Non lethal rounds for deer

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brighamr

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somewhere between utah and canada
I have a serious problem. There are literally 80+ deer that make my canyon their home. While I normally don't mind, they have discovered my garden :)

now I have two large vocal dogs who hang out in my backyard (garden is on the side yard). They will get within 5 feet of the deer, and the deer will just keep eating!

I've tried firecrackers, bottle rockets, shotgun shells (pointed in a different direction), etc and these deer are just plain belligerant. One of the bottle rockets exploded about 4 feet away from the herd, and yes they looked at it and continued their eating.

For now, the only thing that works is me running through the garden yelling and waving a broom, but when it snows (like it is right now) it'd be awefully nice to touch off a few round from under the covered porch.

any suggestions? I've looked at the exotic shotgun slugs, and while they might work they seem very expensive and these deer don't care about noise.

I'm considering some bean bag loads or something. Ideas?
 
A pellet gun seems a little inhumane.

They will bury a .177 pellet in a deer out to 75 yards or so, and leave them a festering wound.

Some reports indicate blood meal works. Others say it doesn't.

Here are some other ideas:

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/deercontrol.html#scadev

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/natres/06520.html

http://icwdm.org/handbook/mammals/Deer.asp

In the end though, once deer find your garden, you're screwed! :what:

(Unless you want to build a 10 foot fence around it.)

rcmodel
 
rcmodel- thanks for those links!

It's funny, we have 9 foot corral panels for our hay shed, the deer went under the bottom row... after we boarded that up, I swear to you they cleared the top bar!

I'm thinking paintball gun may be the answer. It'll be pretty hilarious though when the warden shows up to ask about all the neon blue deer :)
 
Okay, if you do the paintball gun... PLEASE take pictures and post them!

I have got to see this.
 
Better yet invite a few friends over with paintball guns, get all decked out in camo and go "hunt" the deer while someone video tapes it. Post the video on YouTube as a PETA hunting video...
 
This sounds like something an airsoft or paint ball gun would solve. Start out with the airsoft gun and see if they get the message(a "springer" rifle costs like $40), if not, go for a paint ball gun(ammo and marker are more expensive than airsoft guns and ammo).
 
80+ deer means you have an over abundant deer herd. They are just hungry. If you don't want to cull the herd then just plant extra for them to eat.
 
Not being judgmental, but would it be legal for you to kill them where you are? Damage to your crops are legal grounds for culling the herd in a lot of States.
 
I have a serious problem. There are literally 80+ deer that make my canyon their home. While I normally don't mind, they have discovered my garden
Click to expand...

Think of the bright side:Thousands of us in THR land would love to be living next to your garden and the deer,including yours truly.
Snow on April 23rd?Sounds like heaven.
 
You need a suppressor and a pistol or carbine with a threaded barrel...

Hey, meat ain't cheap. If the deer like to frolic around the top of the food chain, it's time you knock them back down a few links.












.... Just don't get caught :D
 
Could you get permission from your state's game commission to cull the herd a bit?
 
I would be careful using a real gun, even with "less than lethal" ammo.

You could still be accused of hunting out of season etc.
 
I would cull the herd if I could, but my two freezers are already full and I don't want to get into any problems with F&G. Besides, it's just a small garden, not like I own a farm and the deer are taking my livelyhood. (In that case I could see culling)

Truth be told, i like the deer. They eat all the weeds around the driveway and when hunting season comes I can sit on my porch and take my pick. I just wish they'd eat all the grass up the canyon and not my lawn LOL! (When the snow melts I'm sure their habits will change)

TexasRifleman - thanks for the advice. Didn't think of that.

We'll see about the paintball idea, if I go that route I'll get some videos for you guys.
 
Deer

Put up an electric fence. One wire at 20” and one wire at 40”. Put strips of aluminum foil on the wire every 4 feet. Make them hang down about 3”. Put peanut butter on the foil. Once they try the peanut butter they stay away. It worked for my corn last year. After I took the corn out and turned the fence off they tore the fence up. Good luck! Let us know how you do.

Willis
 
Uhmmm, venison and fresh vegetables.

Nuisance deer can be a real problem, and you may have to try 3-4 things suggested before you find the right cure. Alternatively you could invite a bunch of us for opening day of deer season, won't help this year but maybe next year would be better.:)
 
hair

Go to the local barber shop and collect some hair from what he cuts and spread it around on the ground where the deer are feeding.Its free and it will keep them away.My grandpa used to do it in and around his garden.Trust me, it works:)
 
fire ants

no... just kidding.

Paintball gun would likely get you in some serious trouble.

how about just a slingshot and those rubber balls you can get a gross of at a party store for cheap. Like the ones kids would get out of a dispenser at the local supermarket for a quarter.

or, some kevlar gloves, kerosene, and some tennis balls. Douse the ball in the kerosene, light, and throw (wearing fire-proof gloves). You don't hit them, but throw them near them. I'll bet it would scare them away.

That's how I juggle fire balls - so I know it works. Of course, if you live in a dry fire-prone area, this would be a bad idea.
 
Truth be told, i like the deer. They eat all the weeds around the driveway and when hunting season comes I can sit on my porch and take my pick
Click to expand...

Sounds like a business opportunity to me:

1) Plant more food.
2) Come fall charge admission.
 
For now, the only thing that works is me running through the garden yelling and waving a broom,
Click to expand...

Suggestion, have someone take a video camera and film this act. And for Gods sake, put it on YOUTUBE for us brighamr!
 
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