Other than an electric fence what’s a good deer deterrent for foods plots that you guys have have good/decent success with?
I’ve been looking into the plot saver that you spray scent onto to repel deer, I have an electric fence on one plot, but looking to do a cheaper alternative for couple more 1-2 acre plots on the property.
Thanks.
Other than a true exclosure nothing will keep deer out if they want in. Even a Gallagher-style fence relies on psychological factors not a physical barrier. If deer really want in, they have the means to get there. With the Gallagher-style (properly constructed) they usually don't. All of the other stuff has varying degrees of effectiveness. It is largely dependent on the local deer density and alternative foods available at the time. In most cases, if you have high deer densities, an attractive plot, and few alternative quality food sources, and you "protect" a portion of your plot with plotsaver, deer will first wipe out the plot outside the fence and then wipe out what is inside the fence.
In many cases, timing is an issue. Warm season annuals like soybeans are highly attractive. They are very vulnerable at an early stage of growth. More vigorous varieties like forage beans grow a bit faster and are more resistant to browsing but even they are vulnerable at an early stage of growth. In many areas warm season annuals are also competing with summer weeds. So, they are stressed by more than just browsing.
One year I planted a lot of RR Eagle Forage beans. Gly helped with the weed competition. I protected a small section with a Gallagher-style fence. I planted about 5 acres that year. Deer could not kill most of the eagle beans, but they kept them naked all summer and eventually grasses and other weeds infiltrated the field. I kept the fence up until the beans inside canopied. At this point, they were well established and ahead of the deer. My deer immediately browsed them heavily but could not eat them as fast as they could produce new growth. By fall they were 6' tall.
My point here is this. Things like plotsaver are not very effective compared to a Gallagher-style fence, but, depending on your particular situation they may be effective enough if you get the timing right. They key is getting the particular crop you are planting established enough to resist browsing and shade out weeds. But, odds are you will be disappointed with the results.
Thanks,
Jack