Do gas cannon bird scarers work on deer?

[PurBee]

Does anyone have any experience of gas cannons used for scaring deer off grazing fields?

Aside from fencing my whole acerage, which is a hugely long and expensive job to undertake right now, i am considering ideas to scare deer off my grazing land.
Its been a mild winter and grass growth is abundant in my small fenced off veg plot - but theres barely a blade of grass longer than half inch over the entirety of my grazing fields as i have herds of them come to graze overnight.

Theyre costing me 10quid a day in hay for my horses, ‘cos there’s northing to eat out there, thanks to them grazing down to a nub all winter long! ? im so annoyed by this issue. Got all this land and nothing much for horses to eat due to deer! I only have decent summer grazing as the growth is faster than the deer can consume.

I dont have a gun licence. Theyre here at night when shooting is prohibited.
We’re surrounded by government spruce forestry where they roam/hide during the day so gunmen struggle to shoot in forests to reduce numbers.

I was hoping a bird-scaring gas cannon gunshot device would work. They can be set to blast off at timed intervals - what timing would you recommend?

My dog runs them off during the day, but at night is in the house, she’d only lay by the front door at night if out, instead of roaming to scare off deer as shes predominantly a house guard dog.

 

[windand rain]

No would be the first thought as mammals tend to adapt to regular and non invasive noise Also they can only be used in daylight hours.
Sorry but a fence is the only way. A cull might cut the numbers so ask a local gamekeeper

 

[[153312]]

I didn't think they could be let off at night?

 

[PurBee]

Oh, they cant be let off at night?….shoite…didnt think of that…im so rural isolated i have island mentality!

I did wonder if theyd get used to the bang sound and eventually ignore it and carry on grazing. Theyre used to seeing me potter about at night with my head torch….look st me, see if im going to run at them, if not, they carry on, even if i shout at them….bold as brass!

2 young deer one day saw me walking towards them and ran towards me! They then suddenly stopped thinking “what are we doing?! and turned and jogged off. I thought exactly the same “what ARE you doing?” ?

they can even clear 6 foot with a run-up…ive tested their athleticism. I thought horses ate loads, but their herds soon clear a few acres overnight of growing tips.

 

[windand rain]

Gamekeeper it is then. Enjoy some lovely venison in return for a reduction in numbers

 

[[153312]]

buy some deer fencing

 

[kathantoinette]

No, a gas gun wouldn’t scare them. We have a lot of deer around here and gas guns for the pigeons and they don’t move an inch when they go off!

 

[Sprogladite01]

The deer in my area are also not phased by them in the slightest - sorry! We have the same issue so share your frustrations!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I don't think they would work and no one has them going off at night round here tbh I would be pretty pissed off if they went off through the night they are really loud and in the field next door to us, I know they start at about 7.30 am every morning which is bad enough if your wanting a lie in.

When they first start round here they make my horses jump for a few days then they are fine, so I would imagine the deer would be the same.

 

[spacefaer]

Gas guns won't work for all the previously mentioned reasons.

Whereabouts are you and what kind of deer are they?

My OH has worked with and managed deer his whole life so has offered the following advice - he says electric fencing would work - three strands - top strand at human head height, bottom strand low enough they can't creep underneath.

Or if you were close enough, he'd happily help reduce the numbers for you!

 

[Keith_Beef]

Try this: peanut butter and electricity.

 

[poiuytrewq]

We have 4 deer in the little bit of woodland by our house. There is a gas gun literally next to it and they just stand unphased whilst it go’s off.

 

[twiggy2]

Can you not just add extensions to the existing fence and put 3 strands of plain wire up to make the fence deer fence height?
I can see how electric fencing would work, the muntjac are forever running through the electric fencing for the sheep where I am currently lambing

 

[PurBee]

Gas guns won't work for all the previously mentioned reasons.

Whereabouts are you and what kind of deer are they?

My OH has worked with and managed deer his whole life so has offered the following advice - he says electric fencing would work - three strands - top strand at human head height, bottom strand low enough they can't creep underneath.

Or if you were close enough, he'd happily help reduce the numbers for you!

Red, fallow, sika deer and ive spotted muntjac. Seen huge stags to teeny babies. My place is a deer park!
Theyre attracted to my land because ive resown the grazing to include a whole variety of grasses. The only grasses growing ‘wild’ between the forests is tall fescue mainly…they prefer my mix. I’ve re-mineralised the soil too so the grazing is mineral rich and balanced for the horses, unlike the wild lands…high iron and acidic….i think they are attracted due to that too.

I have 4 strand electric 5 ft - they either jump it or jump between the strands, without missing a beat. We’ve seen our dog smell one out of the forest and they come flying through the fence strands like spitfire planes…their agility is unbelievable.

They sometimes clip the line with their feet and drag the fencing down….pulling out posts etc. Theyre barging through at a canter bounce pace….from forestry.
They’ve often trashed the fencing and i have to keep doing walks to keep it drum tight. The whole perimeter is electrified…ive km’s of the stuff and uprated the charger to 10k volts.

There’s not a square meter of the land without either deer prints or poop…theyre everywhere. I once spotted a herd of 18 grazing during the day yrs ago….rare to see so many out during the day. I am amazed how few i see out during daylight. Only very young pairs have i seen sometimes in daylight. Theyre so bloody elusive as well!

Many shooters come to the valley but often leave empty handed due to heavy forestry not allowing a clear shot. Theyre got more forest to hide in than open land to be exposed on. Vastly more acres of forest than open land around here.
Everyone here suffers with deer, and no-one , aside from erecting mammoth fencing, has solved the issue. It has a huge impact socially and agriculturally…i know 3 households who bought large acreages for human food organic crops and gave up on their projects due to deer. Polytunnels and dogs roaming loose are popular here!
Im in the process of spending K’s on 7’ fencing a football pitch size area for my agri crops…which at least help pay for horse hay, and feed us!

I had 7 foot fencing but without giant well-seated 8+inch posts holding it up, they crash into it and bring the lot down. In the dark they cant see dark fencing so it has to be a seriously strong fence aswell as high.

Fishing wire from youtube was suggested by folks in the usa, they cant see it, get spooked and run away. I tried it, that works if they walk upto the fence, but if theyre running they crash through it, and pull the lot down. I ended up with a mess of posts and fishing wire and all crops eaten within a short space of time.

Bambi is a lie…bambi is greedy and destructive! ?

They dont eat my lavender….ive considered converting to a lavender farm….seriously!

The whole perimeter would cost an eye-watering sum…not feasible for the foreseeable.

im in Ireland….thank your husband for the advice and offer ?

 

[Keith_Beef]

Get yourself a the required licences and start a business butchering and selling venison?

 

[Widgeon]

Get yourself a the required licences and start a business butchering and selling venison?

mmm.....I know it's naughty but I'd be tempted to get a licence, and then (if you're that remote) start pushing the boundaries of what defines "night". Maybe shooting a few would discourage them.

 

[Aleka81]

mmm.....I know it's naughty but I'd be tempted to get a licence, and then (if you're that remote) start pushing the boundaries of what defines "night". Maybe shooting a few would discourage them.

Getting a firearms license with the correct calibre rifle for deer is not an easy thing!
You have to prove competency and awareness of all aspects of rifle shooting.

And a decent rifle set up will be upwards of £3k easily!

 

[Widgeon]

Getting a firearms license with the correct calibre rifle for deer is not an easy thing!
You have to prove competency and awareness of all aspects of rifle shooting.

And a decent rifle set up will be upwards of £3k easily!

But as a long term solution, compared with the cost of fencing all the land then maintaining that fencing, or paying £10 a day for hay for all eternity, it might be worth considering. I have no idea how much shooting you'd have to do to keep them away though - you wouldn't want to be creeping around every evening would you.

 

[HashRouge]

I have no solutions but just wanted to sympathise OP, as we also have huge herds of deer (mainly fallow) that graze all our grass. My YM thinks that the hay field doesn't grow well because she lets the horses graze it in the autumn. I have tried to point out that this makes naff all difference - it's the herds of deer that graze it every night that are the issue! If it was my property I would get deer fencing put in all around the grazing land, but sadly it isn't. We do manage okay, but like you we should be able to manage winter feeding little to no hay but can't because of the deer! Ticks are also an issue.

 

[Keith_Beef]

Getting a firearms license with the correct calibre rifle for deer is not an easy thing!
You have to prove competency and awareness of all aspects of rifle shooting.

And a decent rifle set up will be upwards of £3k easily!

From OP's description of the situation, I don't think that a telescopic sight or bipod would be necessary. A decent .303 can be had for under £500.

 

[PurBee]

I have no solutions but just wanted to sympathise OP, as we also have huge herds of deer (mainly fallow) that graze all our grass. My YM thinks that the hay field doesn't grow well because she lets the horses graze it in the autumn. I have tried to point out that this makes naff all difference - it's the herds of deer that graze it every night that are the issue! If it was my property I would get deer fencing put in all around the grazing land, but sadly it isn't. We do manage okay, but like you we should be able to manage winter feeding little to no hay but can't because of the deer! Ticks are also an issue.

My ‘hay’ field suffers too….i should be able to get more tonnage than i do.

7 acres and struggle to feed just 2 horses 24/7 at any point during the year just on grass…its mad!

Ticks really are an issue too in the unkempt boundaries mostly now….although now all the acreage is short there’s much lower numbers, (wasnt when we got here, neglected for 50yrs)

Regarding shooting. Im not a shooter, and also vegetarian so have no interest in venison, though plenty would be. Friends have owned rifles and ive handled one and its just not my thing. These friends shoot rabbit, and inexperienced, not suitable for deer cull in tricky terrain.
These isolated valleys often have gangs of shooters who have inherited ‘dads’ gun and without licence head out to the valleys where very few people live, hoping for some venison. Okay if theyre a good shot, but i often hear deer screaming through the woods from a badly placed shot.
I’d want a good, experienced hunter. I cant just ask around as word will get out and i’ll get all sorts turning up here at night shooting around my house and horses, without asking me. It’s the wild west!

I think i’ll be best to write to the dept. Of agri about the issue and liase with them. They have licences to grant for ‘one off culls’ and must know of experienced hunters who are licensed on their books.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone - over the years ive researched the issue and solutions and it seems the only solution is repeated culling or 7 foot fort-knox type perimeter fencing.

ONE LAST QUESTION: Many say shooting on the land scares them. But that has to be regular otherwise they move back in. If i got a bang device or a shooter here to pop off a few bangs around nightfall, do you think that would work to deter them from grazing that night?
I often hear shots when its just about to get dark, just a few, then its quiet and wonder if others use that as a method to scare off deer that night?

 

[Widgeon]

7 acres and struggle to feed just 2 horses 24/7 at any point during the year just on grass…its mad!...I think i’ll be best to write to the dept. Of agri about the issue and liase with them. They have licences to grant for ‘one off culls’ and must know of experienced hunters who are licensed on their books.

That sounds like a good idea...not being able to support two horses on 7 acres is pretty dreadful. Good luck, I hope you can find a solution so you can stop forking out for hay.

 

[PurBee]

That sounds like a good idea...not being able to support two horses on 7 acres is pretty dreadful. Good luck, I hope you can find a solution so you can stop forking out for hay.

thanks widgeon….i pretty much use my land as exercise space for the horses rather than account it as food!

My longterm solution is to move! But thats because there’s 1 other major aspect here ( and a few minor) , that is as impeding as the deer, to my overall agricultural aims.
Its like trying to make a silk purse from a sows ear. This place would suit a sheep farmer with a pack of dogs and a gun!

 

[Orangehorse]

I know someone who has been asked to shoot 50 deer on a local estate as the numbers are growing so fast.
They have all the necessary qualifications, rifle, etc.

 

[Keith_Beef]

Over here, the agency that manages forests organises, with the town council, culls to keep down the numbers of boar in the forest. If the deer are causing all sorts of problems like breaking fences, eating crops and spreading ticks, then I'm surprised that the authorities don't organise a cull.

 

[PurBee]

Over here, the agency that manages forests organises, with the town council, culls to keep down the numbers of boar in the forest. If the deer are causing all sorts of problems like breaking fences, eating crops and spreading ticks, then I'm surprised that the authorities don't organise a cull.

There was a cull in 2012 when the recession hit hardest and every man and his son headed for these hills to get 80 euro per deer carcass from the local butcher.

I’ve read online from other irish farmers their problems too. Many of them state that their even grazing their sheep 1 month later than normal in spring due to deer grazing the land down over winter slowing/hampering spring growth. Many blame the government forestry mega-projects throughout the country (that boundaries farmers lands) as aiding the fast growth/survival of deer herds. The government put up short sheep fencing at the edge of their spruce plantation ‘forests’ as ‘deer fencing’. Of course they just jump it…3-4ft is nothing.

We can avail of standard 4ft heigh stock fencing via eu farmer grants….but not 6-7ft deer fencing to protect crops! I’d jump at the chance of even some contribution, as any other farmer would.

Its wild like the highlands of scotland here, but without the vast expanses of heather/rough hill land. Wherever a spruce will grow, the government has planted there. There’s spruce growths between me and the 2 farmers either side of me. I could apply to ‘rent’ my 7 acres to the government to grow spruce for 250 quid a hectare, per year….and they would!

Wherever there is some land, theyll plant spruce. So they can declare to the EU they are ‘re-foresting’ ireland and submitting to those type of EU mandatory requirements for ‘ecological wealth’. Its a farce and disrupts many aspects of agri-life that they do not consider or give 2 hoots about.

Dense spruce forestry allow the deer a warm and sheltered place to bed down in the moss during the day, knowing shooters cant get at them. At night they emerge onto all ’farmed’ land. No night shooting allowed. It’s unfair really.

 

[PurBee]

I know someone who has been asked to shoot 50 deer on a local estate as the numbers are growing so fast.
They have all the necessary qualifications, rifle, etc.

Is this person in ireland orangehorse?

 

[ycbm]

buy some deer fencing

You need 8 feet for deer, it's seriously expensive and pretty ugly.

Male deer jump like ... well..... stags!
.

 

[[153312]]

omg, I didn't realise how expensive it was. Starting prices of £70 per metre