need advise on air gun to sting Bambi

[goodolejim]

We have a deer problem. Deer are killing our fruit trees by eating the bark. A few evenings ago I counted 14 deer in the yard. I live in Salt Lake City with neighbors within 200 feet so am limited to low power guns plus I really don't wish to injure Bambi. I am using a Daisy Powerline 901 which works for one animal but no effect on the others. The 901 is a pump single shot Thinking a semi auto would move more deer away. Department of Wildlife says "Not our problem". Any thoughts or suggestions?

[rondog]

I have no experience with this, but a friend who does tells me deer can be very tough to shoo away. They just don't "get it", they're only interested in the food. Even thumping them with paintballs only chases them away temporarily. Which is why the Game Rangers give out handfuls of depradation permits in his area to thin them out.

[C. Latch]

We have a deer problem. Deer are killing our fruit trees by eating the bark. A few evenings ago I counted 14 deer in the yard. I live in Salt Lake City with neighbors within 200 feet so am limited to low power guns plus I really don't wish to injure Bambi. I am using a Daisy Powerline 901 which works for one animal but no effect on the others. The 901 is a pump single shot Thinking a semi auto would move more deer away. Department of Wildlife says "Not our problem". Any thoughts or suggestions?

I own an orchard. I'd consider individual tree shelters. I have had some success using clear plastic bags to create something of a physical barrier around most of the tree. Shelters would be better, but they're pricey.

[DougGuy]

Some people put pvc pipe around a tree's trunk up far enough to protect the bark from being eaten.

[gtgeorge]

Moth balls worked for my neighbors fields when he was farming them to set up a barrier they would not cross. Smell liked to ran me off too though.

[crawfobj]

Full auto air soft? Might work only temporarily as has been said, but it would be fun. Won't break the skin, but it would get their attention.

My brother turned the head of a rattlesnake into goo with one at far too close of a range.

[Zymurgy50]

Plant some "Ghost Chilli's" around the fruit trees. One taste and the deer will not return........

[CastingFool]

Take 10 eggs, crack them and mix them up well and add to a gallon of water. Let it sit on your countertop for 7 days. Don't worry it won't stink that bad. Add a tablespoon of dish detergent, this breaks up the surface tension and keeps the liquid from running off. If you like you can add a teaspoon or two of finely ground black pepper. Put in a spray bottle and spray your trees with it. Once the deer taste that stuff, they will stop eating the bark. That is what I use in my garden, and I live out in the country. According to the instructions, you should re spray after every rain.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

Take 10 eggs, crack them and mix them up well and add to a gallon of water. Let it sit on your countertop for 7 days. Don't worry it won't stink that bad. Add a tablespoon of dish detergent, this breaks up the surface tension and keeps the liquid from running off. If you like you can add a teaspoon or two of finely ground black pepper. Put in a spray bottle and spray your trees with it. Once the deer taste that stuff, they will stop eating the bark. That is what I use in my garden, and I live out in the country. According to the instructions, you should re spray after every rain.

Something along these lines works and has worked for farmers for years. There are variations on this theme, but basically you want your trees to not taste good to the deer.

[wch]

Take 10 eggs, crack them and mix them up well and add to a gallon of water. Let it sit on your countertop for 7 days. Don't worry it won't stink that bad. Add a tablespoon of dish detergent, this breaks up the surface tension and keeps the liquid from running off. If you like you can add a teaspoon or two of finely ground black pepper. Put in a spray bottle and spray your trees with it. Once the deer taste that stuff, they will stop eating the bark. That is what I use in my garden, and I live out in the country. According to the instructions, you should re spray after every rain.

I use a commercial mixture called "Deer Away" in a sprayer; if you follow their directions as to mix strength and frequency, it works very well. This stuff is sold online and at our local Tractor Supply store.

[freebullet]

Rubber shotgun slugs would be fun or bean bags loaded light.

Lol make the trees unappealing flavor sounds most reasonable but not as much fun. It would be.a good night deterrent too though.

[grizzlyadams]

slingshot and some moth balls tag them in the rear with a mothball

[Maximumbob54]

I'm sorry but I'm still laughing at the thought of walking up on a deer I had just shot and seeing it peppered with paint ball spots. I'm not sure what I would think.

[NVScouter]

I used paintballs (older the better...Walmart is great for this) on wild horses and deer. Now I use better fences, I'm told the Deer Away works great but lots of people.

[crawfobj]

One of those Alaska trooper shows had an investigation into a dead cow moose that was ultimately determined to have been killed by a homeowner with a pellet gun. They were trying to chase it out of their yard. Must have been a serious pellet gun!

[R.M.]

....... Must have been a serious pellet gun!

Or complete BS

[crawfobj]

Or complete BS

Or that of course!

[Smoke4320]

308 pellet going 2700 FPS

[aspangler]

Try this old trick. Put a bar of IVORY bath soap in the forks of the trees and water well. The deer hate the taste and the rain keeps it refreshed.

[GhostHawk]

Actually you could kill a moose with a single .22lr into the lungs. I suspect a .22 pellet gun could do the same.

Not reasonable, not what i'd call ethical, means a long slow lingering death for the animal.
But it has been done before.

IMO don't "shoot" anything you don't want to kill. Throw a rock, pee on a tree, do something else to discourage them.