Posted on 08/14/2022 5:07:03 AM PDT by GaltAdonis
Sunday morning 6:50AM -
Started my day by making a cup of coffee.
The blinds were slightly open - I could see out.
I saw movement out of the corner of my eye -
Not A deer - BUT TWO young does happily munching my tomato plants.
DANG-IT!
In my current locale I am not going to open fire on them
and risk the neighbors calling law enforcement -
discharging a gun HERE is sort of illegal.
"BUT OFFICER, IT WAS SELF DEFENSE! The deer were threatening me!!"
No, no - not going to go there...
So I go out the door and yell: "HEY! GET OUT!!!"
One deer ran away immediately.
The other cocked it head to the side (with a tomato in mouth)
and stared at me.
I begin advancing, while yelling and waving my arms -
the deer drops the tomato, retreats 30 feet, stops at
the edge of the woods - and stares at me.
I advanced again - and the deer runs off to join the other one it the woods.
So - short of firearms/explosives/poisons/20-foot tall fences -
HOW CAN I REPEL THESE INFERNAL BEASTS?
Ideas anybody?
Dryer Sheets
Dryer Sheets
Before I spend even more money on this garden I'm going to
carve up and 'deploy' a bar of Irish Spring soap. I've got some.
I'll try that and see what happens.
.
And it's time to re-bait the bucket trap for the chipmunks.
Peanut butter and black-oiled sunflower seeds I use for that.
The bucket trap -
The next time you have to run out and chase them away, take off your pajamas. That should scare them away for good
“Llifebuoy soap deer repellant, we used it shaved in a panty hose tied to trees in the corners of the yard.”
_____
This works well for a while, as does aluminum pans hung from fishing line. My mother had success hanging twinkle lights around her garden. It seems to me the thing is to change it up. Use one thing for a while, and then another. The deer get a accustom to something and then start ignoring it when they realize it poses no danger.
Do you have a tractor supply or a Runnings near you? We bought an electrified fence fairly cheap, that runs on solar. The charge is just enough to give them a jolt. We haven’t had a deer since. Even keeps out wood chucks.
Chips of Irish Spring soap we scattered around the grape vines appear to be working.
“Barking dogs”
Barking dogs do tend to irritate any close neighbors. One person told me they put talk radio at a low voice next to the garden, so the deer thought there were people nearby. Another said recordings of coyotes would work. As I said above, I think the trick is to change it up every couple of weeks.
I doubt this will be believed but it is very true.
The deer enter along my back lot line that is marked by trees some of which grew along the very old property line predating subdivision.
I strung 50 pound test fishing line from tree to tree along the whole distance. The fishing line is clear and nearly invisible. it about breast high above the ground.
Deer come early in the morning or late evening and cn’t see the thin line. They can feel it and back off. It is a disconcerting mystery so they just leave. Actually, they stay in the back neighbors yard
Along one side of the raised bed borders I placed at wide intervals light weight metal fence posts. The same line strung on these posts prevent the deer from munching the garden plants.
In another area where the line can’t be strung Hava heart deer repellant cylinders and beauty shop human hair in screen bags provide security. I do not know which of the two does the job but the hair is free.
My testimony is that the above measures prevent deer destruction of various different garden conditions
I haven’t found that to be a problem unless it is the same deer just hanging around which normally means they are sick and need to be killed, in that case we use a bow to take them out in the back yard.
I agree with post #33 on the water sprinkler. A good friend had it in her flower beds and it worked great!!
While they were on a trip there was a bad wind storm. We were taking care of their place and walked by daily. It was probably a hot August so I was in running shorts and a white t-shirt. Well....I forgot about the sprinkler! I got close while picking up limbs and the thing shot me with water! I screamed, which caught the attention of the neighbors...so I was caught with a wet t-shirt and we had laughs for a long time!!!
I'll start peeing in an old milk jug.
I'll start spreading that around if the soap doesn't work.
Thank You!
Slingshot or bb gun that has variable power- keep it on low power, and shoot for the hind quarters only- it’ll be enough to make,them learn that the garden is not a supermarket for them while not hurting them dangerously. They will get the messag soon enough. Watch out with slingshot though- they aren’t as accurate at distance. Closer up they can be effective.
How TALL a wire fence?
Several years ago I watched a deer jump over a neighbor's 6 foot garden fence effortlessly.
5 DIY Deer Repellent Recipes:
https://www.deerbusters.com/blog5-diy-deer-repellent-recipes/
If it’s a HUGE problem, like you have a HERD of them through your yard every day, HIGH fencing will be your only solution.
They usually disappear when they sense a hunting license.
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