Our rural property is lousy with blacktail deer. I had to build an eight-foot fence to keep them out of the garden. We also have a lot of wild turkeys. I'm wondering how these pests will react to the garden railroad I plan to build this spring. I know I will need to choose my plants carefuly. Does anyone else deal with these critters? I would think deer might damage my tracks, but I'm planning to use stainless steel.

I don't know if your blacktail deer are much different from the white tails we have in NY state, but they haven't been any problem at all for me. I have motion-sensing lights and often see two or three hanging around the yard. One loop of the layout, around a fifty foot long flower bed, runs very close to the tracks they often leave in the snow, from the neighbor's yard to the side street (no fences). Perhaps because that stretch of track is an incline along the 50 ft. length, up to almost a foot high. They seem to prefer the level ground next to it.

Maybe I just got lucky with the incline. Perhaps if you just elevate your roadbed a few inches, they'll go around instead of "on".

If you get snow, see if your deer tracks always follow the same path, as mine do. Might be less hassle if you can avoid where they like to walk.

JackM

I only have 300# piglike peccaraies to worry about, they have poor eyesight but for the most part stepped over the track, but spooked and they are mini tanks barreling through. I got a nick and slight kink once, from a cloven hoof in my SS track before I put up a barrier.
I don't plant things they like to eat, life is hard here in the desert and they'll go after anything that smells like food.

Barriers and elevated tracks have eased my concerns.

Happy Rails

John

Choot 'Em, Choot 'Em

I think either jerky or sausages is a good solution since the meet tends to be on the little dry side anyway. Of course if you just have to have that veneson steak I would suggest a nice garlic sauce with lemon juice top with carmeled onions and served over rice. You'll want the steak smothered with garlic sauce so the primary ingredients should be 1 cup olive oil, 3/4 cup garlic, and 2 cups lemon juice with just about 1/4 stick of butter for 2 servings.

Sounds crazy but...... Dial soap. I know what your thinking..."How am I gonna catch the deer and wash 'em with Dial soap?" Actually, deer hate the smell of it. If you hang it around vegetation, the deer will avoid it. If you hang it near your layout, they should avoid that, too. If you 'google' "deer dial soap" you'll get plenty of information about it. BTW deer smell a lot better after a good bath with dial soap. Hope this helps. (you can stop laughing, now)


-Kevin.

Matt: Your locations and layouts are dazzling. I sure miss the smell of a pine forest, although fir has its charms.
I realize that it is probably camera angle, but do you have some significant grade in our outdoor layout?
Glad I don't have elk in my yard, although I'd sure love to have some in my freezer!

Nice layout, San Juan. How long was that run in feet? Just getting ideas ...

Motion sensiing sprinklers will ward off most wildlife. Any movement, and the sprinkler turns that way, and shoots about two cups of water at the target. Of course, they can't distinguish deer from people, so you have to turn them off when you want to be out there. And back on afterwards.

A solution specific to deer is dogs. Large, loud dogs, out in the yard. Not at night of course, too dangerous for the dogs. Deer won't come near the place.

Barbecue was always my favorite way to deal with deer. @import url(http://www.mylargescale.com/Provide...s);@import url(/providers/htmleditorproviders/cehtmleditorprovider/dnngeneral.css);