Deer over eating food plot

[williaada]

I live in MI and am able to plant a 5 acre area to pumkins as a small cash crop. The last two years the deer have eaten the pumkins to where there was nothing left. I read somewhere it was suggested to plant roughly a 20ft board of forge peas or forge beans around the edge of the field. Does any one know I’d this is true or have other suggestions.

thanks

 

[WCB]

It may help a bit but if they are eating 5 acres of pumpkins I'm sure they will keep the 20 ft buffer of beans mowed down and still get the Pumpkins. Probably better off figuring out a fence system.

 

[journeyman713]

Plant a hunter in the middle.
Shoot one, and they'll disappear.

 

[H2PVon]

No help here. I'm usually trying to figure out how to get them IN my plots.

 

[wind gypsy]

Probably need a fence. Peas/Beans are tough to get to maturity unless you have a good sized plot because they get mowed down quick by deer. Depending on how many deer you're talking, a 20' border around 5 acres might help but I wouldn't be surprised if they hammer them and move on to pumpkins.

I'm looking at planting a lot of spruce trees as a screen on my property and have found that there are spray products that folks have used successfully as a cheaper alternative to caging them. That and some of the other scent methods out there are the only other thing I can think of trying besides fencing.

 

[Erict]

Is this a food plot or cash crop? Sounds like your best bet is to plant 15 acres and hope to harvest 5. Absent that, I think a fence is the only other effective choice.

As mentioned already, I know from experience that you will need to plant enough soybeans to stay ahead of the daily nipping even young plants take. If you do not plant enough, every plant will be stunted or devoid of leaves long before any pods develop. Regardless, beans will just be an additional attractant to the pumpkins - it's not like they would visit the beans and ignore the pumpkins. Good luck

 

[ILoveBusch]

Probably need a fence. Peas/Beans are tough to get to maturity unless you have a good sized plot because they get mowed down quick by deer. Depending on how many deer you're talking, a 20' border around 5 acres might help but I wouldn't be surprised if they hammer them and move on to pumpkins.

I'm looking at planting a lot of spruce trees as a screen on my property and have found that there are spray products that folks have used successfully as a cheaper alternative to caging them. That and some of the other scent methods out there are the only other thing I can think of trying besides fencing.

I know the product "Plantskydd" works well for young trees. Its made from blood. A quick look at amazon and it would cost roughly $550 for 5 acres, but there may be other cheaper options from another source.

 

[Billy Goat]

I have used two electric fences with some success. Outside fence with hot wires at 18-20" and 34-38". Fence set inside of that fence about 4' and wires about 24-26" and 44-46".

It works reasonably well, it was built with t-posts and 15 ga wire. Got replaced by 8' HT Woven wire a few years later.


Here's pictures of a more permanent installation, cause pictuare better than me trying to explain.

 

[bowieknife50]

Build a fence. When that doesn't work put a malamute inside it.

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