Milorganite as deer deterrent

[deere755]

The deer are getting to be a real pain in the butt eating up crops around here especially soybeans. I was talking to a guy the other day who swears by Milorganite fertlizer as deer deterrent. I am thinking of spreading it over a couple small problem fields. He said 5 lb to the acre is enough. I can buy a 36 lb bag for around $8. Anyone else use it? I had to replant 5 acres of beans the other day in a 15 acre field. The closer I got to the house the more the deer had ate. I couldn't believe they had ate the beans in a very populated area of houses. This area is almost like a rural sub division.

 

[PILOON]

Don't know about deer, but it would keep me away. Phew!

 

[muley280]

I have never heard of anything to spread over the crops to keep deer away, I'm not saying it doesn't work either. I'm sure if it got around many many farmers would use it, provided it is legal in their states. I'm sure you have thought of it already but i thought I would mention it. What do you think about crop damage permits and then just donating the meat to a local butcher that would accept it. You could knock out 2 birds with one stone. Good Luck, let me know if that stuff works.

 

[deere755]

I have never heard of anything to spread over the crops to keep deer away, I'm not saying it doesn't work either. I'm sure if it got around many many farmers would use it, provided it is legal in their states. I'm sure you have thought of it already but i thought I would mention it. What do you think about crop damage permits and then just donating the meat to a local butcher that would accept it. You could knock out 2 birds with one stone. Good Luck, let me know if that stuff works.

Not sure the great state of Illinois has such a permit.

 

[woodchuckie]

I remember years ago a timber company running ads about how spraying their pine seedlings with some kind of egg concoction kept the deer from eating the new shoots.

 

[forgeblast]

The egg concoction is rancid, really rancid eggs. Do not spray it in a breeze or you will have to prewash with a hose before your let into the house.

 

[bp fick]

Milorganite is granular fertilizer made from Milwaukee's sewer plant, of course. It has a limited ability to discourage deer because of its human source.

Like most everything, deer adjust. Plus, the strong odor doesn't last more than a few weeks and less if rains have diluted it. Worth a try but rather expensive too.

 

[clemsonfor]

It works. At least on a limited basis. Like BP says they may get use to it. It also wears off.

Around here its more that $8. I also dont know if 5lb/acre is near enough?

We put it in a band around our sunflowers in the dove field last year. Had maybe an acre of them and used a bag or so to go around it. I personally did not see any heads nipped off or deer tracks through the field.

Houses dont bother deer either, they get use to them. A guy i work with has deer within 15ft of his front door eating out of flower beds infront of his stoop level with his front door. They also eat the flowers out of pots on his rear deck. They have to either lean way in on it of at least have the front hooves on it. I doubled him on how close they got till one day he pointed out the damage to me.

 

[bp fick]

clemsonfor, you are absolutely right!! Shoot, we have them eating flowers off our decks, and sometimes, honest to goodness, they've stood and stared right in the front picture window. Deer adjust and adapt. That's the point. Almost nothing works or fools them for long.

Our Milorganite price is $18 a 50#.

 

[Kays Supply]

Illinois has a permit system for deer doing damage. I have been involved in the past. You have to jump through countless hoops. The best part for my experience was that this permit was only good after sun down and you could use a light and a centerfire rifle. We took several.