Wow this looks fun!

I live in deer country, and I'm petrified that deer are going to destroy my hard work this season.

I have a pretty decent fence already in place, but its not bulletproof. Anyone have any luck using something like this guy's setup in order to scare deer (and other animals I'd assume) off?

I would hate my neighbors if they did something like that.

I expect the deer will get used to it, eventually.

No one's around me, so that's not a problem.

I think the deer would get used to it eventually, BUT my attempt this year is to set up lots of different things to deter deer.

So maybe this won't keep deer away all by itself, but this along with several other things will...

What's worked for me is a lot of small fenced areas.

I think I'd like to rig up something like that to alert the watchdog to intruders snooping around the barn. While a light going on wouldn't wake him up, the radio blaring surely would. Great idea!

I have an LGD. No deer would dare come in the yard even if they found out there was yummy stuff here to eat.

The key to prevent garden predation from deer is to use one of two things, fear or barriers. FENCING:
Most deer cannot exceed 8 foot vertical leap - assumimg they are not jumping DOWNHILL. The choice then is either go wide or tall,visual perception of a barrier is all that is required, no heavy duty physical barrier fence is needed for deer.

The simplest way to accomplish this is with "bird netting" (thin monofilament black mesh) zap strapped to thin stakes - bamboo or the like - as you would provide for runner beans. This can also be used to extend an existing fence to greater height.

Alternatively is the option of a WIDE barrier of lower height, but 5-7 feet wide. This could be as simple as brush piled to form a berm or poles/saplings elevated 1-2 feet of the ground extending out 5-7 feet (more if jump is downhill, less if jump is uphill).

FEAR:
Dog patrol is generally effective, although it would require an alert dog who would frighten but not chase deer.

From both the school of "old wives tales" and new innovation are the following suggestions their users swear by:

1) "marking their turf" with urine, dog hair (from groomer) or human hair from a salon.

2) there is a large contingent who use fresh bars of "Irish Spring" soap suspended in nylon stockings every few feet.

3)suspended mylar strips/CD's/DVD's - supposedly the rotating/flashingfrightens the deer.

4) predator urine

5) a motion activated water cannon called a Scarecrow.

6) most recently I saw the use of air tube clowns (can't remember what they are called - huge tube of fabric with face and dangly arms periodically shot with compressed air so it is always dancing - used at car lots etc). It was extremely effective eliminating unwanted sea lions basking on docks.

They key is either frighten the deer, or exclude them. Each garden is unique so each gardener has to figure out what best suits their landscape...hope this helps.

In our garden, we tend to avoid planting anything that's deer "candy". The garden is fenced only on two sides by four strands of barbed wire. I refer to it as " the fence that keeps only ME out", as I have to walk around it to enter, where others can jump over (deer) or slip under (rabbits, groundhogs). As for a taller or impenetrable type of fence, my partner said he'd rather not have to look at a big fence that blocks his view of the garden.

I've been wondering, as someone who loves fishing, would deer stay away from the sound of braided fishing line? On the boat, whenever we have a rod in the holder that has braid on it, it makes a high pitched / low volume "singing" sound when the wind hits it. Maybe a strand could be added to my four strands of wire. I wouldn't put it on the top or bottom because I wouldn't want to decapitate anything running to jump or duck under.

Think it might work?

Karen Layne wrote:I've been wondering, as someone who loves fishing, would deer stay away from the sound of braided fishing line? On the boat, whenever we have a rod in the holder that has braid on it, it makes a high pitched / low volume "singing" sound when the wind hits it. Maybe a strand could be added to my four strands of wire. I wouldn't put it on the top or bottom because I wouldn't want to decapitate anything running to jump or duck under.

Think it might work?

Have you seen fishing line fences?

Jesse,
Thanks for that video, I actually watched several you had there. This guy used 4 strands of 30 lb test monofilament, I can't imagine though what it could look like if a doe being chased by a buck or any deer being chased by my dog hit those lines doing 20+ MPH. Instant venison steaks? It still scares me too much. (Sorry for the mental picture.)