Varieties of Deer Repellents

Deer repellent is often required to keep deer out of gardens or away from crops. Since deer are herbivores, they eat nuts, fruits, grass, grains, plants and shrubs. This means they can be a pest for farms or ranches that cultivate any of these natural food sources. Deer also travel several miles to find the food of their choice. Once you find a successful deer repellent, they are not likely to return to an area that they were already frightened away from. There are several methods to repel deer, and these methods can be natural and chemical.

Chemical Deer Repellents

There are several well-known brands of chemical deer repellents. These contain chemical substances that are known to deter deer. These repellents are formulated based on an understanding of deer's eating habits. Deer are known to be repelled by both the taste and the smell of certain foods. These chemical repellents have substances that are derived synthetically from such foods. Most repellents contain substances such as benzyl diethyl, methyl, ammonium benzoate, putrescent whole egg solids, specially processed sterilized and dried edible animal protein, blood meal, vegetable fat, salt, sodium salts of mixed fatty acids and ammonium soaps of higher fatty acids. These chemical repellents are placed on trees at the height at which deer graze.

For those who want to avoid chemical repellents, natural solutions can also be used. Many effective repellents have been prepared naturally. Some of the core ingredients used for making natural deer repellents include eggs, buttermilk, milk, yogurt, hot sauce, liquid dish soap, cinnamon oil and garlic, oil of mustard, vegetable oil, lemon extract and oleoresin of capsicum. These products can be spread on plants, around gardens or in other areas where deer are likely to go.

Mechanical repellents are another variety of deer repellent. Mechanical methods include physical barriers that are erected along farms to prevent deer from getting inside. If farm owners can afford to buy and maintain devices that keep deer away, they can install fences that are mechanical or electronic. Open weave fencing is one type of barrier commonly used.