Deer and Rabbits

IHCubCadet147 · #1 06-21-2018, 01:11 PM

What are some ways you guys have found to keep deer and rabbits out of the garden? I did not have trouble yet this year, but last year they helped themselves to all of my cabbage, kale, and kohlrabi. I have a fence, but the rabbits are coming in under it.

Chad126 · #2 06-21-2018, 02:37 PM

For deer, you can plant lavender in your garden and also put out soap bars. I bought an 8 pack of soap and put a screw in each bar, then I tied a string to the screw head and hung it on a post around my garden. I've read in several places that the Irish Spring brand soap is the most repulsive to deer.

For rabbits, I don't have issues with them so I can't really give too much advice. I'd go with sitting in a chair around dawn and dusk with a .22 LR. You could get a coyote decoy at a local sporting goods store, but a good one will be expensive.

IHCubCadet147 · #3 06-21-2018, 07:05 PM

Thanks. I'm going to try the soap.

I never should have said I haven't had problems this year, because when I looked at my garden, my kale and kohlrabi were nearly gone.

john hall · #4 06-21-2018, 09:41 PM

An 8ft fence for the deer, or shoot them. There are product you can buy made from putrified egg solid and hot pepper that are supposed to work. We used to pour fabric softner on rags tied to tobacco sticks (tomato sticks for ya'll what ain't from the South), play radios all night, mothballs. Hot lead is best, but folks get real upset about you turning Bambi into buzzard food--even with permits and the blessing of the wildlife office. We just quit growing garden and soybeans and let the deer have at it.

Chad126 · #5 06-22-2018, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IHCubCadet147

Thanks. I'm going to try the soap.

I never should have said I haven't had problems this year, because when I looked at my garden, my kale and kohlrabi were nearly gone.

Sorry to hear that. I would seriously consider shooting the rabbits if I were you. As for the deer, I can say confidently that I have deer in my yard every night, but I haven't seen ANY tracks since I put the soap out about 4 weeks ago.

zippy1 · #6 06-23-2018, 12:17 AM

Pick up a pack of Irish Spring soap. Take the bars and run them through a hand cheese grater. So it's be "grated", and sprinkle it out in and around the garden.
It'll work for awhile with the deer, but sooner or later, they'll get used to it.
As for the rabbits. I've got a GREAT crockpot recipes for them.

If your in town where you can't "legally" shoot em' box trap em' and ring their neck, skin, gut, cook! YUMMY!!!

mickb72 · #7 06-23-2018, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy1

Pick up a pack of Irish Spring soap. Take the bars and run them through a hand cheese grater. So it's be "grated", and sprinkle it out in and around the garden.
It'll work for awhile with the deer, but sooner or later, they'll get used to it.
As for the rabbits. I've got a GREAT crockpot recipes for them.

If your in town where you can't "legally" shoot em' box trap em' and ring their neck, skin, gut, cook! YUMMY!!!

Hi Zippy, i'd like to hear that crockpot recipe.

IHCubCadet147 · #8 06-23-2018, 01:08 PM

I put soap out there.

I am in an area where I could shoot the rabbits, but I've never used a gun, and don't have one, so that's not really an option.

cheesedawg82 · #9 01-01-2019, 01:35 PM

In a 5 gallon bucket - throw in 2 eggs (literally, break them, shells and all), 1/2 gallon of milk (expired is best), a couple handfuls of chopped up hot pepper (or 1/3 bottle of dollar store red pepper flakes), and a gallon of water.

Put lid on bucket, let it sit in a warm place for a week. I use the greenhouse.

Use a big paintbrush and kinda shake it over your plants until theres about 1/4 inch of it in the bottom of the bucket.

Refill and repeat.

Don't miss a week. Use the soap, too. And an electric fence.

They'll still eat your plants.

jcubtroy · #10 07-06-2022, 09:40 AM

what no Groundhogs !!!!!