I was reading a piece on the results of several (past) deer-repelling experiments regarding different types of "deer repellant" that were tested in some areas that I have hunted.

What I found interesting was the successful results when using various compounds that contained certain chemicals, foods, or food by-products that many of us use or eat e.g. vegetable oil; lemon extract; oleoresin of capsicum (hot peppers), eggs, citrus, garlic, onions, fatty acids, fish, vanilla, etc.

The question is: Is it the combination of certain ingredients that creates a particular odor or taste that can (possibly) repel deer, or can the odor or taste of a single ingredient be the main repellent?

All I know is that I am not going to make it a major concern. In fact, after reading about all the foods and spices that are involved I got powerful hungry and now have go fry several eggs, some chopped tomatoes browned in a batter, some sautéed onions, a pile of fresh cut potatoes, 2 or 3 jalapeno peppers, and a cup of hot and strong black coffee.

http://www.walnutcouncil.org/deer_repellent_study.htm

Don't forget the GARLIC...

And if you'd throw in some wild leeks you'd be particularly offensive.

I wonder if a pre-hunt breakfast of mush made with acorn flour would work?

I don't know how much smellier (is that a word?) certain foods make you but I have heard of some people actually being vegetarian for a certain ammount of time before hunting season. They say that by doing this the body does not produce offensive odors that will spook game.

It makes sence, I guess, but meat tastes too good for me to experiment with it.

Back in the early 80's High Times magazine had some articles on Deer repellants. I don't remember what they were though![]

Are you sure that wasn't "High Tines"?

[8D] Oh boy! What can I say.

I have a big problem with deer on my acreage. To keep them out of the garden I use a 4 strand electric fence. Two years ago I got a garbage bag full of human hair from the local barber shop. Cut up some nylon stockings and ended up making hair balls and hanging them from the new trees I had planted. It must have worked because I didn't suffer any damage. This past year I was too busy and didn't use the human hair. I lost 3 small fruit trees and a blue spruce to unseen bucks creating rubs.[>:] Put the hair back up, and no more deer.

Just my finding on the matter.