Will planting an acre or two of cover crops like clover or something help deter deer from eating my sweet corn, pumpkins, and new Xmas trees? Very small scale hobby farmer on 15 acres. Or would it attract more deer in the area if they haven't found my unintentional wildlife sanctuary already? Deer have decimated my break even profit margin and has gotten 10x worse after they clear cut several hundred acres across railroad tracks from my property.
fishheadbob
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Chances aren't good that a tasty cover crop will solve your problem. That has been tried many times. Many Christmas Tree farmers use two methods to deter deer; 8 to 10 foot fence, and that old standby lead. Problems are that good deer fencing is very expensive while lead takes a long time. Deer used to eat 3 to 4 thousand dollars worth of my Fraser Fir annually, and while a couple of blood thirsty hunters eventually resolved my particular problem I would have been ahead buying the fencing.
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jjeff
Elite Member
Checking with local contractors, township codes, looking at diy kits, taking preliminary measurements, Problaby get a survey of property line s and of course will check with my neighbors before I start construction of a pretty big project like this. Problaby next spring..the Deer have finally got to me. So I'm going nuclear, Especially if I get a older deep well in operation for more irrigation. Will I recover expenses? hopefully. On the meantime taking full advantage of tax right off for other income. Prices of trees, sweet corn and pumpkins will go up, along with actual hard work to maintain "hobby farm" Preliminary estimates are quite
pricy. However it's just as frustrating spending money on sweet corn, pumpkin seed and Xmas trees only to have deer treat my somewhat hard work as a open free for all buffet. I've grown to detest deer these days. The occasional hunter that asks and I allow to harvest deer on my unintentional wildlife sanctuary does little to curb problem I used to think deer shy away from the smell of there dead sure doesn't seem like it (I encourage hunters to leave there field dressing gut piles on property line" they must be a cannibalistic species lol Like I said deer have gotten 10x worse after clear cutting took place on property next to mine. 7-8' high fence is in my near future along with a steel or galvanized mesh around bottom buried a foot or two to prevent rodents encompassing 10 acres maybe more. My stubborn ways have finally got the best of me for hobby farming it used to be an enjoyable side hustle hobby.
pricy. However it's just as frustrating spending money on sweet corn, pumpkin seed and Xmas trees only to have deer treat my somewhat hard work as a open free for all buffet. I've grown to detest deer these days. The occasional hunter that asks and I allow to harvest deer on my unintentional wildlife sanctuary does little to curb problem I used to think deer shy away from the smell of there dead sure doesn't seem like it (I encourage hunters to leave there field dressing gut piles on property line" they must be a cannibalistic species lol Like I said deer have gotten 10x worse after clear cutting took place on property next to mine. 7-8' high fence is in my near future along with a steel or galvanized mesh around bottom buried a foot or two to prevent rodents encompassing 10 acres maybe more. My stubborn ways have finally got the best of me for hobby farming it used to be an enjoyable side hustle hobby.
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jjeff
Elite Member
Anyone have any luck with solar powered deer and other rodent repellant devices? For about 10 acres of tillable land Bought quite a few of various designs and reported effectiveness in a last ditch effort to not spend thousands on deer fence. I've came to the conclusion it won't be effective as a deer fence but hopefully losses will be tolerable. Like before the clear cutting took place. Figure it's at least worth a stubborn shot. I Put the word out to friends and family free use of land for deer hunting I deem as responsible hunters, hunter safety etc no shooting lanes in the direction of house or barn main road etc. no hunting thanksgiving week- Xmas eve. I'll gladly offer to use my tractor, nini ex as a temporary movable buck pole, and dragging deer to ones vehicle. Possibly pay for there initial and subsequent tags. Also figure I can't leave deer repellant devices on field perimeter permanently after growing season cuz I think the deer get so used to these devices it won't effect them. So sick of deer and other rodents eating my small scale once break even profits. Ultimate goal is to at least be able to double my sweet corn planting, successfully grow a acre or two of pumpkins, and successfully plant a few more acres of Xmas trees. Last night there was a small herd of deer on tree line seemed like they were eyeing down my new 200 irrigated Xmas trees I recently planted and I envisioned them licking there chops with anticipation of going to town on the freshly irrigated apparently delicious trees.
nybirdman
Super Member
Electric fence would be much cheaper.Low and high ,two layers of fence,four feet apart,.Raccoons and porcupines like corn too.
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jjeff
Elite Member
So last year which is subsequently the last year I planted sweet corn the deer ate corn directly off my roadside cart/stand 
. All I envisioned was the deer watching me tow that cart to the road acting like a dinner bell. I did quickly learn to tow my "food trough" back to the secure barn at night though definitely seemed to help curb harvested corn from being eaten. Wheels are definitely turning now thank you for the insight and experience.
. All I envisioned was the deer watching me tow that cart to the road acting like a dinner bell. I did quickly learn to tow my "food trough" back to the secure barn at night though definitely seemed to help curb harvested corn from being eaten. Wheels are definitely turning now thank you for the insight and experience.civilian
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Have you approached Michigan DNR? I think they may be able to help with some eradication (sp?) methods. Or to allow the property to be be open to a larger group of hunters to kind of control deer population.
If still wanting cover groups to attract deer elsewhere, have it as far from your valuable crops as you can. Also turnips are one item deer like around my area. Any possiblity of planting cover crop on neighbors property? Jon
If still wanting cover groups to attract deer elsewhere, have it as far from your valuable crops as you can. Also turnips are one item deer like around my area. Any possiblity of planting cover crop on neighbors property? Jon
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jjeff
Elite Member
Talked with one neighbor so far. in terms of cost it definitely makes more sense to try a 3d electric fence with several gates, it's basically two rows parallel several feet apart at different heights. Parties involved including myself don't really want to feel like we're fenced in a compound surrounded by fence. Not to mention cost.
