Best Deer Repellents

Starting a garden offers incredible happiness and perks like loads of fresh fruits and vegetables. Enjoy produce without any nasty chemicals. But watch out—deer can cause havoc in your garden. These critters munch through about 7 pounds of your greens a day. If they find their way in, they could gobble up your beloved small trees, shrubs, and perennials.

There are different types of deer repellents, such as odor, taste, mechanical, and electrical. You have put much effort into your garden and can’t wait for deer and other animals to destroy it. If you don’t want your hard work to go into deer’s stomach, read on to find out the best deer repellent. Continuous feeding can eradicate your lawn all year and especially during winter when it’s challenging to find food.

5 Best Deer Repellent Reviews

Bobbex Deer Repellent

Key Features

• It is made of all-natural ingredients.
• During spring and summer, 8oz of water dilutes 1oz of concentrate while in winter and fall 1oz of concentrate is diluted using 5oz of water.
• It weighs 3lbs
• It should be sprayed every 10 to 14 days.
• It is applied directly to the plants being protected.

This is the longest-lasting and most effective repellent spray in the market. Bobbex Deer repellent is made using recycled and all-natural ingredients with a variety of taste and scent deterrents. This ingredient includes cat food, sodium benzoate, magnesium silica, magnesium sulfate, urea, fish oil, fish meal, wintergreen oil, cloves, garlic, and whole putrescent egg solids. It can be used on vegetables, forest trees, flowers, and shrubs.

Why we like it

• It is all-natural and environmentally friendly.
• It lasts longer and is very useful.
• It doesn’t wash off after application.
• It is harmless and safe for wildlife.
• It stops the deer from eating your plants.
• Works for other plant destroyers in your farm.

What we don’t like

• It isn’t suitable for edible vegetables and fruits.
• It has an overpowering smell that may affect people allergic to strong scents.

Our Verdict

We recommend the deer repellent because it’s safe and harmless to wildlife. It is perfect for people living in densely populated areas. It is useful for both new plants and those with rapid growth. The repellent outperforms on mule deer, elk, whitetail deer, and blacktail deer.

Save-A-Deer Whistle

Key Features

• It features a dual construction with a single mount.
• It is less than a cubic inch in size.
• It comes with a double sticky adhesive tape for easy mounting.
• It has an automobile design.
• It requires 35mph speed for it to be mounted and work.

This is a humanely way to scare away deer and other animals. It eliminates the risks of hitting animals to drive them off. It is perfect for people living in densely populated areas by deer. The whistle will help you have a deer-free and guilt-free car grill.

Why we like it

• It can be mounted on a motorcycle, truck, car, or vehicle moving.
• It alerts kangaroos, antelope, elk, moose, and deer of an approaching vehicle to prevent an accident.
• It is easy to mount with self-adhesive tape.
• It is an air-activated animal alert.
• It doesn’t make audible noise for humans.
• It doesn’t need more energy input.
• It is small but very useful.
• It hosts both units in a single frame.

What we don’t like

• The whistle holes may get blockages.
• Deer might stop in front of your car and keep staring.
• It requires at least 35 mph speed to work.

Our Verdict

This deer repellent is the smallest whistle in the market but keeps off deer and other animals without risks of hit and run. It houses both units in the same frame, which is impressive. Also, it doesn’t disturb humans, and it’s ideal for both short and long drives.

Deer Out Concentrate Repellent

Key Features

• Its minty fresh scent is pleasant to humans.
• It offers a 100% money-back guarantee.
• It is made of all-natural ingredients.
• It doesn’t wash off during rains or irrigation.
• It can make 2.5 gallons of a ready-to-use deterrent.
• It contains garlic oil, peppermint oil, and putrefied eggs solid, which repel deer.

Deer Out 40oz repellent is perfect for large backyards or gardens. The sprays should be applied frequently but can be used during all seasons of the year. With the minty smell, the garden feels refreshing. This deer out repellent doesn’t kill the animals, but it creates unappetizing flavor on your plants to prevent the deer from feeding on them.

Why we like it

• It is created with natural ingredients only, so no poisons or harmful chemicals.
• It is perfect for all seasons throughout the year.
• Natural stickers are added to prevent washing off during rain.
• It doesn’t alter the trees’ growth or poison the edible plants.
• Deer try to avoid the peppermint in it.

What we don’t like

• Require frequent application.

Our Verdict

We recommend Deer Out, for it is rain-resistant and has a pleasant refreshing smell. It is safe for your vegetables and fruits. Besides, the deer repellent doesn’t kill the deer but repels through taste.

Pounds Liquid Fence Repellent

Key Features

• It is highly biodegradable
• It contains thyme oil, potassium sorbate, and sodium lauryl sulfate.
• It comes in a 5 pounds pack
• It comes with a 100% money-back guarantee
• Garlic and putrescent eggs solid are the active ingredients.
• It features a sticking power to prevent it from washing away.

Liquid Fence repellent is ideal for people living in suburban areas. The places are highly invaded by deer, but to avoid regular applications, this works best. It not only keeps away deer but also other animals. It works effectively to prevent deer from attacking your trees, vines, garden areas, flowers, shrubs, and plants.

Why we like it

• It works through scent, so the rabbit or deer won’t take a bite.
• It helps to keep deer off the ground cover and low-lying plants easily.
• It is safe for plants and animals.
• It comes in the form of granules and can be easily applied.
• It is easy to use and environmentally safe.

What we don’t like

• It has an overpowering scent.
• Not suitable for larger plants.

Our Verdict

This deer repellent comes in a reasonable quantity, and it also gets your work done. It is perfect for all seasons. Additionally, the Liquid Fence repellent doesn’t require frequent application. The sticking power ensures the repellent isn’t washed by rain or through irrigation. We recommend it for commercial growers, gardeners, professional landscapers, and homeowners.

Nature’s Mace Repellent

Key Features

• It is environmentally friendly so it won’t damage your plants.
• It contains three times more active ingredients than most of the leading repellents.
• It uses proven technology, which allows it to dry with no smell.
• Its 40oz concentrate can make 5 gallons of spray.
• It treats up to 28,000 SQ. Ft area coverage.
• The proven ingredients are backed by university research.

The 40oz Concentrate Nature’s Mace repellent is more potent than most repellents in the market. It is created using both taste and scent method to effectively repel rabbits and deer better than most methods.

Why we like it

• It is an all year-round repellent.
• It is safe for aquatic life, pets, and humans.
• It won’t wash off during regular use, irrigation or rain.
• It is long-lasting and dries odorless.
• It is suitable for gardens, landscapes, and lawns.
• The animals may smell it and stay away without eating the plants.
• It repels by fear, scent, and smell.
• It works for both deer and rabbit.
• It has no foul smell.
• It can also be used as an organic fertilizer.

What we don’t like

• It isn’t suitable for flowering plants.

Our Verdict

This product outperforms other brands by repelling rabbits and deer effectively from vines, trees, shrubs, gardens, landscapes, and yawns. It is long-lasting and odorless. The repellent can be applied at any time of the year.

How to Pick the Best Deer Repellent for Your Needs

With so many products in the market, you need to know the aspects to consider when buying a deer repellent. But before that, let’s discuss the types of deer repellent.

Types of Deer Repellent

Conventional deer repellents come in granulated powder or liquids which can be applied to the ground or directly on plants to deter the deer from the area. The liquid repellents can come in a concentrated form that should be diluted with water to become useful or in ready to use kind of spray. Granular repellents work best if applied to the soil, grass, or mulch around the new trees, garden, or flower bed. The liquid repellents are mostly used for more acute or small areas where deer browses while the granular repellent protects the whole area.

Taste based deer repellents:

This type of deer repellent is sprayed directly to plants. It contains adhesive, rotten eggs, garlic, and hot sauce to make the plants smelly, taste terrible, and burn the animals’ nose. The taste-based repellent is applied regularly and after every rain. These types of repellents are not suitable for edibles.

The taste repellents need the deer to take a bite on the treated plant, and when they do, unappetizing flavors of pepper oil and capsaicin greets them. Deer will find that the taste-treated plants aren’t right for them, and they will try to look elsewhere.

Odor -based repellents:

Odor-based deer repellent fills an entire place with a strong scent. This repellent can be either chemical or biological. Deer can detect the smell from a distance, unlike the taste-based options. Some of the deer repellents have a pleasant scent like a clove of shredded garlic and deodorant soap. However, most biological deer repellents smell horrible and are gross. On the other hand, chemical repellents are dangerous and harmful to humans. Chemicals commonly used are ammonia, nicotine, creosote, Thiram, lime sulfur, and mothballs. The odor-based repellents are sprayed directly on the area to be protected or the plants. However, cold weather can reduce repellents’ effectiveness.

Electronic deer repellents:

This helps to shock deer on their nose and scare them to stay away. A standard electric fence will perform well, but it should be tall to prevent deer from jumping into your garden or lawn without getting in contact with the wires.

Mechanical deer repellents:

These are deer repellents created to scare away the deer. There are ultrasonic repellents that alert the animals through sound that can’t be detected by humans. Some of them are designed to change frequency so that deer can’t learn and become used to that sound. Other methods like sirens, lights, and exploders are not applied because they are offensive to humans.

Factors to Consider

• Safety – The deer repellent you choose must be safe for your family and plants. Some of these repellents can’t be used on vegetables or fruits because they contain harmful chemicals. Some of them may even kill your plants. You aren’t planning to harm the deer but to deer it, so the repellent should be safe for the animals.
• Timing – Some of these deer repellents last for only a few days and may require frequent application. If you have a busy schedule, go for a repellent that can deter deer for a longer time. Because if you get busy and forget to apply, your plants could be destroyed before you use a second time. Other deer repellents last for merely several hours or minutes.
• Range – Different deer repellents cover different ranges of area. Some are formulated to work for individual plants, while others will suit the entire vegetation. Working on individual plants can be tiresome, unlike spraying the whole plants. You should buy repellents with a broader range of coverage.
• Biodegradable and Non-toxic – You should ensure the products are non-toxic and safe for your kids. Kids can come across the used packs, which can pose a danger to their lives. The unused packages should be wrapped in newspaper and disposed of in the trash. It should be made with all-natural ingredients and EPA-certified.
• Mild odor – Although you want to keep deer away from your farm, you don’t want your garden to become smelly, right? Some deer repellents have an unbearable odor that can irritate humans while the top best repellents feature bearable and mild odor that humans can tolerate. The milder its odor, the better it is for repelling deer. If your garden is smelly, you will also hide it from your guests.
• Organic – Organic ingredients don’t harm the environment. Since most of the gardens are around your home, you should use products that are safe for humans, animals, and plants.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Deer Repellents

1. What smells Repel Deer?

Some of the deer repellents deter deer through scent. There are scent types commonly used. First, one of the deer repellents is created with a sense of smell of the deer while the second one increases the deer’s sense of danger. Some of the ingredients used to keep the deer away are human air, rotten eggs, and garlic. Also, some perennial herbs repel plants. Such herbs include yarrow, tansy, and artemisia. Culinary herbs like chives, dill, oregano, tarragon, thyme, and mint keep away deer and other animals.

2. Does Deer Repellent really Work?

These deer repellents are not 100% effective, but they have a high success rate. Although deer may become immune to the strong smells from these repellents, they still perform well to put deer away. Also, most of these products are pretty affordable, so they’re worth investing in compared to expensive solutions like fences.

3. Do Coffee Grounds keep Deer Away?

Spreading coffee grounds around your lawn, yard or garden can help to repel unwanted pests and animals. It is environmentally friendly and safe. Coffee grounds have numerous benefits in your garden, including fertilizing the soil and keeping away deer.

Final Thoughts

Your lawn or garden requires the utmost effort and care from you. And you can’t risk allowing deer into your farm for it will eradicate everything. You need to get the best deer repellents to keep deer away from your garden. Also, consider the health effects of using different deer repellents before you purchase. Organic nature, timing, and range are essential aspects when making your choice.

Bobbex is our favorite. It is the longest lasting and most effective product in the market. It contains natural ingredients only and won’t wash away even under the rain. Bobbex deer repellent can be applied to a large area, and it’s safe for your family too. Unlike most deer repellents, this product repels both deer and other garden destroyers from your home. It is excellent for commercial farmers and homeowners.