Repellants

Repellants

Other sections of the site deal with animal repellants. This section will deal with natural ways to discourage hunters from returning to your neck of the woods.

Plants:

Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy is a plant from the Cashew family. It is an upright, climbing, or trailing shrub that bears small yellowish-white flower clusters. It’s stems are covered with fibrous roots, making them look hairy. The leaves are compound, divided into three glossy or dull green leaflets. Every part of the plant contains a volatile oil that can cause severe inflammation of the skin, itching, and blistering when touched. It is a very hearty plant that spreads rampantly.

The defining characteristic is that the leaves occur in groups of three with the center leaf stem longer than the other two.

Poison Oak

Western poison oak is similar to poison ivy in appearance. However leaflets of western poison oak have rounded tips, whereas leaflets of poison ivy have tips that are pointed.

Poison Sumac

Poison Sumac is a tall shrub or small tree with 6-12 leaflets arranged in pairs and an additional single leaflet at the end of each midrib. The small yellowish green flowers borne in clusters, mature into whitish green fruits that hang in loose clusters 10-30cm in length. The male and female flowers of poison sumac are on separate plants, as in poison ivy and western poison oak. Although nonpoisonous sumac species have leaves similar to those of poison sumac, the nonpoisonous species have red fruits that form distinctive, erect, cone-shaped terminal heads, not the hanging whitish green fruits of poison sumac.

Growing: Plant ivy in partial to full shade in well-drained garden loam enriched with peat moss, compost or leaf mold. Ivy in full sun tends to winter-burn, so it is particularly important to have them planted in the shade in Zones 4-7 where winters are very are cold. Set the plants out in spring, placing ivy's 12 inches apart and Sumac 18 inches apart. It is important to be sure that the plant and the soil are well watered prior to setting them. If the plants are to grow up a wall, put them as close as possible to the base of the wall. Ivy may be propagated by cuttings, which are only partially successful, or by layering (pin a section of the stem to the ground, where it will root, then once rooted you may sever the new start from the parent plant). Ivy prefers 4 or more hours of sunlight per day, but will tolerate bright indirect light (such as light reflected off light colored walls) or artificial lights.

Poison Ivy fruits are an important food source for a wide variety of birds (who help spread the seeds) and other wildlife, including deer.

Insects

Flies

Fly attractant is sold in many feed stores for glue traps. My favorite attractant is homemade from excrement and molasses.

Mosquitoes

The humble mosquito serves two purposes: First, large animals will avoid an area of high mosquito infestation. Second, so will the hunters.

Any open puddle of water will start a insect orgy. A favorite method is to take old 2 liters, cut them in half, partially bury them, and fill with water. If you have a lot of time, easy access and water available, 1 gallon water bottles also work. This is especially effective near stands.

Bees

Many people have a fear of bees and will make quite an ass of themselves when one is around. Open soda cans or molasses seems to draw them fairly fast. This tactic is best for stands. If you're lucky, the whole hive will find a nice covered place to live, courtesy of the hunters.

Submitted by Anon