It is often asked; people feel helpless to stop them from decimating their crops, "How exactly do you deal with deer?". If you want to stop the deer dead in their tracks put up a ten foot fence, twelve feet is even better. Barring that it is best to know your adversary, a giant fence isn't usually a good option anyhow. A multi-tier approach is the only way to have a chance against the roving hoards.
Strategy #1 - Control their pathways
Deer paths occur in the woods because deer take "the path of least resistance". Eventually they carve out a thoroughfare which traffics them between obstacles. If you know where the deer enter your yard you can channel them from that point outwards, or direct them away from your yard all together. This will not stop all the deer all the time. Although they have paths they are not required to stay with them. This system is not so much a deer fence as it is a deer obstacle, whatever you can use to bock their way in. I have a few that work like a one way gate, a check valve if you will. A deer may enter my yard from one point, then have the option to leave from this other direction but never enter. It is near impossible for the deer to get in this way, or at least it is undesirable. The ground is much lower on the outside of the obstacle. They exit my yard easily when chased, a little motivation for leaping the check gate. Don't underestimate deer they are very powerful animals.
Speaking of deer paths, I would never go back to this gate if it weren't for the deer making the path for me. I can't be expected to do the up keep on the entire infrastructure. Let the deer work for you.
Strategy #2 - Take advantage of their fears
Deer do not like to be enclosed in a space where they feel trapped. You probably won't see a deer in the alleyway between houses, or even between long high rows of strung up tomatoes. They usually eat the corn on the edges of the field, not in the center. In some circles this is called a deer moat. Just for example, a strong hedge row can create one "wall" and a shed or outbuilding can create the other.
Strategy #3 - Divert their attention
The deer are in your yard looking for food, why not give them some - elsewhere. You may have some success keeping deer at the edges of your yard with plantings planned specifically for their appetites. This is called a trap crop. A plant that the deer love to eat, and usually don't kill by doing so, makes a great trap crop. Beloved by most gardeners and perfectly shade tolerant, the hosta makes a good boarder planting that you might be willing to sacrifice to save another. Deer always eat our day lillies but never kill them. You can also find some deer food plot seeds for sale online. Feeding them might just make their numbers stronger, keep that in mind.
Strategy #4 - Leave a bad taste in their mouth
We love to eat garlic and onions, but deer - who eat almost anything - will not. Until the deer change their eating habits garlic and onions will not be on the menu. Intersperse plants they don't like into your garden, and as they are munching along they might just get a mouth full. You can mix up a special cocktail of hot peppers and vinegar, or just dried crushed pepper to spray on your lettuce. If in the end you don't want to eat it, whats the point? Some people advise you add soap to your mixture to help it stick, I don't see the need for it nor do I want that in my garden beds. I was fond of spreading wood ash on my plants this summer, no one enjoys ash in the mouth. This is a sure fire tactic that could change their attitude towards your garden. Its main drawback is the need for reapplication after rains.
Strategy #5 - Scare them off
Deer spook easily and will run as soon as their buddies do. Startle just one of them and you might move the whole gang out of your yard. Unfortunately they probably won't run that far. I have heard of people using wind chimes, mobiles (AOL c.d.s, used pie tins), motion detectors that trigger a spray of water, or talk radio note: deer are liberal; Rush Limbaugh scares the shit out of them. Eventually deer can become accustomed to these deceptions and their effectiveness is lost.
Strategy # 6 Assault their senses
A deer relies heavily on their sense of smell, they can catch your scent on a passing breeze. To leave the sent of a human in your yard is to fool a deer into thinking you are actually there. One strategy for this is to spread hair around from your last cut, or hang it from a mesh bag - like a stocking. The barber throws clippings away and is usually happy to give them to you. Make sure you explain its for a deer deterrent you weirdo. The second is to mark your territory, take a leak in your yard. I am advocating for you to use animalistic behavior that's all. Besides human urine you can purchase predator animal urine, like bear or coyote. Don't ask me how they get it. Thirdly aromatic herbs which do not seem to be of preference to the deer can disguise the scent of plants they would like to eat. Try planting sage, oregano, rosemary, and thyme.
Strategy #7 - Buy a dog and keep it outside
The dogs marked territory might be enough to keep them at bay, but a hungry animal does what it needs to. On the other hand a barking dog in toe can startle even the hungry deer. Ya like dags? Well they are better than a 12 ft. fence IMO.
Strategy #1 - Control their pathways
Deer paths occur in the woods because deer take "the path of least resistance". Eventually they carve out a thoroughfare which traffics them between obstacles. If you know where the deer enter your yard you can channel them from that point outwards, or direct them away from your yard all together. This will not stop all the deer all the time. Although they have paths they are not required to stay with them. This system is not so much a deer fence as it is a deer obstacle, whatever you can use to bock their way in. I have a few that work like a one way gate, a check valve if you will. A deer may enter my yard from one point, then have the option to leave from this other direction but never enter. It is near impossible for the deer to get in this way, or at least it is undesirable. The ground is much lower on the outside of the obstacle. They exit my yard easily when chased, a little motivation for leaping the check gate. Don't underestimate deer they are very powerful animals.
Speaking of deer paths, I would never go back to this gate if it weren't for the deer making the path for me. I can't be expected to do the up keep on the entire infrastructure. Let the deer work for you.
Strategy #2 - Take advantage of their fears
Deer do not like to be enclosed in a space where they feel trapped. You probably won't see a deer in the alleyway between houses, or even between long high rows of strung up tomatoes. They usually eat the corn on the edges of the field, not in the center. In some circles this is called a deer moat. Just for example, a strong hedge row can create one "wall" and a shed or outbuilding can create the other.
Strategy #3 - Divert their attention
The deer are in your yard looking for food, why not give them some - elsewhere. You may have some success keeping deer at the edges of your yard with plantings planned specifically for their appetites. This is called a trap crop. A plant that the deer love to eat, and usually don't kill by doing so, makes a great trap crop. Beloved by most gardeners and perfectly shade tolerant, the hosta makes a good boarder planting that you might be willing to sacrifice to save another. Deer always eat our day lillies but never kill them. You can also find some deer food plot seeds for sale online. Feeding them might just make their numbers stronger, keep that in mind.
Strategy #4 - Leave a bad taste in their mouth
We love to eat garlic and onions, but deer - who eat almost anything - will not. Until the deer change their eating habits garlic and onions will not be on the menu. Intersperse plants they don't like into your garden, and as they are munching along they might just get a mouth full. You can mix up a special cocktail of hot peppers and vinegar, or just dried crushed pepper to spray on your lettuce. If in the end you don't want to eat it, whats the point? Some people advise you add soap to your mixture to help it stick, I don't see the need for it nor do I want that in my garden beds. I was fond of spreading wood ash on my plants this summer, no one enjoys ash in the mouth. This is a sure fire tactic that could change their attitude towards your garden. Its main drawback is the need for reapplication after rains.
Strategy #5 - Scare them off
Deer spook easily and will run as soon as their buddies do. Startle just one of them and you might move the whole gang out of your yard. Unfortunately they probably won't run that far. I have heard of people using wind chimes, mobiles (AOL c.d.s, used pie tins), motion detectors that trigger a spray of water, or talk radio note: deer are liberal; Rush Limbaugh scares the shit out of them. Eventually deer can become accustomed to these deceptions and their effectiveness is lost.
Strategy # 6 Assault their senses
A deer relies heavily on their sense of smell, they can catch your scent on a passing breeze. To leave the sent of a human in your yard is to fool a deer into thinking you are actually there. One strategy for this is to spread hair around from your last cut, or hang it from a mesh bag - like a stocking. The barber throws clippings away and is usually happy to give them to you. Make sure you explain its for a deer deterrent you weirdo. The second is to mark your territory, take a leak in your yard. I am advocating for you to use animalistic behavior that's all. Besides human urine you can purchase predator animal urine, like bear or coyote. Don't ask me how they get it. Thirdly aromatic herbs which do not seem to be of preference to the deer can disguise the scent of plants they would like to eat. Try planting sage, oregano, rosemary, and thyme.
Strategy #7 - Buy a dog and keep it outside
The dogs marked territory might be enough to keep them at bay, but a hungry animal does what it needs to. On the other hand a barking dog in toe can startle even the hungry deer. Ya like dags? Well they are better than a 12 ft. fence IMO.
