I've had dozens of outdoor seasons and most of the time it hasn't worked out. The majority of the time I come up on my girls only to find that a deer has plucked the tops clean and then they will keep coming back to chomp the new growth. Of course, I've had drought, winds, frost etc.. take a few crops but most of the time it's deer that ruin my season. I've read about leaving hair and other scents to deter animals away, but being a avid bow hunter I know for a fact it does not work. Maybe for a few days but scent usually dissipates within 48 hours or animals will recognize that there is no threat and go on with their business. I've observed deer actually going out of their way to check out a new smell - sniffing where I was, where I pissed, where I sat etc.. So taking your barber's mess usually just gives field mice good nesting materials.
My solution is this
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It's pretty simple actually. Just plant your crop where ever as normal and find four trees or posts, whatever, you just need a few good anchor points at least 3 feet tall. And you basically spin a web around them. The only tricky part is getting over the web to get to the plants. I have been using the bucket I take to stand on and then grabbing a branch to hop over.
Make sure to get the heavy spider wire. This stuff is strong. If you weave it just right, you can literally lean on it and it will support your weight.
I have a huge deer pop where I live and before the tree mast gets underway the deer pretty much eat everything soft and green in sight. So this may seem extreme but with well over a 100 plants(all females) turned to poo I had to get drastic. I have some friends that put their girls in trees to get em of the ground.
I haven't had a deer try to jump it yet. I try to situate it on uneven ground so they are unsure of their landing argo not making the jump. The other good perk of it is it's totally incog as far as sight goes, a thin fence basically. Just make sure you take it
ALL out with you after the season, it doesn't decompose well and might pose threats to birds.
Go guerillas!!