have a different brand and a license that tells everyone I'm legal. The problem is the animals don't care anything about my license.

Ted

I also possess a Michigan CPL. Do you also or are you a peace officer?

[tomf]

I don't know if this will work or not but I mixed garlic, cayenne pepper & dish soap with water to spray around to try to keep critters away. After reading some diffrent things it sounded like this may work. So far I have not had any critter issues. I have not sprayed this stuff on the plants but just on the ground around them.. I figure I will just do it one or two times a week and see what happens..

That sounds close to what a friend of mine uses, he says adding eggs helps as deer do not eat eggs so the smell keeps them away.

[tedln]

Nope, not a peace officer. I've just been licensed to carry for a lot of years. In Texas, we have reciprocal agreements with a lot of states. I think that includes Michigan which means you are legal to carry in Texas if you decide to come see my garden.

Ted

[dave103069]

I don't know if this will work or not but I mixed garlic, cayenne pepper & dish soap with water to spray around to try to keep critters away. After reading some diffrent things it sounded like this may work. So far I have not had any critter issues. I have not sprayed this stuff on the plants but just on the ground around them.. I figure I will just do it one or two times a week and see what happens..

That sounds close to what a friend of mine uses, he says adding eggs helps as deer do not eat eggs so the smell keeps them away.

Yes, I was going to add eggs too but got the evil eye from the Mrs when making the mix from the already interesting smell so I held off. I will be adding egg shells to the mix this week as well and leaving the container outside to rot a little..

[Susan W]

Another option for the deer and cannot verify results. Get a Bubba Bass at the thrift store for $5.00. Set it out. It wiggles and makes noise by motion detector. Hmmmmmm.

[jal_ut]

A radio tuned to the local talk station and placed in the corn patch seems to discourage skunks, raccoons and deer.
For sure a 30-06 will take care of the deer..............

[jal_ut]

Options:
Call the local game warden and tell him to get the deer out of your garden or you will.
I guess you can send the state a bill for the damages?
For sure contact local, county and state officials and complain about the rogue critters.
Shoot them in the butt with a good strong pellet gun?
Or as I suggested above, just kill the deer.