scarecrow sprinkler deer repellentBefore applying a deer repellent, ask yourself these questions:
1.How many trees do I wish to protect?
2.Is cost a factor?
3.Do I have the time to apply the repellents?
4.Will I be satisfied with mixed results?
Sometimes it is better to try and understand the deer. Deer are basically lazy animals that often use the same trails or paths. Along these paths (deer runs) you usually notice the most deer damage on trees (buck rubs or browse damage.) It is also easy to notice if deer are bedding down in the plantation at night. Deer damage is usually severe here. Our experiment with deer fencing worked because deer did not bother to jump a 48-inch fence, although they could do so easily without any effort. It also worked because we fenced in a small area of trees. A larger area would be ineffective unless a taller fence would be installed (costly.) If you have a favorite tree to protect, we have had great success by enclosing the single tree with fence wire, forming a cylinder. This protects trees from deer rubs, but not browsing. If the tree branches reach 4 feet in height, this will be above the browse line and the problem is gone. The key is to get the tree above that height. Annual browsing forms “bushy” trees. Deer also tend to rub on smooth barked trees. Young trees of all species fall into this category. When trees mature and form rougher bark, buck rubbing usually stops, or if it does occur, it does not damage the inner bark.
scarecrow sprinkler deer repellentExamining the results of this study, taking into consideration cost, time involved, and effectiveness, the old stand-by Dial soap would be recommended. One problem we often heard was that soap does not last long on the tree. Ours is still hanging after two years. All you need to do is drill a hole and hang it with fishing line.
Everyone has his/her favorite stand-by deer repellent. We have been told to use human hair bags, sulphur/egg mixtures, large cat feces from a zoo, and even human urine. If nothing else, I hope this report will assist landowners with deer problems in their decisions if deer repellents are considered.
Read More: Visit source Before applying a deer repellent: deer repellent case study
I totally agree with your point about understanding deer behavior and deer trails. We used that knowledge to come up with our homemade
ReplyDeletedeer deterrent that has so far been 100% effective in keeping deer out of our two acre homestead despite very high populations in the surrounding area. It works by a combination of motion and sound, costs about $3 a year to run, and cost us only pennies to build. I hope it helps others too!