Deer Control for Homeowners

Homeowners can erect fences to keep deer off land most effectively. This is typically the most expensive option as well, and may conflict with Council regulations or clash with landscape design. A small parcel of land, however, such as a vegetable garden, can be protected from deer by relatively inexpensively with wire fencing attached to 2 meter posts. An electric fence is another permanent option to keep deer away. Electric fences are less expensive and are just as effective; however, they do require regular maintenance but have the great advantage of beeing very portable and may be moved regularly. For best results they should be constructed before serious damage occurs and must be kept electrified at all times. Researchers have had success using a three-wire electric fence baited with aluminium foil strips attached at 5-10 foot intervals. The ends of the strips are smeared with peanut butter for bait When the deer lick the bait, they get a tickle that warns them off the fence.

Many people attempt to scare deer away with fright techniques such as music, loud noises, and lights associated with motion detectors, scarecrows, gas exploders and gun shots. Such methods may keep deer away for a few days while a crop is harvested, but deer get used to scare techniques within a few days. Property owners need to take care using these devices near neighbours or in areas with noise ordinances.
Deer can be repelled with materials that make plants taste bad, smell bad, or both.

The success of this common method of running off deer depends on how many deer are threatening the plants, and how plentiful other food choices may be. Applying repellents, which include ammonia, bar soap, human hair, and hot sauce, before deer begin to eat plants works best, and the safety of the repellent needs to be verified before it is applied to fruit-bearing plants. These are very transient and have to be replenished after every rainfall