Repellents Many times a particular odor or taste repels deer. It must be fresh to be effective. There are many   Commercial and Non-Commercial remedies that can be used to keep away deer. We have included some of these in this article. Steps to Prevent Deer Damage

There are a number of techniques for preventing deer access, some more effective than others. If you want to use a barrier, a fence is recommended. However, fences are expensive and may not be practical for small areas. Please follow the link below to learn about the different types of fences that are effective in preventing deer from visiting your gardens and yards.

Deer Resistant Plants

Plants can not only beautify your yard and increase your enjoyment of nature but they can also serve as a natural repellent to deer. We have compiled a listing of suggested plants that you may consider growing if you are troubled with deer on your property. This does not mean that deer on your property will not eat them but they will be less likely to do so. The list should be considered as a general guide and was gathered by The Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife and by gardeners and landscape professional who have accumulated them over the years.

Fences

The most effective way to keep deer out of small areas is with a double woven wire fence at least 7 to 8 feet high. The fence must be high to be effective. The most effective fence to keep deer from accessing acreage of gardens and orchards is an electric fence. The electric fence is designed to surprise anything that touches the fence. An electric fence provides very low voltage and is not designed to cause injury to humans or animals. This approach is used when other remedies have been unsuccessfully attempted and you are willing to incur additional expense. There are a number of different electric fences.

The following are a few examples of electric fences:

Bait and Shock
This fence is relatively inexpensive. It is recommended to wrap something that the deer like to smell (i.e., peanut butter) in flaps of aluminum foil. Hang the flap with adhesive tape inches apart from a 4-foot high electric fence. The smell should attract the deer and have them touch the aluminum foil. The shock should deter them from entering the fence. This fence is relatively inexpensive. It is recommended to wrap something that the deer like to smell (i.e., peanut butter) in flaps of aluminum foil.
Hang the flap with adhesive tape inches apart from a 4-foot high electric fence. The smell should attract the deer and have themtouch the aluminum foil. The shock should deter them from entering the fence. The electric fence is only used a couple of weeks in the beginning of the spring and fall. The bait and shock technique should train the deer to stay away from the fence.

Chicken Wire:
If you have chicken wire around your garden, but the deer continues to enter your garden, add a single-strand electric fence in front. The chicken wire should be at a minimum 4 feet high. Set a single strand of wire 3 feet from the chicken wire and approximately 2 ½ feet tall. The assumption is that the deer would have trouble jumping over the chicken wire with a single strand wire in front.

New Hampshire Three-Wire Fence
This is recommended for an area of approximately 10-15 acres with a few deer around gardens or orchards. This fence consists of an inner and outer fence with three electric wires. The outer fence is set with a 15 and 36 inch high strand. The inner fence is 36 inches inside with another strand set 27 inches high. The inner fence should have three additional strands from approximately 5-20 inches high. This will control the access of deer as well as rabbits and other small animals.

Seven-Wire Fence
This is recommended for small to medium size areas (more than 10-15 acres) with low to moderate deer problems. This is a vertical fence with a strand beginning at approximately 8 inches high. The strands should be designed approximately 8-10 inches apart and to a minimum height of at least 4 feet.

Commercial Repellents Big Game Repellent (Deer Away): This repels by odor made from eggs that only deer can smell and lasts up to two months, even in the rain.It should not be used on edible crops and is EPA registered. It may be purchased at Agway. Bonide Rabbit-Deer Repellent and Bulb Saver This repels by taste. Use this repellent for shrubs, evergreens, trees, and fruit trees by spraying, brushing,or dipping the branches. It will last three to six months. This can is available from the Bonide Chemical Company, 2 Wurz Ave., Yorkville, NY 13495. Telephone Number 315-736-8231 or 800-424-9300.

Chew-Not:
This repels by taste. Use this repellent on fruit trees and some evergreens by spraying, brushing,or dipping the branches.
This repellents disadvantage is that it leaves a white residue on the plants due to its egg white consistency. This is available from the Nott Mfg. Co., P.O. Box 685, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569. Telephone #: 914-635-3243.

Hinder:
This repels by odor from a soap-based formula. It must be reapplied after heavy rains. Recommended in the summer months.The Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife recommends this repellent. If you go to their facility, they will provide you one free sample. They can be reached at 908-735-8793. This repellent can be purchased at Agway.

Bobbex:
Use this repellent on ornamental plants and flowers. It is long lasting, non-burning, and leaves no harmful residue. Withstands rain and normal hosing. Deer repellent and plant nutrient. This repellent can be found in Agway.

Non-Commercial Repellents

Soap: String bars of deodorant soap on wire and hang them on outer tree branches. Leave the wrapper on the soap to last longer. Soap is best for the orchard or newly planted trees. Eggs: Use this as a spray, mixing 18 eggs in 5 gallons of water. The smell is too faint for humans, yet deer will be repelled by the smell.

Hot Sauce Spray:
Use this as a spray mixing 1 to 2 tablespoons of Tabasco sauce and 2 tablespoons anti-desiccant in one gallon of water. Reapply after it rains.

Hair:
Use approximately two large handfuls of human hair. Hang the hair in a 1/8 inch or less mesh (i.e., nylon stocking) and place it on the outer tree branches.

Some of the other products that are used as Deer Repellents that do not use animal products include Ro-pel, Deer-Off and Mole-Med.

Products to Avoid

Many stores carry products made out of animal urine. Not only is it ineffective but the collection of urine from animals is also often a cruel process. Animals used in urine collection are housed in "urine collection farms" where they are crammed into small filthy cages with no bedding to lie on or to protect their feet from cage wire floors. The urine is collected on trays beneath their cages. Stores such as
K-Mart, Hechinger, HQ and Builders Square have banned the sale of Fox Urine in their stores. Unfortunately it is still sold in Sporting stores because the hunters use it to attract deer and other animals. This is usually sold in the form of deer urine.

Additional Information

Please visit the following links for additional information:

Integrating Deer Damage Management by Individuals
Sources for Wildlife Damage Control Materials
Deer Control in Home Gardens

For a listing of our Deer Resistant Plants please click here
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