5) Stay out of reach

or:

5) Take a automatic shower

(take your pick)

And

6) Eat very clean vegetables

I think Mark neglected to mention:

1. Point away from the garden at the deer entry spot where people seldom walk.

I'll be very interested to hear how this works for you guys (seriously, I always enjoy reading about your experiments - cuts down on my having to experiment by almost half! ) I've tried cutting up cheap, very stinky deodorant soap and hanging it about the garden in little bags which got wet every time I watered or it rained, but it certainly didn't deter them. Perhaps our deer, living in a more suburban area than yours, have just gotten too used to the stench in which many humans douse themselves and their belongings in order to smell "clean and fresh."

I tend to agree with you --- in the past, I've had no luck using artificial scents (or human pee) to keep deer at bay. On the other hand, the biggest failing of scents is that they get old, which is why Mark thought the stinkmaster might be more effective.

The deer got in again last night, but they didn't go past the Stinkmaster. So, I have to say the results are inconclusive.

Is there an (artificial) scent of a predator you could use? I remember reading about people using wolf urine and faeces to deter herbivores.

Of course it could very well be that humans are the top predator in your neck of the woods! So maybe hanging out used clothes for a day or so could help?

Coyote urine is what people often buy, but it's expensive and I've been leery of spending so much money on something that I think's unlikely to work. Mark just talked to the local game warden, who confirmed my opinion --- unlikely to keep deer out if pressure is high.

instead of having the stinkmaster on the timer, try putting it on a motion sensor, like the kind you get for lamps. then use a few of them to spray the perimeter.

The motion sensor idea is a good one! There is a motion-sensor activated sprinkler deer deterrent already on the market --- maybe we should buy one and give it a try, adding a bit of perfume to the water.