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Lexington, Ky

What's the scoop on whitetails? My potential patch is right smack dab in the middle of a night time feeding area. They come in the field for clover and grass...am I in trouble? I'm convinced nothing short of a 10 foot fence will keep them out....$$$$$$

2/14/2005 2:00:44 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Depends on if the deer have tasted pumpkins before...Some do not have a clue, others will smash them with their hooves to get to the seeds and guts. I have never had this problem with the Giants. Only the smaller field pumpkins.

2/14/2005 2:04:34 PM

Western NY

I'd love to hear any concoctions that have been successfull. I'm going to be battling them this year.

2/14/2005 2:07:24 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

I've heard rifles work well :-)

2/14/2005 2:15:26 PM

[email protected]

Bad mojo deer are. They'll eat pumpkins, vines, etc. You'll need a big honking fence. That or a skinny pack of wolves.

2/14/2005 2:25:41 PM

Indiana

bow & arrow works well also

2/14/2005 2:25:42 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

or a Dog. a real one not an ankle-biter!

2/14/2005 2:52:03 PM

Lexington, Ky

Skinny pack of wolves.....LMAO!

2/14/2005 2:59:37 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

If you have deer walking around in or near your garden you are in trouble unless you do something to keep them away. One thing that does work is an electrified fence. If they walk up to it and touch it they are usually gone. Sometimes their front feet will go right up into the air and away they go. If their front feet come down on the wire then the others with them may just walk right in over the broken wire. If they break the wire today and you don't fix it, they will be in tomorrow. They stomp on the pumpkins and then eat them. They are great jumpers and if they see the fence and want in, they are in. The thing that seems to work the best is a tall electrified fence. Loud agressive dogs work too. Nothing will be 100%. Good luck.

2/14/2005 3:13:06 PM

Long Island,New York

Try a few strings between posts with a bunch of those free AOL cd's hanging off the strings (thats about all they are good for anyway)....pinwheels help against woodchucks sometimes...pie tins etc.....Deer may not eat your fruit, but they like to stomp on main vines just before the fruit and hide in the bushes to see your reaction.....G

2/14/2005 3:24:44 PM

[email protected]

Yeah that's what I always do at G's. Hang AOL cds all over the place then hide in the bushes to watch his reaction. It's better than Seinfeld reruns.

Marv's electric fence is even more practical than skinny wolves.

2/14/2005 4:10:36 PM

Jaffrey NH

The deer will be a problem. My patch had been ravaged by deer for two years before I decided to get some fencing. There is some fencing such as the plastic black fencing you can get out of the seed catalogues. It works ok but is a mess to clean up because it tangles easily. The electrical fencing is quite expensive. I found that a good 6 foot tall fence will keep them out. The fencing I use is old wire fencing that was scavenged from the dump.
It's a bit of work to get the fence up but the fence is a real life saver. It lets me sleep a bit better at night and also is reusable from year to year.
The posts I use are old pipes which are also from the dump. They dont rot and are free. So, my suggestion is to take a stroll to the dump. Never know what you might find.
Douglas

2/14/2005 4:27:41 PM

Edmonton, Canada

I've heard that hanging some human hair in nylon stockings seems to work. However, you have to replace the hair from time to time to keep the scent.

I hope you're not bald!

2/14/2005 5:49:41 PM

Roanoke Il

Put the fence on a 45 degree angle, deer have no depth preception 6 foot fence 4 feet high on a 45 degree angle will keep the deer out. hope this helps mark

2/14/2005 5:59:27 PM

Eau Claire, WI

I needed a 6 ft chainlink fence to keep them out of my garden.

2/14/2005 6:30:26 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

We have an old lady that lives up by the lake. Who strings old fishing line in the bushes and small trees surrounding her daylillys. She swears by it. Otherwise a fence or a dog are your only options.

2/14/2005 6:44:52 PM

Hanover,Ontario,Canada

Come on guys the real remedy comes from the dept. of Ag in NY State. Hanging sheets of dryer fabric softener Bounce keeps them away. It must be the smell. Dave

2/14/2005 7:03:53 PM

Gilbertsville PA

try putting some of your urine around the outside of your patch deer dont like it

2/14/2005 7:16:40 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

I've been using the 7'tall deer fencing, light mesh approx 1" squares with good results last couple years. Tried the sprays and soaps and hair etc w/o any luck. Finally resorted to electric fencing for the woodchuck factor this past season with great results, and it wasn't that expensive as I've only got a two plant patch, approx 1200 sq.ft. , and the whole garden is about twice that size.
Thinkin' about going totally electric and removing the perimeter fence thats burried 1ft, which will mean adding another electric line about deer chest height. Good luck!

2/14/2005 7:28:26 PM

caro mi.

I like Dave McCallums idea about the bounce fabric , and also smittys idea about human hair . add a scarecrow with these and you got a pretty good deterent . deer have to eat, but above all they trust their nose ! Dan

2/14/2005 7:53:00 PM

canal winchester ohio

The hair & urine doesn't work, I've placed my hair & urine around the perimeter of my property & the neighbors still come around......ooopps....wrong topic....sorry.

2/14/2005 8:07:27 PM

[email protected]

The best repellent I've ever used was Vapor-Gard, Thiram Fungicide & Miller's Hot Sauce all mixed together in a disgusting white smelly mess. The Vaporgard keeps the mess from washing off. But a mixture like this would surely damage & might even kill the AGs. It's the best there is for conifers & such though.

2/14/2005 8:19:55 PM

Butler,PA([email protected])

I like Dave McCallum's idea also. To compliment that and help it last longer, buy several bars of plain old Ivory Soap. Remove the wrapper and drill a hole through it. Using a string, make a Christmas tree like ornament and hang them around around the patch. Idea #2 is an inexpensive fence. But a yard light is required. Using a 1/2 inch wide mylar tape, surround the patch with this like a fence. The tape must have a few twists in it(like an auger). The light and a small breeze reflects an image to simulate a larger movement that what is actually there. 2 strands should be used. One at 12 inches off the ground(for small critters) and one at 48 inches off the ground. The yard light completes the process for nightime. The mylar tape is rather inexpensive and anything can be used as a post. Anybody looking for a mylar tape source, please email.
Chip.

2/14/2005 9:00:29 PM

caro mi.

Hey paul , are you like doing scrapes around your teritory there ? because if you are , this will draw the females in the neighbor hood , to find out your breeding qaulity`s . thats fine as long as theres not a bigger buck in the neighbor hood !!! ...........lol Dan

2/14/2005 10:09:52 PM

Grandfield Oklahoma

Have you heard of deer in the freezer

2/14/2005 10:48:22 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Nah deer are no problem...Let's start small..nematodes, fusaria,dampening off, cuke beetles, Squash vine borers, slugs, Powdery mildew, mosaic virus, wind , hail, no rain, to much rain...when you get through all this then I worry about the deer and wood chuck...hey what me worry???....LOL.. Pumpkin growers are like Boston fans...errr Chicago fans...LOL...We start em in wind breaks then take them down because the powdery mildew will set if we leave em up...we heat the soil to get em going then shade em cause they get to hot..water em everyday so they don't dry out and complain when it rains cause it's to wet..
I just love it!!!!!!! Grow Em Big! Chuck

2/14/2005 11:02:26 PM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

I've been growing pumpkins at my place in michigan for 5 years. There are a lot of deer and I have never had one eat a plant or pumpkin while it was in the patch.I don't use anything to keep them away. The mian thing is that I plant white clover in the back of my poperty to give them something more desireable to eat.They also like green beans in the early season.Steve

2/15/2005 6:20:06 AM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

Oh I forgot something.After you feed them I like the bow and arrow and gun idea. They can't eat pumpkins if you eat them. lol. Steve

2/15/2005 6:22:44 AM

Sheridan . NY

Fish --neptunes harvest deer dont like it-- sell a lot of it to city folks in winter deer eat there bushes--- craig

2/15/2005 6:26:04 AM

Ohio

1320, Night time feeding huh? Spot Light and 300 weatherby out the window works well also. Deer jerky is good that time of the year.

*please note this stunt should only be done by professional and should never be done at home,please check with your parents first,this could cause serious Fines and possable imprisonment,maybe even loss of a eye. We recommend you never try this stunt.

2/15/2005 6:52:37 AM

Western Pa.

I have deer and they have never ruined my season. (I use no fence, either!) A "program" , including many of those listed above seems to work best. Deer have preferences, but when they are hungry, will eat almost anything. In June, they like to eat new, young leaves on the edges of the patch. A little cayenne powder sprinkled on these leaves will usually send them looking for something else. I've used dog hair, urine,soap,clover plantings, which all may help to a degree. I also have 2 large dogs. The company that makes "hot pepper wax" is nearby, they have experimented with their product and fish and seaweed extract added to their product (and other things),the deer seemed to "get used to it" after a while, seems like the best program is to alternate several deterrents. They ARE rather tasty, also!

2/15/2005 9:29:29 AM

Waquoit Mass

got some great venison recipes

2/15/2005 9:49:21 AM

Indiana

Dave send me your recipes
Steve

2/15/2005 12:00:53 PM

I have two dogs and the deer don't come into the yard too much. Give them a distraction, like 50 pounds of shell corn every few days, placed about 300 yards away from the patch. Works at my house!

2/15/2005 12:36:17 PM

huntsburg,ohio

i have lots of deer some mighty fine bucks too.Have no problem in summertime with them you just need too have something planted around they like better.Now in the winter they love my rye.Jerry

2/15/2005 8:37:38 PM

North Smithfield, RI USA

Deer jump 6 " fences with ease ! If you have apple tree or Oaks they'll go for apples and acorns first !

2/16/2005 5:57:17 PM