Subsonic 300 blackout with a silencer.
Get a dog.
30-06
I use a lot of methods. It takes a combination of methods, you have to use them together, and use them religiously. You will find that no one method works and the deer get used to anything.
1. Repellants (Deer Out, Bobbex, Liquid Fence, Plant Sydd). You spray these on that’s. You have to apply them often (I do every three days, our max). The labels say they last a month, but that is fanciful. Plat Skydd is pure pig’s blood. I can mix a batch and spray all of our gardens in 15 minutes.
2. Deer Scram. You put these granules down on the ground in bands around the property.
3. Motion activated deer chasing sprinklers (Orbit’s “Enforcer”).
4. Fake animals. I use a plastic coyote and a couple of flamingos. Move them every day. I add coyote urine around the coyote. The neighbors are always looking for the coyote in new spots. I’ve forgotten about him, turned around and gotten startled myself.
5. Get a garden whirligig that moves in the wind. I got mine half off at an end of summer sale (already!).Deer don’t like motion. Get Mylar foil streamers for more motion.
6. Make an invisible fishing line fence. Look it up on the web. I haven’t tried this yet.
7. The Wireless Deer Fence socks the deer on the tongue and lips. The manufacturer says “It is a deer training system with a lasting effect, unlike sprays and smell deterrents that are washed away with rain or sprinklers. When a deer in the area is attracted by the sweet smell of the post it will touch the post and it will receive a startling shock on its very sensitive nose or tongue.” My neighbor objected because her young granddaughters were visiting, so I took them down. I don’t know if they work yet.
8. Whatever methods you use, start them early in spring. Once the deer have memorized their food locations and trails, it’s a lot harder to stop them.
9. Talk to your city council about thinning the herd. Our town does this every winter. Keep it quiet so people don’t object. A few years back we had up to 26 visiting our property. It is now down to about three does, one buck and then, and three fawns. The few we have left generally give our property a wide berth and walk past it.
10. I did find a few munched geraniums this week. Grrrrr!
The next time you have to run out and chase them away, take off your pajamas. That should scare them away for good
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.
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 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!!!
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.
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.
300 blackout subsonic with maximum grain slug fired from a weapon with a silencer. It is very quiet. Hornady makes a 190 grain subsonic in the 300 blackout. You can not go wrong with Hornady ammo.
Bottle rockets. Randomly shoot 3-4 into the woods every day. Vary the time of day. You will probably find that the deer are bedding just inside the woods waiting for a chance at the veggies. The sound of the fireworks will scare them off and the smell of burnt powder will keep them away. I had tried the repellent, hot sauce spray, yelling and cursing. Nothing worked except the bottle rockets. They work for keeping the hawks away from my chickens too but I actually have to see the hawks in the area before firing a few into the air.
The freezer works.
Diana /Augie you both garden in your respective deer centrals; Besides your dogs and shooting them and eating them anything special that you do?
