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Best deer repellent 2018 – [Buyer’s Guide]
Last Updated September 1, 2023
Looking for ways to bring your deer repellent to the next level? Then you’ve come to the right place. I’m Willard Lawson. After more than 53 hours of research and testing, which included using 19 different deer repellent in five cities and interviewing product teams at five major companies, I made a list of the best deer repellent of 2018
I will go through the main features and what you should consider when deciding which one to pick over the other. In this section we provide our readers with a comparison table of our top picks. Scroll past the table for a closer look at each of the 3 best deer repellent in our review section.
Best deer repellent of 2018
There is a wide range of products available on the market today, and below I have reviewed 3 of the very best options. If you’re scouring the market for the best deer repellent, you’d better have the right info before spending your money.
After carefully examining the reviews and ratings of the people who have used them earlier this listicle has been made. We’ve narrowed down our options based on the customer feedback (read positive reviews), functionality, material and size. In other words, we’ve put all fundamentals into consideration to come up with a comprehensive list that suits various needs.
Test Results and Ratings
| Rank | №1 | №2 | №3 |
| Product |  |
 |
 |
| Total | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Ease of use |
4 points
|
5 points
|
5 points
|
| Versatility |
5 points
|
5 points
|
4 points
|
| Performance |
5 points
|
4 points
|
4 points
|
| Value |
5 points
|
4 points
|
4 points
|
| Awards |  |
||
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the deer repellent by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
№1 – Nature’s MACE Deer and Rabbit Repellent 40oz Concentrate
| Total: |
4.8
|
Why did this deer repellent win the first place?
The rear part fits perfectly! It is mounted really tight and reliable. I don’t know anything about other models from this brand, but I am fully satisfied with this product. I am very happy with the purchase. It is definitely worth its money. The product is top-notch! The product is very strong. Its material is stable and doesn’t crack.
4
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
№2 – Deer Repellent for Plants – Deer Repel Pouches Stop Deer and Rabbits Eating Plants Trees Gardens & Orchards
| Total: |
4.5
|
Why did this deer repellent come in second place?
I recommend you to consider buying this model, it definitely worth its money. The material is pretty strong and easy to wash if needed. Managers explained me all the details about the product range, price, and delivery. This is a pretty decent product that perfectly fitted the interior of our office.
5
|
5
|
4
|
4
|
№3 – Havahart DO5600-6 Deer Off Weatherproof Deer Repellent
| Total: |
4.3
|
Why did this deer repellent take third place?
This price is appropriate since the product is very well built. It doesn’t squeaks nor bents. Looks great in my apartment. We are very pleased with the purchase — the product is great! It is inconvenient to use due to the size. I am going to get something different next time.
5
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
deer repellent Buyer’s Guide
Effect on edible plants
Granted you might be tilling palatable plants in your garden. As such make sure that the repellant you use is friendly to such plants.
Some do not wash out and may cause burns on your plants while others may distort the taste, smell and even cause harmful effects when ingested.
Rain and water resistance
This feature directly affects the long-lasting capability of the repellant.
Repellents that wash off need to be regularly reapplied after every rain, snow fall or watering period. Buying a repellant that doesn’t wash off should reduce the application requirements and quantity and as such make you save on the amount you use and ultimately the cost of using the repellent.
Repelling method
There are two types of repellent action methods in the market. The smell acting and taste acting repellent.
Some repellents come with both attributes while most are usually smell based types as seen in the reviewed brands. Aroma based repellents guarantee that your plants won’t be munched on since due to their effective repulsive scents.
Scatter Garlic Around Your Flower Beds
Garlic is a natural deer repellent and something that deer hate, you can take full advantage of this by scattering tiny pieces of it on the ground where you have planted your seeds. This is bound to repel the deer from your flower beds.
Install Underground Sprinkler Systems
You can also install underground sprinklers with timers which are pretty effective against deer. You can also upgrade to motion activated sprinklers to keep deer away from your selected flower beds and trees for extra measures. This is harmless to the deer as well as helpful to your plants.
You can also resort to using solar-powered night lights with a screw in motion detector to repel deer from your garden. Installing solar powered night lights with a motion detector will startle and frighten the deer when the motion detector detects their movement and switches the lights on. This will eventually force them to leave your garden and start avoiding it in the long term.
Deer can be pretty smart when it comes to eating which can be very frustrating to homeowners who pride themselves on the quality of their gardens and plants. The only way to outsmart the deer is by understanding them to know their likes and dislikes to take effective action against their destructive appetites.
Tips to Help You Repel Deer from Your Garden All Year
Even when its ears are stationary and at rest, a deer can tell whether sounds come from ahead or behind. Because each ear can move independently, deer can pivot one ear toward the sound, and by comparing signals received from each ear, they can pinpoint the source of the sound.
D’Angelo’s group used a technique called auditory brainstem testing to assess whitetail hearing capability. This involved strategically placing electrodes on the head of drug-immobilized deer, testing the animal’s brain response to various sound frequencies and displaying the electrical responses on a monitor for analysis.
As might be expected, the whitetail’s best hearing range overlaps primary frequencies of their vocal communication. For example, earlier studies using sonographic analysis, identified 1whitetail vocalizations. Most were composed of frequencies between kHz and kHz.
Humans hear best between kHz and kHz, with an upper limit of about 20 kHz. Because deer can detect higher frequencies, the University of Georgia group suggested further research on the use of ultrasonic whistles was warranted.
The Heffners, from the Whitetail Deer Research LLC, Ohio, obtained behavioral audiograms of two captive deer using a “conditioned-suppression avoidance procedure.” In simple terms, they conditioned thirsty deer to drink from a metal bowl that was wired to present a mild shock. Sounds of various (pure tone) frequency were then presented at random intervals followed by a mild electric shock. A deer avoided the shock by breaking contact with the bowl, thereby indicating that it had heard the sound frequency tested.
The Heffner study showed the whitetail’s hearing range extends from.11kHz to 5kHz. And, by increasing the intensity of the sound (to more than 90 decibels), the hearing range could be extended to 6kHz. Compared to humans, the Heffners concluded whitetailed deer have better high-frequency hearing but poorer low-frequency hearing.
New Science on Deer Whistles
When functioning as advertised, it’s important to recognize that deer whistles emit consistent, continuous sounds of equal intensity at one frequency. These so-called pure tones can also be produced using standard sound equipment.
For this reason, Valitzski and her group tested the effectiveness of a range of pure-tone sounds for altering the behavior of whitetails along roadways for prevention of deer-vehicle collisions. The study was conducted during April and June 200at the Berry College Wildlife refuge, located in northwestern Georgia, in an area with about 100 deer per square mile.
The Georgia-based researchers equipped a test vehicle with four high-frequency speakers calibrated to deliver selected frequencies between.2kHz and 2kHz. Speakers were set to emit sounds directly in front of the vehicle as well as to the sides. Levels of sound intensity were set high enough (70 decibels) to ensure that deer could hear the transmitted sounds, above vehicle road noise, within meters (32.feet) of the roadway as well as 30 meters (98.feet) ahead of the test vehicle.
Two test areas were established and marked with a study area of influence, encompassing a roadway and a 10-meter buffer zone on either side. During each test, an observer recorded deer behavior in response to one of six randomly selected treatments, including five different frequencies produced by the vehicle-mounted sound system as well as a control (no sound), as the vehicle was driven about 30 mph through the test area.
Neutral interaction — no change in risk of deer-vehicle accident.
Discouraging Results
Based upon the observed response of 31deer, the researchers concluded the pure tones did not alter deer behavior in such a way as to prevent deer-vehicle collisions. In other words, the simulated sounds of deer whistles were no more effective than no sound at all.
Overall, 5percent to 7percent of the observations were classified as neutral, meaning more than half the time deer did not alter their behavior in response to the test vehicle. Only the lowest frequency tested (.2kHz) produced a significant response. And that was unfavorable, because deer were more likely to enter the roadway in response to the treatment.
Deer might not recognize the sounds as threatening.
Because these results were obtained using pure tones similar to vehicle-mounted deer whistles, it was concluded that such commercially available products would not be effective for prevention of deer-vehicle collisions.
Product features
The Hoont™ Water Jet Blaster motion activated animal deterrent drives away unwanted “visitors” to your garden or property with a harmless jet of water. When the built-in sensor detects movement within a range of up to 30 feet, the jet of water is activated for approximately seconds. Animals are frightened by this jet of water and immediately leave the monitored area, and learn to avoid this area in the future. Also, the clicking noise of the distribution valve that sounds when the jet of water is activated frightens the animals and helps to drive them away.
Robust measures
Any fence needs to be robust enough to stop a deer tangling its legs, antlers or body in it, with a suffi ciently small gauge of mesh to prevent the animal from squeezing through; if the head fits, you’d be surprised at how easily the body can follow. Flimsy materials, such as chicken wire or light plastic mesh, should be avoided. Even the smallest breaches often created by badgers, are quickly exploited and widened.
I was recently called to some local allotments, which, despite a fine high fence, were still being raided by roe. The owners were mystified until I was able to point out numerous creeps the deer were using to get under it. A deer will nearly always choose to go under, rather than over, an obstacle. As a result, the base must be securely pegged, or better yet, buried or folded at a right angle on the outside and turfed over. The smallest gap will give the deer an opportunity to get through.
Snake-a-way Snake Repelling Granules
The Snake-a-way Snake Repelling Granules come in an easy to use formula that can be sprinkled around your property in order to keep a variety of snakes a bay, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to enjoy your favorite outdoor activities.
Simply sprinkle these granules around your backyard, patio, or other area you wish to keep snake free, and go on with your day. This easy to use formula is safe for all types of weather, meaning you can use them in a damn environment, as well as a dry and sunny one.
Cons of this formula include
The Solar Mole Repeller Snake Gopher Repellent for Lawn Garden Yards is a solar powered lawn stake that works by emitting underground sonic pulses to repel snakes and other pests from finding their way onto your property. The sonic pulse that this lawn stake provides is 400Hz every 30 seconds, and a single stake will cover up to 7,500 square feet of lawn.
The pulse penetrates soil, and since it is solar powered and features a 4.3V, 20mAh Battery and 3.2V, 250mAh rechargeable battery, you can be sure that it will always be active and protecting your favorite outdoor locations from pests. While this is usable in all weather conditions, the sunniest spot on the property will keep the stake working at top efficiency throughout the day and at night.
Who this is for
Probably the number one reason people wear bug repellent is for comfort, said dermatologist and bug repellent efficacy expert Dr. Mark Fradin. And yes, we tend to reach for that spray can when it gets “all bitey outside” (as my 3-year-old puts it). But increasingly, people are slapping on the bug spray for another reason: disease avoidance.
Pull Quote
The best known of these is probably Lyme disease, which at around 20,000 to 30,000 confirmed cases in 201is the most common insect-borne illness in the US.
How we picked
Things you want in a bug repellent: It has to repel bugs, be safe to use, not feel gross on your skin, and not be crazy expensive. Also, the smell should not make you gag.
Let’s address the first thing first, and talk about efficacy. Fortunately, a lot of scientific research on bug repellents exists. After reading gigantic stacks of papers and articles, we found that they all point to one repellent that’s tops in both safety and efficacy: DEET. Hands down, DEET is the safest and best-working bug repellent out there.
We’ve had many people ask us why we didn’t test any products with picaridin, a bug spray with a non-DEET active ingredient. We have much more below on picaridin (and other non-DEET repellents), but in short, picaridin is a newer bug repellent that hasn’t been in use as long as DEET has, so we don’t have nearly as much safety data on it. We’re not saying that picaridin isn’t safe—the data we have says that it is. But we’ve seen far fewer safety studies done on picaridin than on DEET.
How we tested
But even after we say that these repellents all work about the same, we have to note that other things set them apart. DEET is an oil, and so it can feel, well, oily on the skin. Therefore, I tested how yicky or non-yicky each repellent felt on the underside of my arm upon application, after minutes and after 20 minutes. I also noted whether the repellent had a strong odor, whether it puddled on the skin, and how easily I could get a light, even spray. Bonus points if the repellent had a locking cap, which keeps the spray from going off in a bag.
Aside from the oily feel, one of the top complaints about DEET is that it melts materials, usually plastic. The back labels on cans of repellent kind of warn against this, saying that the substance might damage materials such as rayon, acetate, spandex, furniture, watch crystals, leather, or painted surfaces. No watch crystals or fancy purses were harmed in the making of this guide, but I did smear the repellents on three types of fabric: 100 percent cotton, a 9percent rayon and percent spandex blend, and a 80 percent polyester and 20 percent spandex blend. I also tried it on plastic sandwich bags. But oh, happy day! This concentration of DEET did not damage any of the materials. The fabrics had some slight oil staining from the DEET, which was pretty much universal across all the sprays I tested. To my eyes, though, they didn’t suffer any detectable damage other than that. And the sandwich bags came out completely unscathed.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Even though DEET has been tested out the wazoo and found to be very safe, it has its drawbacks. One is that you have to wash it off after use. This step is to minimize your potential exposure to it, since the longer you leave it on your skin, the better the chance that you’ll absorb it. Although DEET has a reputation as being a scary chemical, not much evidence shows that it actually is harmful. Regardless, scientists believe that if it does have any damaging effects, such as a chance to cause neural disorders, they may come from large and repeated exposures over time. It is a pain to have to jump into the shower following an afternoon of fun in the woods, but you’re probably all gross and sweaty at that point anyway.
A related flaw is that DEET tends to have an odor that some people don’t like. Our pick does have a very light bug-spray scent—but we found that it fades away after 20 minutes.
Another strike against DEET is that it can damage some kinds of materials, such as plastics, fabrics, and fiberglass. Make sure to wash your hands after applying, and don’t spray it around tents and your fancy kayak. Complaints of damage tend to accompany sprays with very high concentrations of DEET. Our pick, Cutter Backwoods Dry, didn’t damage any of the materials we tested it on, nor did any of the other sprays we tried.
In the unlikely event that you can’t find Cutter Backwoods Dry in the store, go for Coleman High & Dry with 2percent DEET. This product was our former top pick, but people were complaining that the nozzle easily clogged or even broke, leaving them with a half-full can and no way to get the spray out. Not cool. We reached out repeatedly to the company about this issue and got no response. Other than that, Coleman High & Dry is a great bug spray—it goes on ever so slightly drier and more evenly than our top pick. But if you don’t want to risk buying a can and being unable to use it all, go for the Cutter spray. The difference in application is really small.
One odd thing about the Coleman High & Dry: It left a pasty residue on our test fabrics, a result of the cornstarch that makes it a dry formula. When I sprayed the repellent on my arm, however, I didn’t see or feel any film at all. I should note that I smeared quite a bit on the fabric with a cotton swab when I tested; nowhere near that amount should get in one place on your clothes or skin, unless you’re doing it wrong.
The competition
Repel Scented Family Formula, 1percent DEET, scored third on Consumer Reports tests: The spray of this one went absolutely everywhere, and it puddled a lot on my skin. Once on, it felt very sticky.
Coleman 25% DEET Insect Repellent, 2percent DEET, recommended by Vogue: The spray on this repellent was okay, but again it puddled on my skin. It was very oily both and 20 minutes after application. It also gave me a slight rash.
Off Deep Woods Insect Repellent VIII (dry), 2percent DEET, scored fifth on CR’s tests: This spray was the best in our initial tests, and it sent me searching for more dry-type sprays. It’s a great choice if it’s the only dry repellent you can find, as it was much less oily than all of the others in my initial test. However, it did end up being slightly oilier than our top pick, plus it doesn’t have a locking cap.
Sources
Baking soda neutralizes the ph in the soil and is a natural weed killer. Sprinkle baking soda around all of the edges of garden areas to keep the grass and weeds from growing into flower beds. Just lightly cover the soil twice a year – spring and fall.
Life in a Vernal Pool
In order to combat this problem in a humane way, people have become very creative. There are more than 20 commercial deer repellents on the market. Chemical repellents are classified as predator odor products, products that burn the tongue, or foul-tasting or foul-smelling products. They are all designed to produce conditioned aversion without hurting the deer. People have devised a number of homemade repellents, too. Other ways to control deer are eight-foot-tall fences, netting, preventing reproduction, dogs, trapping and relocation, strobe lights, and pyrotechnics. The most effective method is hunting, using a gun or a bow and arrow. Deer also have a number of natural predators, such as coyotes, foxes and wolves. This background research led me to develop my experiment around finding an effective deer repellent.
Experiment
The question I wanted to answer with my research was as follows: Which deterrent, when placed on a corncob, will deter the white-tailed deer from eating the corn cob? My hypothesis was that a putrescent egg product would be the most effective white-tailed deer repellent.
Methodology and Procedures
If I were to repeat this experiment, it would be helpful to have a night-vision trail camera to see if there were sources of error, such as other animals impacting the experiment.
Teacher Tip
Have students explore the process of science with a discussion based on this essay.
Tell students that in the essay they are about to read a student experiments to find ways to repel the white-tailed deer that are eating the family’s plants and shrubs. As students read the essay have them focus on how the student collected and presented her data.
How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the deer repellent by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
Final Word
First of all thanks for reading my article to the end! I hope you find my reviews listed here useful and that it allows you to make a proper comparison of what is best to fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to try more than one product if your first pick doesn’t do the trick.
Most important, have fun and choose your deer repellent wisely! Good luck!
So, TOP3 of deer repellent
- №1 — Nature’s MACE Deer and Rabbit Repellent 40oz Concentrate
- №2 — Deer Repellent for Plants – Deer Repel Pouches Stop Deer and Rabbits Eating Plants Trees Gardens & Orchards
- №3 — Havahart DO5600-6 Deer Off Weatherproof Deer Repellent
Questions? Leave a comment below!
Chatting about deer repellent is my passion! Leave me a question in the comments, I answer each and every one and would love to get to know you better!
