RE: Keeping deer out of a newly planted plot?
 

aversion tactics like the bag fence and pie plates may work well. Couple things to think about: how long do you need it to work?

There is alot of research to suggest that scare tactics only work for a certain amount of time. Typically they figure out pretty soon that the scary noisy things aren't a threat. Also researchers have found that when food supplies are low, just about nothing will stop them from getting into your plot.

But try it and see how it works. Good luck!

RE: Keeping deer out of a newly planted plot?
 

I'm with the "1/2 acre isn't enough" crowd.

An excellent rule of thumb to consider - is 1 acre of high protein crop (like clover for instance) will support the protien needs of 3 deer for one year.

A 1/2 acre in the middle of a 100 acre woods (for example) is an attraction plot at best, and if that's what your planting it for, wait till Sept, and plant an annual or clover/annual mix.

Don't get fooled into thinking that 1/2 acre of a food source can change/effect the health of your deer herd.

RE: Keeping deer out of a newly planted plot?
 

Your right Farm Hunter, 1/2 acre will probably not be enough to support a deer herd but if 1/2 acre is all you have it's better than nothing. I've got 1/2 acre plots that work well in conjunction with my overall management project. The problem Adams has is, he has planted a product that is very attractive and he could get serious overgrazing. If so, add to the field in the fall and continue to add until the overgrazing is eliminated.

RE: Keeping deer out of a newly planted plot?
 

A couple of years ago I tried pie plates tied with a length of string to electric fence post in a Buck Forage Oats 1 1/4 acre patch and I don't think the deer paid the pie plates any attention. They ate the young oats off and pulled a number of them up, right up to the post. I didn't have but about 15 pie plates in the patch, so maybe I should have put a few more out.

RE: Keeping deer out of a newly planted plot?
 

Some of these comments about 1 acre feeding only 3 deer per year may be the situation where there is little or no other forage. On my land there is a variety of other forage and the deer seem to feed a great deal on various greens, Honeysuckle, Cat Claws, various grasses, etc. My clover don't see much use when these other plants are in their green, tender stage, and when the acorns drop, forget that clover. 25 deer in my hayfield the other day. In My Clover? No. On the other side of the field, eating grasses and other rouffage. I'm not sure, but I think they might have been eating the wild onions. Deer are just like us, they like variety. (Now, if I could only grow a plot of nothing but mushrooms.)

Russ

RE: Keeping deer out of a newly planted plot?
 

That pie plate Idea will work no more than a week. All I had to do was look at my fatherinlaws swiss chard and brocolli that never made more that 2 inches out of the ground in his garden last year. You can put out all the dirty shirts you want, under the cloke of darkness the deer are ravenous eating machines.

RE: Keeping deer out of a newly planted plot?
 

Thanks for all who replied. It sounds as though I may be fighting a loosing battle though.
I've planted all the avaiable land that will get enough light to grow. I'm also thinking about adding a 30.06 mineral lick to help the deer out some as well. The plot I planted is located just off a major travel route. The town it is in is very quickly becomeing suburbia from the rural town I grew up in. I own about 3.5 acres which is split by a creek botton and the deer are forced through the "bottle neck" due to increased land development on all sides of me.
I like the idea of thinning the does. There is an extended archery season that allows me to take an extra buck and as many doe as I willing to buy tags for. This may be a good option for this fall. Although I had two resident doe in the creek bottom last fall I believe the majority of the deer are just passing through the aera.
Hopefully if nothing more it will keep the deer out of the vegetable garden.
Thanks again for your suggestions,
Chuck

RE: Keeping deer out of a newly planted plot?
 

adams,
you can do everything you want with a periodic round bale of alfalfa hay. More deer and more high protein food for them. Ask around for a farmer to bring it to you for a few bucks more. Unroll a big round bale and deer will devour it. Also you'll see the turkeys come too for the great scratching. This way you'll guarantee the crop to be there whether the deer or drought destroy your plantings.

RE: Keeping deer out of a newly planted plot?
 

Hello everyone, Love this forum. I have been studing it quite sometime. And have gained valuable info. I figured it was about time to jump in with both feet. So here I is!
Im in North Carolina and have a small(45acre) farm in Wilkes County NC. Last year we had a major problem with CROWS! Thats right. We strip plant our fields clover in between the plantings. We plant Corn on the outside edges of the field(gives the deer security). But last year we had to plant corn 3 different times. And still the CROWS mauled it. So this year,actually this weekend I went up to plant. And it rained the whole time so hopefully I will get back this week. For the crows I think I have the problem solved. I have to plant soybeans about 4-5 times a year. The deer kill them when they get about 2" tall. So Im going to sow the beans, Then go back over where I sowed the beans and plant the corn. My thinking is this will keep the corn "kinda" shielded from the crows. Then later on when I cultivate the corn,I will sow soy beans (by hand) all through the corn,culitvate it and wa-la... Thats all we planting this stuff for is the critters. The deer are dogging the Imperial clover we plant. It never gets over 8-10" tall. Hope to have some phots online before long. Take care all,Teddy

RE: Keeping deer out of a newly planted plot?
 

Who told you this?

In NY it would be illegal and a death sentence to a wintering herd to feed hay - especially an overpopulated herd. Maybe things are different in Oklahoma (not as much browse, etc).

adams - you are NOT fighting a losing battle - whether you know it or not, many of your neighbors maybe asking the same questions, and possibly already planting plots, increasing doe harvests, and thinking more in terms of QDM. You should ask around. Even a "patchwork" of participating properties can hace a serious effect, but all must agree on some fundemental managament goals.

Popgunwill - I understood the question, but i wasn't very clear in my answer. I feel - that a 1/2 acre of even, marginal food source will be overbrowsed, it does little good to restrict the deer from access to it till hunting season - it certaintly doesn't "help" the deer heard by not allowing them to eat it until hunting season?? I could see how it might help a managment program to harvest more deer - but my point is it would be ALOT cheaper and easier to plant a kill plot of Winter wheat, buck forage oats or Rye in Late August - and get the same result.

Again - even with a bumper crop on 1/2 acre - you can not effect the overall health of the herd as whole. Thats not my opinion, its just fact and it would be irresponsible for those of us that know better to say anything less. I'm not saying that there is no sense in planting small plots - I'm saying lets be honest and realistic about our goals and limitations.