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DEER REPELLENT STUDY
At Illinois Walnut Council Butternut Plot
By Ken Konsis
The Illinois Walnut Council planted butternut seedlings in 1994 at the Tree Research Area, Forest Glen Preserve, Westville, IL. This is also the IWC Headquarters. Butternut (Juglans cinerea) were chosen in response to the declining butternut species due to the Butternut Canker fungus (Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum.) The butternut plot consists of 14 rows of trees with 17 trees per row, or 238 total number of trees. Height measurements and herbicide treatments have been performed since the second year the seedlings were in the ground. Pruning of the trees was performed in the winter of 2001. The plot was overall heavily browsed by deer and had several major buck scrapes. This seemed to be the perfect area for a deer repellent study, especially since the Walnut Council receives many inquiries about repellents. The Vermilion County Conservation District has already conducted deer fencing studies and deer browse studies at the Tree Research Area. The results of the fencing study was part of the Walnut Council Annual Meeting tour in 1998. These results were very positive.
The products that were chosen to be part of this study are products that are readily available from nursery and garden catalogs. The Vermilion County Conservation District and the Illinois Walnut Council do not endorse any of these products. The attempt is to report on findings of this study. Also, some products recommend multiple applications (after rains, etc.) This was not done. All products were treated the same. They were applied on the same day and results were documented on the same day. It is quite possible that the results would be different if complete product directions were applied. This, however, was not feasible due to lack of manpower, time restraints, and everything else that enters into one’s busy schedule. Therefore, this is not applied research but may be comparable to what a landowner would do.
The following is a listing of products tested using the brand name, active ingredient, quantity purchased, price paid, and general application and information on the product label.
See complete article at: http://www.walnutcouncil.org/deer_repellent_study.htm
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Deer Control In Home Gardens
Deer damage to home gardens and shrubs is the number one complaint in urban and rural landscapes. Using an integrated approach of repelling and/or restricting deer access is the most effective method to reducing damage. Deer damage permits are available to rural landowners, however, urban landowners must rely on other methods to reduce damage.
Repellents
Repellents discourage deer feeding by having either an offensive taste or odor. No repellent is continuously effective, and what works in one location may be useless for another location. Factors which contribute to this variability are deer feeding habits and environmental conditions. Repellent application can be costly and labor intensive. Making the right decision about the use of repellents involves weighing the costs against the benefits. Generally it has been found that repellents are most cost-effective where the following conditions exists:
- low to moderate deer numbers
- light to moderate deer damage
- small acreage
no more than 2-3 applications needed for control
See Complete article: www.wvdnr.gov/Hunting/DeerConHomGar.shtm |
Preventing Deer Damage
by C.E. Swift and M.K. Gross
Quick Facts...
- It is difficult to move deer out of areas where they are not wanted.
- A hungry deer will find almost any plant palatable, so no plant is "deer proof."
- The two types of deer repellents are contact repellents and area repellents.
- Netting can reduce deer damage to small trees.
- Adequate fencing to exclude deer is the only sure way to control deer damage.
Although browsing deer are charming to watch, they can cause extensive damage by feeding on plants and rubbing antlers against trees. In urban areas, home landscapes may become the major source of food. Deer can pose a serious aesthetic and economic threat. Damage is most commonly noticed in spring on new, succulent growth. Because deer lack upper incisors, browsed twigs and stems show a rough, shredded surface. Damage caused by rabbits, on the other hand, has a neat, sharp 45-degree cut. Rodents leave narrow teeth marks when feeding on branches. Deer strip the bark and leave no teeth marks.
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