Deer-Away Deer & Rabbit Repellent

IS DEER AWAY EFFECTIVE?
Deer Away has been proven effective in university and government tests; it is the repellent used by the U.S. Forest Service. Deer Away is guaranteed effective by the manufacturer.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
The active ingredient in all Deer Away products is putrescent egg solids. Deer Away products repel by odor and taste. Unlike products that repel only by taste, Deer Away products teach animals to avoid plants before they bite.  Deer do not even need to taste (eat) the foliage to find out they don't like it.

WHAT ANIMALS DOES DEER AWAY REPEL?
In the United States, Deer Away products are registered with the EPA for use against the following animals : White-tailed deer, Black-tailed deer (mule deer), Rabbits, Elk.

In Canada, Deer Away products are registered with the PMRA for use against : Deer and Big game, Squirrels

Note: Deer Away was proven effective for protecting conifer seedlings against moose, mountain beaver and other animals. However, these animals are not listed on the EPA or PMRA registered labels.

SINCE DEER AWAY IS MADE FROM EGGS, DOES IT SMELL BAD?
A deer's nose has hundreds of millions of odor receptor sites; the human nose has five million. The odor of Deer Away products repels deer, but is mild and not objectionable to most people.

HOW LONG DOES DEER AWAY LAST?
Deer Away, on average, lasts up to three months. It contains a latex polymer that resists washing off. In some cases it may be effective for more than three months. Several factors affect repellent performance: deer population density, eating patterns and new plant growth. For example, if the deer population is limited and the food supply is plentiful, deer will simply change their browsing area because of the repellent. Under extreme conditions, such as continued heavy rainfall, excessive deer pressure or rapid new growth of plants, more frequent application may be required.

CAN DEER AWAY BE USED ON VEGETABLE GARDENS?
Deer Away products are not formally registered for use on edible crops. It is a food-grade product, but since it is formulated for long-lasting repellency, it binds to the plant and will not readily wash off edible products and may therefore affect the taste. Deer Away is, however, listed for use on citrus and fruit trees in their dormant stages before the fruit is set.

WHEN SHOULD I APPLY DEER AWAY?
Apply only to dry plants and only under weather conditions favouring prompt drying of spray (lightly breezy, mild dry weather with low relative humidity. If spray is used on wet plants or in damp, cold, foggy and misty weather or if precipitation or freezing occurs before spray can dry, protection may be partially or completely lost.

WHAT PLANTS HAVE BEEN TESTED?
The following plants have been tested: 
Conifer seedlings
· Yew Japanese and Canadian
· Arborvitae Pyramidal and Globe
· Flowering crab-apple trees
· Hemlock
· Scotch pine White Spruce
· Honeysuckle
· Azalea
· Rhododendron
· Juniper
· Fruit and citrus trees*
· Ornamental shrubs
* Fruit and citrus trees should be dormant when Deer Away is applied.
Note: Many additional trees and plants such as apple, cedar and ash trees, hosta and dogwood not on the EPA-registered label have been used in repellency studies by universities over the past twenty years with no phytotoxicity effects. A study conducted in Canada, from September 1991 to June 1992, concluded that Deer-Away application had no adverse effect on the growth or blooming of tulip bulbs.

ARE THERE OTHER PRODUCTS THAT DO THE SAME THING?

Deer Away products were patented in the late 1970's. These products use odour for repellency mode of action to prevent animals from even beginning to nibble on the plant. Latex polymers were added for long-lasting repellency. In 1986 and 1987 Deer Away was studied by the USDA and proven effective with aversive conditioning flagging techniques resulting in 100% repellency for three months. And, although Deer Away does not claim on packaging, studies show effective repellency for a year or more. New products on the market have attempted to imitate the formulations and technologies of Deer Away, but none have out-performed the Deer Away products in replicated university and government studies.