Food plots are areas planted with forages specifically to attract and supplement wildlife, primarily white-tailed deer, for observation or hunting. The initial growth stages of these plantings, especially highly palatable options like soybeans or clover, are vulnerable to intense browsing pressure. Protecting a newly established plot is necessary to ensure the plants mature and provide the intended forage volume later in the season. The required protection level varies based on regional deer density and the seasonal availability of alternative natural food sources.
Implementing Physical Exclusion Barriers
Physical fencing offers the most reliable method for preventing deer access, though it involves the highest initial investment and labor. For long-term, complete exclusion, permanent high-tensile woven wire fences are constructed to a height of at least eight feet. While deer can jump this height, most are deterred by the visual barrier and the perceived difficulty of the jump. Installation requires robust corner and bracing posts set deep into the ground, along with mechanical tensioning systems to maintain the wire’s integrity.
Temporary solutions frequently employ electric fencing to protect a plot until the crop is established. One effective psychological barrier is the “peanut butter fence,” which uses a single or double strand of polywire suspended about 30 inches off the ground. Small aluminum foil flags baited with peanut butter are attached to the wire. This encourages the deer to touch the electrified wire with their noses, delivering a mild but memorable shock that conditions them to avoid the fenced area.
Another effective temporary design is the three-dimensional (3D) electric fence, which uses two parallel fences spaced a few feet apart. The inner wires are set at different heights, such as 18 inches and chest height, while the outer wire splits this difference. This staggered setup creates a perception issue for the deer, making it difficult for them to gauge the required jump and increasing their reluctance to attempt passage. These flexible systems use lightweight materials like poly tape or fiberglass posts. They can be installed temporarily and removed once the forage has matured sufficiently to withstand browsing pressure.
Utilizing Olfactory and Taste Repellents
Repellents deter deer by triggering their senses, using foul odors, unpleasant tastes, or fear. Commercial repellents often contain putrescent whole egg solids, which emit a sulfurous odor associated with predator activity. Other active ingredients include capsaicin, the compound found in chili peppers, which creates an irritating sensation when consumed.
These compounds are categorized as area repellents (using odor) or contact repellents (using taste). Contact repellents tend to be more effective because the deer must consume the treated plant to experience the deterrent effect. However, all chemical repellents require frequent reapplication, particularly after rainfall or when new plant growth emerges, which can dilute or wash away the active ingredients.
Lower-cost, homemade options include hanging bars of strongly scented soap, human hair, or sprinkling blood meal. Blood meal acts as a deterrent due to its association with predators, while soap provides an unpleasant fragrance. However, these remedies provide limited and short-lived protection, often proving ineffective under moderate to high deer pressure.
Visual and auditory deterrents, such as motion-activated sprinklers or flashing lights, are also available, but their effectiveness is erratic. Deer quickly habituate to static noise or light disturbances, rendering the device useless. Combining and rotating different types of repellents can delay habituation and extend the period of protection.
Strategic Planting and Diversion Methods
Management strategies can reduce localized feeding pressure without relying on physical barriers or chemical sprays. One technique involves establishing a “sacrificial plot,” which is a smaller area of highly attractive forage planted away from the main growing area. This diversion feeding draws browsing attention away from the primary plot, allowing the desired crop to grow and mature.
Perimeter exclusion planting uses less palatable crops to create a protective buffer around the desired forage. Planting a tall, fast-growing crop like Egyptian wheat or a cereal grain around the border of a soybean plot serves as a visual screen and a temporary nurse crop. Deer may graze the less desirable perimeter crop first, providing a slight reprieve for the sensitive plants in the interior.
The size and location of the plot also influence browsing pressure. Smaller food plots, especially those near dense cover or bedding areas, experience immediate and heavy damage because deer feel secure feeding there. Establishing larger, more open plots, or planting a greater acreage overall, helps dilute the browsing intensity across the planted area. This strategy ensures that even if some plants are browsed, the volume of forage allows the crop to survive and thrive.