For the first time in the eight years I have been living at my residence here in Central Maryland, I have spotted Deer - Momma and Fawn eating roses and other plants on or near my property. I do not live in the country but am only a short distance from woods and farm fields.

I have a 112 vine backyard vineyard that I am now concerned about. I have been told that one beaten egg per gallon of waterand stirred in the water and sprayed on the vines will deter deer - I have been told this by a commercial grower. They seem to hate the albumen in egg. It is not practical for commercial growers but may work for my 0.06 acre vineyard.

Anyone have any experience with this problem and have other possible solutions? I usually put up my netting around the first of August but may speed up the schedule this year. Of course, if the deer has a real taste for grapes the netting may not stop them.

The animals may be seeking revenge this year. Also for the first time I spotted a fox in the vineyard and the groundhogs are getting brave and even coming onto the deck and eating potted plants. As if the 13 inches of rain in less than a week wasn't bad enough, now I have critter problems.

Hey there fellow home vineyardist - I'm in northern california; have got a 150 vine vineyard (syrah, marsanne, cabernet sauvignon). Deer are plentiful here, and a problem for the vines. It's not so much a fruit issue (the birds are the real predators there) but the deer willcome in and eat the early leaves and shoots. I have not tried the egg thing - but I put up a fence. Just too much damage from the "rats with antlers".

On my way this weekend to pick up some new netting. Lost most of the Syrah to birds last year.


"Paul E. Lehmann" > wrote in message ...
For the first time in the eight years I have been living at my residence here in Central Maryland, I have spotted Deer - Momma and Fawn eating roses and other plants on or near my property. I do not live in the country but am only a short distance from woods and farm fields.

I have a 112 vine backyard vineyard that I am now concerned about. I have been told that one beaten egg per gallon of waterand stirred in the water and sprayed on the vines will deter deer - I have been told this by a commercial grower. They seem to hate the albumen in egg. It is not practical for commercial growers but may work for my 0.06 acre vineyard.

Anyone have any experience with this problem and have other possible solutions? I usually put up my netting around the first of August but may speed up the schedule this year. Of course, if the deer has a real taste for grapes the netting may not stop them.

The animals may be seeking revenge this year. Also for the first time I spotted a fox in the vineyard and the groundhogs are getting brave and even coming onto the deck and eating potted plants. As if the 13 inches of rain in less than a week wasn't bad enough, now I have critter problems.

Well, deer haven't gotten to my vines yet (the 54 vines were just
planted this year, and their shoots are still a long ways from teh top
of the growth tubes), but...

I've been using a product called "liquid fence" for a year on my roses
and new fruit trees. It really seems to work. Probably find it at a
good garden store, or farm store. It's made of rotten egg solids and
garlic, and you don't want to stand downwind when you spray!

I've had friends use soap (another traditional repellent), but they
only got soapy wine, and little of that as well, since the birds or
deer took care of all their grapes. I've also heard of blood meal
working, as well as the scat of big animals (dogs/cats/bear). I don't
know how you convince them to dump in the vineyard, but there you are.

I've also hit on another possibility for the future - there are 3-D
hunting targets out there, of cougar, bear, bobcat, and coyote.
Thought I'd try that one day if I can save up the money.

I've really decided with the deer, the real answer is just encourage
them to eat something else. They'll eat anything, so just make the
grapes (and roses) the least palatable food sourse around.

Good luck. To both of us!

Rob

I have been using netting and it works great against birds. Last year it allowed a skunk to get in though. I went to the store and did some errands and lucky for me it was gone when I got back. I have also had big black rat snakes get caught up in the netting. It is a real surprise when you go to work in your vineyard and come face to face with a large snake staring at you at eye level a foot or two away.

I was wondering if perhaps some sort of motion detector which could trigger deer predator sounds might work. The deer did not bother the grape shoots this year but it (they) ate the lower leaves on the plum and peach tree.

"Ric" > wrote in message .com...
Hey there fellow home vineyardist - I'm in northern california; have got a 150 vine vineyard (syrah, marsanne, cabernet sauvignon). Deer are plentiful here, and a problem for the vines. It's not so much a fruit issue (the birds are the real predators there) but the deer willcome in and eat the early leaves and shoots. I have not tried the egg thing - but I put up a fence. Just too much damage from the "rats with antlers".

On my way this weekend to pick up some new netting. Lost most of the Syrah to birds last year.


"Paul E. Lehmann" > wrote in message ...
For the first time in the eight years I have been living at my residence here in Central Maryland, I have spotted Deer - Momma and Fawn eating roses and other plants on or near my property. I do not live in the country but am only a short distance from woods and farm fields.

I have a 112 vine backyard vineyard that I am now concerned about. I have been told that one beaten egg per gallon of waterand stirred in the water and sprayed on the vines will deter deer - I have been told this by a commercial grower. They seem to hate the albumen in egg. It is not practical for commercial growers but may work for my 0.06 acre vineyard.

Anyone have any experience with this problem and have other possible solutions? I usually put up my netting around the first of August but may speed up the schedule this year. Of course, if the deer has a real taste for grapes the netting may not stop them.

The animals may be seeking revenge this year. Also for the first time I spotted a fox in the vineyard and the groundhogs are getting brave and even coming onto the deck and eating potted plants. As if the 13 inches of rain in less than a week wasn't bad enough, now I have critter problems.

Paul - Most of these things will work for a while. The deer will get used to them in short order. I have as many as 14 deer on my property at any time Usually there will be a couple of deer in the orchard and vineyard very early in the morning. They will eat apples off the trees and new shoots or growth in the vineyard...They prefer foliage in their eating zone...nothing too low and nothing too high. For that reason we grow our vines to six feet with cordons at that height. They don't eat the grapes. Your bird netting will keep birds away and will also deter deer eating shoots and leaves.

Bill Frazier
Olathe, Kansas USA
"Paul E. Lehmann" > wrote in message ...
I have been using netting and it works great against birds. Last year it allowed a skunk to get in though. I went to the store and did some errands and lucky for me it was gone when I got back. I have also had big black rat snakes get caught up in the netting. It is a real surprise when you go to work in your vineyard and come face to face with a large snake staring at you at eye level a foot or two away.

I was wondering if perhaps some sort of motion detector which could trigger deer predator sounds might work. The deer did not bother the grape shoots this year but it (they) ate the lower leaves on the plum and peach tree.

"Ric" > wrote in message .com...
Hey there fellow home vineyardist - I'm in northern california; have got a 150 vine vineyard (syrah, marsanne, cabernet sauvignon). Deer are plentiful here, and a problem for the vines. It's not so much a fruit issue (the birds are the real predators there) but the deer willcome in and eat the early leaves and shoots. I have not tried the egg thing - but I put up a fence. Just too much damage from the "rats with antlers".

On my way this weekend to pick up some new netting. Lost most of the Syrah to birds last year.


"Paul E. Lehmann" > wrote in message ...
For the first time in the eight years I have been living at my residence here in Central Maryland, I have spotted Deer - Momma and Fawn eating roses and other plants on or near my property. I do not live in the country but am only a short distance from woods and farm fields.

I have a 112 vine backyard vineyard that I am now concerned about. I have been told that one beaten egg per gallon of waterand stirred in the water and sprayed on the vines will deter deer - I have been told this by a commercial grower. They seem to hate the albumen in egg. It is not practical for commercial growers but may work for my 0.06 acre vineyard.

Anyone have any experience with this problem and have other possible solutions? I usually put up my netting around the first of August but may speed up the schedule this year. Of course, if the deer has a real taste for grapes the netting may not stop them.

The animals may be seeking revenge this year. Also for the first time I spotted a fox in the vineyard and the groundhogs are getting brave and even coming onto the deck and eating potted plants. As if the 13 inches of rain in less than a week wasn't bad enough, now I have critter problems.

Hello all,
My parents live up in the northern part of Wisconsin. They have had
problems with deers for years in their garden. Before you spend the money on
a fence - consider this, my dad saw a deer jump his 8 foot garden fence from
a standing position. They still have the fence, but they also try other
things to keep the deer away (which have all been mentioned).
Darlene

"Rob" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Well, deer haven't gotten to my vines yet (the 54 vines were just
> planted this year, and their shoots are still a long ways from teh top
> of the growth tubes), but...
>
> I've been using a product called "liquid fence" for a year on my roses
> and new fruit trees. It really seems to work. Probably find it at a
> good garden store, or farm store. It's made of rotten egg solids and
> garlic, and you don't want to stand downwind when you spray!
>
> I've had friends use soap (another traditional repellent), but they
> only got soapy wine, and little of that as well, since the birds or
> deer took care of all their grapes. I've also heard of blood meal
> working, as well as the scat of big animals (dogs/cats/bear). I don't
> know how you convince them to dump in the vineyard, but there you are.
>
> I've also hit on another possibility for the future - there are 3-D
> hunting targets out there, of cougar, bear, bobcat, and coyote.
> Thought I'd try that one day if I can save up the money.
>
> I've really decided with the deer, the real answer is just encourage
> them to eat something else. They'll eat anything, so just make the
> grapes (and roses) the least palatable food sourse around.
>
> Good luck. To both of us!
>
> Rob
>

Strange, an 8 foot fence is supposed to prevent deer from getting in.

another option might be 2 6 fott fences spaced 5-6 feet apart.

another tastier option, for commercial growers at least would be a
depridation permit and a 30.06.


Dar V wrote:
> Hello all,
> My parents live up in the northern part of Wisconsin. They have had
> problems with deers for years in their garden. Before you spend the money on
> a fence - consider this, my dad saw a deer jump his 8 foot garden fence from
> a standing position. They still have the fence, but they also try other
> things to keep the deer away (which have all been mentioned).
> Darlene
>
> "Rob" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > Well, deer haven't gotten to my vines yet (the 54 vines were just
> > planted this year, and their shoots are still a long ways from teh top
> > of the growth tubes), but...
> >
> > I've been using a product called "liquid fence" for a year on my roses
> > and new fruit trees. It really seems to work. Probably find it at a
> > good garden store, or farm store. It's made of rotten egg solids and
> > garlic, and you don't want to stand downwind when you spray!
> >
> > I've had friends use soap (another traditional repellent), but they
> > only got soapy wine, and little of that as well, since the birds or
> > deer took care of all their grapes. I've also heard of blood meal
> > working, as well as the scat of big animals (dogs/cats/bear). I don't
> > know how you convince them to dump in the vineyard, but there you are.
> >
> > I've also hit on another possibility for the future - there are 3-D
> > hunting targets out there, of cougar, bear, bobcat, and coyote.
> > Thought I'd try that one day if I can save up the money.
> >
> > I've really decided with the deer, the real answer is just encourage
> > them to eat something else. They'll eat anything, so just make the
> > grapes (and roses) the least palatable food sourse around.
> >
> > Good luck. To both of us!
> >
> > Rob
> >

Might be - my Dad has lived up there for 50 years and he just couldn't
believe it until he saw it a couple of years ago. You'd be surprised by the
way they fence in their veggie gardens up there.
Darlene

"Droopy" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Strange, an 8 foot fence is supposed to prevent deer from getting in.
>
> another option might be 2 6 fott fences spaced 5-6 feet apart.
>
> another tastier option, for commercial growers at least would be a
> depridation permit and a 30.06.
>
>
> Dar V wrote:
>> Hello all,
>> My parents live up in the northern part of Wisconsin. They have had
>> problems with deers for years in their garden. Before you spend the money
>> on
>> a fence - consider this, my dad saw a deer jump his 8 foot garden fence
>> from
>> a standing position. They still have the fence, but they also try other
>> things to keep the deer away (which have all been mentioned).
>> Darlene
>>
>> "Rob" > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>> > Well, deer haven't gotten to my vines yet (the 54 vines were just
>> > planted this year, and their shoots are still a long ways from teh top
>> > of the growth tubes), but...
>> >
>> > I've been using a product called "liquid fence" for a year on my roses
>> > and new fruit trees. It really seems to work. Probably find it at a
>> > good garden store, or farm store. It's made of rotten egg solids and
>> > garlic, and you don't want to stand downwind when you spray!
>> >
>> > I've had friends use soap (another traditional repellent), but they
>> > only got soapy wine, and little of that as well, since the birds or
>> > deer took care of all their grapes. I've also heard of blood meal
>> > working, as well as the scat of big animals (dogs/cats/bear). I don't
>> > know how you convince them to dump in the vineyard, but there you are.
>> >
>> > I've also hit on another possibility for the future - there are 3-D
>> > hunting targets out there, of cougar, bear, bobcat, and coyote.
>> > Thought I'd try that one day if I can save up the money.
>> >
>> > I've really decided with the deer, the real answer is just encourage
>> > them to eat something else. They'll eat anything, so just make the
>> > grapes (and roses) the least palatable food sourse around.
>> >
>> > Good luck. To both of us!
>> >
>> > Rob
>> >
>

wow, maybe he needs to add some barbed wire or some attack dogs.


Dar V wrote:
> Might be - my Dad has lived up there for 50 years and he just couldn't
> believe it until he saw it a couple of years ago. You'd be surprised by the
> way they fence in their veggie gardens up there.
> Darlene
>
> "Droopy" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > Strange, an 8 foot fence is supposed to prevent deer from getting in.
> >
> > another option might be 2 6 fott fences spaced 5-6 feet apart.
> >
> > another tastier option, for commercial growers at least would be a
> > depridation permit and a 30.06.
> >
> >
> > Dar V wrote:
> >> Hello all,
> >> My parents live up in the northern part of Wisconsin. They have had
> >> problems with deers for years in their garden. Before you spend the money
> >> on
> >> a fence - consider this, my dad saw a deer jump his 8 foot garden fence
> >> from
> >> a standing position. They still have the fence, but they also try other
> >> things to keep the deer away (which have all been mentioned).
> >> Darlene
> >>
> >> "Rob" > wrote in message
> >> oups.com...
> >> > Well, deer haven't gotten to my vines yet (the 54 vines were just
> >> > planted this year, and their shoots are still a long ways from teh top
> >> > of the growth tubes), but...
> >> >
> >> > I've been using a product called "liquid fence" for a year on my roses
> >> > and new fruit trees. It really seems to work. Probably find it at a
> >> > good garden store, or farm store. It's made of rotten egg solids and
> >> > garlic, and you don't want to stand downwind when you spray!
> >> >
> >> > I've had friends use soap (another traditional repellent), but they
> >> > only got soapy wine, and little of that as well, since the birds or
> >> > deer took care of all their grapes. I've also heard of blood meal
> >> > working, as well as the scat of big animals (dogs/cats/bear). I don't
> >> > know how you convince them to dump in the vineyard, but there you are.
> >> >
> >> > I've also hit on another possibility for the future - there are 3-D
> >> > hunting targets out there, of cougar, bear, bobcat, and coyote.
> >> > Thought I'd try that one day if I can save up the money.
> >> >
> >> > I've really decided with the deer, the real answer is just encourage
> >> > them to eat something else. They'll eat anything, so just make the
> >> > grapes (and roses) the least palatable food sourse around.
> >> >
> >> > Good luck. To both of us!
> >> >
> >> > Rob
> >> >
> >

One of the most impressive vineyards I ever saw was in Texas - not for
the grapes, but for the deer fences. Looked like little prison yards.

Interestingly, in a recent magazine article, raccoons were the biggest
grape-eating threat after birds.

Yeah, it's crazy, but they take their gardening seriously up there. My
parents won't get another dog, but I think the deer are way to comfortable
around there. My parents told me they saw a mother deer nursing her baby on
their road so close to the house that they could see it from the patio door.

"Droopy" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> wow, maybe he needs to add some barbed wire or some attack dogs.
>
>
> Dar V wrote:
>> Might be - my Dad has lived up there for 50 years and he just couldn't
>> believe it until he saw it a couple of years ago. You'd be surprised by
>> the
>> way they fence in their veggie gardens up there.
>> Darlene
>>
>> "Droopy" > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>> > Strange, an 8 foot fence is supposed to prevent deer from getting in.
>> >
>> > another option might be 2 6 fott fences spaced 5-6 feet apart.
>> >
>> > another tastier option, for commercial growers at least would be a
>> > depridation permit and a 30.06.
>> >
>> >
>> > Dar V wrote:
>> >> Hello all,
>> >> My parents live up in the northern part of Wisconsin. They have
>> >> had
>> >> problems with deers for years in their garden. Before you spend the
>> >> money
>> >> on
>> >> a fence - consider this, my dad saw a deer jump his 8 foot garden
>> >> fence
>> >> from
>> >> a standing position. They still have the fence, but they also try
>> >> other
>> >> things to keep the deer away (which have all been mentioned).
>> >> Darlene
>> >>
>> >> "Rob" > wrote in message
>> >> oups.com...
>> >> > Well, deer haven't gotten to my vines yet (the 54 vines were just
>> >> > planted this year, and their shoots are still a long ways from teh
>> >> > top
>> >> > of the growth tubes), but...
>> >> >
>> >> > I've been using a product called "liquid fence" for a year on my
>> >> > roses
>> >> > and new fruit trees. It really seems to work. Probably find it at
>> >> > a
>> >> > good garden store, or farm store. It's made of rotten egg solids
>> >> > and
>> >> > garlic, and you don't want to stand downwind when you spray!
>> >> >
>> >> > I've had friends use soap (another traditional repellent), but they
>> >> > only got soapy wine, and little of that as well, since the birds or
>> >> > deer took care of all their grapes. I've also heard of blood meal
>> >> > working, as well as the scat of big animals (dogs/cats/bear). I
>> >> > don't
>> >> > know how you convince them to dump in the vineyard, but there you
>> >> > are.
>> >> >
>> >> > I've also hit on another possibility for the future - there are 3-D
>> >> > hunting targets out there, of cougar, bear, bobcat, and coyote.
>> >> > Thought I'd try that one day if I can save up the money.
>> >> >
>> >> > I've really decided with the deer, the real answer is just encourage
>> >> > them to eat something else. They'll eat anything, so just make the
>> >> > grapes (and roses) the least palatable food sourse around.
>> >> >
>> >> > Good luck. To both of us!
>> >> >
>> >> > Rob
>> >> >
>> >
>

I was at my brother's house this weekend, he uses a motion detection
sprinkler system to keep the deer from his garden and is very
satisified with the result. However, when working in the garden, you
have to turn it off. AND, when done working...you have to turn it back
on, as he sadly learned.

Paul


Dar V wrote:
> Yeah, it's crazy, but they take their gardening seriously up there. My
> parents won't get another dog, but I think the deer are way to comfortable
> around there. My parents told me they saw a mother deer nursing her baby on
> their road so close to the house that they could see it from the patio door.
>
> "Droopy" > wrote in message
> ups.com...
> > wow, maybe he needs to add some barbed wire or some attack dogs.
> >
> >
> > Dar V wrote:
> >> Might be - my Dad has lived up there for 50 years and he just couldn't
> >> believe it until he saw it a couple of years ago. You'd be surprised by
> >> the
> >> way they fence in their veggie gardens up there.
> >> Darlene
> >>
> >> "Droopy" > wrote in message
> >> oups.com...
> >> > Strange, an 8 foot fence is supposed to prevent deer from getting in.
> >> >
> >> > another option might be 2 6 fott fences spaced 5-6 feet apart.
> >> >
> >> > another tastier option, for commercial growers at least would be a
> >> > depridation permit and a 30.06.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Dar V wrote:
> >> >> Hello all,
> >> >> My parents live up in the northern part of Wisconsin. They have
> >> >> had
> >> >> problems with deers for years in their garden. Before you spend the
> >> >> money
> >> >> on
> >> >> a fence - consider this, my dad saw a deer jump his 8 foot garden
> >> >> fence
> >> >> from
> >> >> a standing position. They still have the fence, but they also try
> >> >> other
> >> >> things to keep the deer away (which have all been mentioned).
> >> >> Darlene
> >> >>
> >> >> "Rob" > wrote in message
> >> >> oups.com...
> >> >> > Well, deer haven't gotten to my vines yet (the 54 vines were just
> >> >> > planted this year, and their shoots are still a long ways from teh
> >> >> > top
> >> >> > of the growth tubes), but...
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I've been using a product called "liquid fence" for a year on my
> >> >> > roses
> >> >> > and new fruit trees. It really seems to work. Probably find it at
> >> >> > a
> >> >> > good garden store, or farm store. It's made of rotten egg solids
> >> >> > and
> >> >> > garlic, and you don't want to stand downwind when you spray!
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I've had friends use soap (another traditional repellent), but they
> >> >> > only got soapy wine, and little of that as well, since the birds or
> >> >> > deer took care of all their grapes. I've also heard of blood meal
> >> >> > working, as well as the scat of big animals (dogs/cats/bear). I
> >> >> > don't
> >> >> > know how you convince them to dump in the vineyard, but there you
> >> >> > are.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I've also hit on another possibility for the future - there are 3-D
> >> >> > hunting targets out there, of cougar, bear, bobcat, and coyote.
> >> >> > Thought I'd try that one day if I can save up the money.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I've really decided with the deer, the real answer is just encourage
> >> >> > them to eat something else. They'll eat anything, so just make the
> >> >> > grapes (and roses) the least palatable food sourse around.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Good luck. To both of us!
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Rob
> >> >> >
> >> >
> >

A repellent sometimes used in Missouri is human hair. Sounds a little
weird I know, but it does seem to work. Do you know anyone with a
barber shop?

Greg G.