Will somebody please kill bambi?

[wdfifteen]

Last year they nearly ruined my apple trees. This spring they munched their way through the strawberries.
Last night - arghh! The early sweet corn was about 5 days from being ready to eat. Last night a gang of deer stomped through the corn patch and ate every ear of nearly-ripe corn. At first I thought it might have been raccoons, but the deer left their footprints. The next batch of corn is about two weeks away from being ripe.

[bmcuscgr94]

Careful you don't want PETA after you.

We gave up a couple of years ago and put up deer fence around the garden (50' X 150'). Now the problem is gophers. I can't tell from your photo how big your corn patch is, so fencing may not be an option. Deer don't seem to be interested in our 17 acres of walnuts. Ground squirrels and gophers are the problem there.

[bkreigsr]

Couple of these (4) strategically place around the yard did the trick for me.
This year, so far, my tender veggies are still intact.

https://www.ebay.com/p/2-PAck-Solar-Powered-Predator-LED-Eye-Pro-Night-Wild-Animal-Repeller/2283093579?thm=1000

Bill K

[Tobra]

Go to a hunting/fishing shop and get some urine from a predator, like a fox or wolf. Also, mark it yourself, if you get my meaning.

[Seahawk]

Get a Minivan, drive it fast on rural roads...catnip to deer.

Problem solved

There is really no one answer other than layered defense...the suggestions above are excellent.

I do not know what the laws are where you are, or the lay out of your property, but I allow hunters to set up stands and hunt my farm. You can even specify bow or shotgun only. I vet everyone.

There is a crazy amount of deer here.

[island911]

LOL ^

Self driving cars needed.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

....

Funny lookin' deer tracks . They are thriving here...have been for a loooong time. Kiss yer corn adios...

Set out a trail cam or two...you might be shocked at how many your little parsdise supports....at least 20 munching at our trees....groups of 2-3...like clockwork. They don't range far (1 mi. radius)...yer buffet is tasty...they'll be back .

[Sooner or later]

Deer tracks?

[BK911]

Get an outdoor dog.
Mine chased away (or ate) every deer, possum, coon, squirrel, bear, etc..
I have found deer carcasses on my porch.
One pooch is a Rhodesian Ridgeback, so no lion issues either!

[KFC911]

I think my Lab pup just thinks they belong in her yard...just 20' below her as she lounged on my deck last week...one even went to check the mailbox . They don't seem to mind the local fox either....

[arcsine]

Reintroduce natural predators; wolves, cougars, mountain lions, coyotes and accept that they will do a much better job of controlling the population than we ever could.

[Scott Douglas]

Best gopher killer I've used yet. Fought 'em for years in our garden with gopher bombs, water down the holes, etc etc to no avail. Finally bought this pack of gum. Two sticks is all it took. Haven't seen hide nor hair of them since.

My experience with deer is limited to what I dealt with up on the vineyard. A very tall fence is what kept them out.

[stevej37]

On any given morning, I can see 8-15 deer out behind my house. They leave the garden and shrubs alone in the summer because they have plenty of other food. In the dead of winter, they will come into the yard and strip all the arborvitaes all the way up to the house.

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by arcsine

Reintroduce natural predators; wolves, cougars, mountain lions, coyotes and accept that they will do a much better job of controlling the population than we ever could.

Then the cattle ranchers will complain...

[Evans, Marv]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Best gopher killer I've used yet. Fought 'em for years in our garden with gopher bombs, water down the holes, etc etc to no avail. Finally bought this pack of gum. Two sticks is all it took. Haven't seen hide nor hair of them since.

My experience with deer is limited to what I dealt with up on the vineyard. A very tall fence is what kept them out.

Scott. I tried the gum thing & it didn't work at all. I also tried the poison bait down the gopher holes. They pushed the bait up on top of the dirt they pushed out of the holes. There are a couple of good comments about deer prevention here.

[Icemaster]

https://www.amazon.com/Orbit-62100-Activated-Sprinkler-Detection/dp/B009F1R0GC/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=orbit+62100&qid=1561660716&s=lawn-garden&sr=1-3

Solved it for me. I also water my plants using personal reserves from time to time. Neighbors love me.

[Ziggythecat]

Bought one of these, but haven't had the heart to use it...yet.

[arcsine]

Originally Posted by WolfeMacleod

Then the cattle ranchers will complain...

And that is unavoidable.
I've learned one thing over the years and that is regardless of any solution proposed to any problem, someone will complain about something.
Sorry but nature always demands that you are willing to take some bad with the good.

[Rinty]

Originally Posted by BK911

One pooch is a Rhodesian Ridgeback, so no lion issues either!

I had two of them.

In Africa they also use them to keep the baboons out of the orchards.

They're pretty tough dogs, with great dispositions.

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by arcsine

And that is unavoidable.
I've learned one thing over the years and that is regardless of any solution proposed to any problem, someone will complain about something.
Sorry but nature always demands that you are willing to take some bad with the good.

Correct

We have invaded their territory, offer them up a buffet and then we get upset if they take us up on the offer.

We don't get mad at the house dog of he eats the t bone we place on the floor.