How to Get Rid of Deer

We are experts in deer control methods, having performed thousands of deer control jobs nationwide.

Deer are the mammals that form the cervidae family. This family includes the red deer, fallow deer, moose, white tailed deer, reindeer, roe deer, elk and the chital. The entire species of deer are responsible for growing new antlers every year while shedding the old ones. The deer depending on the species can weigh up to 1000 lbs and have solid bodies that are long. Their legs are powerful which makes them great jumpers and swimmers. Their stomachs are equipped with 4 chambers and they have teeth that are designed for feeding on plant life. In front of their eyes, most deer have a gland that they use to mark their territory and flare out when they experience a feeling of excitement or anger. They have perfect night vision and all males possess antlers.

Read below for much more detail. You may be able to solve your deer problem yourself. If you need to hire professional help, you may want to find out what we typically charge for deer control. Pro help is most relevant if you are unable to effectively or legally trap and relocate animals, or if you have a difficult case. If you need deer control in your hometown, we service over 500 USA locations! Click here to hire us in your town and check our prices - updated for year 2020.

Where Do They Live
The habitat for deer will vary depending on the type of deer, but it's not uncommon for them to live in parks, woods, swamps, mountains, open land and forests. Because they are able to blend in with the trees and foliage in some areas, it offers them a sense of comfort. Not to mention, these areas contain an abundant source of food for them.

What Do They Eat
A deer is considered an herbivore who can eat up to 5 lbs of food a day such as twigs, bark, clover, green leaves, grass, vegetation, shoots, woody shrubs, fruits and nuts.

Deer Nuisances
Deer can cause a lot of damage. Not only is their population increasing forcing them to look for food sources outside of their habitat, but they cause damage to crops and landscaping plants as well as cause collisions between themselves and vehicles. Many of them carry diseases such as the Lyme disease.

How to Get Rid of Them
A homeowner may find deer in their yard because they are forced to look for food in other places, considering their homes are often overpopulated. However, there are many methods that people can try to get rid of deer but these methods should not be harmful to the deer in any way. While most of them can be effective, they are only temporary solutions. Someone who wants to get deer off their property for good can only get guaranteed results by consulting with a qualified expert.



Do Repellants Work
There are different types of repellants used for deer such as electronic repellants, area repellants and contact repellants. An electronic repellant is normally attached to a tree where deer activity has been recorded. This device is supposed to produce a sound that scares the deer off. Contact deer repellants are purchased in the form of a liquid spray that homeowners can spray onto their plants and other areas in their yard where they don't want deer to eat. The spray supposedly delivers a bad taste that sends the deer looking elsewhere for food. Area repellants are similar to contact repellants but can be bought in powder form to put around the perimeter of your yard. This powder supposedly delivers a smell that the deer just can't handle. It's true that all of these things can be effective but only for a certain period of time. Not to mention, you have to keep using these products for them to continuously keep deer out and that can seriously deplete your pockets over time.

Fences
In order for a fence to be effective, you will need to have a fence installed in your yard that is 10 feet high and one foot beneath the ground. People have used regular fences as well as electric fences. If deer can do damage to your car, they can certainly do damage to a fence. Electric fences are dangerous not only to the deer, but to other animals, pets and humans as well and are not recommended.

Traps/Netting
While there are many ways to trap a deer, the most effective way is through the use of nets. You may choose to use drop nets in your backyard that are tied to trees that are at least 50 feet apart. These nets will have limbs that sit away from the ground about 30 feet. A rope is then stretched along the limbs consisting of a pulley that hangs over the bait. Through the pulley into a hole where the blind is, another rope is tied to another tree behind it. The net has corners that are then pulled so that they don't drape too closely to the bait using a release connector. When the deer moves in for the bait, he tugs the pulley which activates the release connector dropping the net onto the deer. This method can capture several deer but people who have used these are professionals and knew what they were doing. Trying to do this on your own can get you hurt considering deer can be very aggressive animals.

More deer control information:
What kind of damage can deer cause?
How do you remove deer in backyard?
About Deer: Appearance, biology, life cycle, habitat, diet, behavior
Deer Prevention - How to keep Deer away from pond or stream
Deer Repellents - Types, and do they work?

How To Get Rid Of A Deer In Your Yard
Deer usually inspire a soft “awww” when we see them unexpectedly in the wild. They are so beautiful that it is hard to imagine ever wanting them out of your yard. If you live in a rural area where deer are plentiful, it is almost inevitable that deer will stray onto your lawn, especially if you have tender young plants everywhere. After you replace them a couple of times because they have been chewed to nubs, your “awww” may change into an “arrgghh” the next time you see deer anywhere. There are several things you can do to keep your plants alive and well. A deer fence is probably the best barrier. This fence should be at least eight feet high to keep the deer out. These fences are easy to install and blend into the environment. Unfortunately they are costly, especially if you have a large perimeter around your property. The cheaper things you can do are to plant only plants that the deer won't like. This however, limits your choices to something you may not want. You may opt for a deer repellent to keep your yard free of hungry deer. You can buy repellents from your sporting goods store or you can make your own of hot pepper spray, which will need to be reapplied after rain.

How To Get Rid Of Deer In Your Garden
Deer love to eat young, tender grass. They love even more your plants that are growing in your garden, the garden you labored over and tended to so carefully. While you love nature and nature's animals, especially the shy and gentle deer, you have your limits of what you will endure. Having your careful garden work destroyed by deer is not on the list. You don't want the deer in your vegetable garden or flower garden, yet you do not want them hurt or worse, either. You opt for other measures. When your flowers begin to grow, spray them immediately with liquid pepper spray. Deer do not like that taste and it is not harmful to your flowers. With vegetables, you must reach for other deterrents because the hot pepper spray may not be advisable on your plants. For your vegetables, a deer fence may be the best option. Some people have placed aluminum foil pie pans in the garden. They give off a reflection and two or more can be placed to bang together with a little wind or movement, scaring the deer off. Another strategy may be to place dog hair around the perimeter of your garden. Human hair is another scent deer will shy away from. Deer are smart creatures and will get used to deterrents quickly. It is important that you alternate different deterrents.

How To Get Rid Of Deer Naturally
Whether intended or not, if your property has a lot of movement from vehicles, children or pets, deer will not like coming near. They instinctively do not like noise and movement. So, to get rid of deer naturally, have well-trained dogs running free on your property. Either have the dogs well trained so that they will not run away and chase the deer or have an invisible electric barrier so your dogs won't cross the border of your yard. You could also have a fence around your yard that will keep the dogs inside, even if the deer could easily jump it. With the dogs inside the fence, the deer will not jump over the fence, no matter how tempting those young grasses, vegetables and flowers are. The dogs will leave their hair, their urine and their excrements everywhere in the yard and with all those odors; they will also chase deer away even when they are in the house. The choice of planted grasses and flowers may influence a deer's choice whether it wants to come onto your property or not. If it scents mostly peonies, foxglove, lavender or meadowsweet and several other kinds of plants they don't like, they may choose your neighbor's yard or the nearby forest over your property.

How To Get Rid Of A Deer In Your Barn
If you have an empty barn that has either no door or the door has been left open, you may find it inhabited by woodland critters. Deer can accidentally find their way into the shelter of a barn as well. If you would happen to stumble across a deer in your barn, a word of caution: Do not try to get close to it in order to lure it out. The deer is frightened of you and with its razor sharp hooves may pummel you into a hospital before it finds its way out the door. If the deer has her fawn with her, the danger of you getting hurt is increased manifold. To get the deer out, open the barn door, if it isn't already widely open, as much as you can. Make sure no one is standing in front of the entrance. Walk behind the barn and bang as loudly as you can onto the barn walls; in short, make a racket. This should give the deer enough impetus to want to leave the barn. If this doesn't work, lay a trail of grass, flowers, acorns or hay from the inside of the barn leading to the outside. Be sure to wear gloves so that your scent won't drive the deer away from the “bait.” Then leave. In the morning, the deer should be gone.