I just saw your posting and I know it's late to respond... however I thought I would let you know my experience. I also have a huge deer problem> I have found two things that work. One is Coast of Main deer repelent. The second is home made. I bought a small vial of oil of peppermint from a health food store. I mix about five drops to a quart of water (you can tell by the smell if you have enough peppermint) and spray it on the plant. I found by alternating between the two that it worked. If I only used Coast of Main after a few days they were used to the smell and chomped away. You must reapply on new growth or after watering or a rain. No matter what you use you cannot use it repeatedly as they get used to it. Good luck and I hope that this is some help for you.

Bonnie

this is really late posting, but got gal. of Hinder from local garden supplier. It's concentrated capsaicin (sp?); dilute & spray on plants 3 days consecutively w/out water or rain on plants. They stay away through learned experience. However, you have to remember to "teach" them again every 2 months or so.

I have learned that they will not "trespass" through a border of certain aromatic herb plants (basil, thyme, rosemary, chives, mint,sage). At least, the deer in my yard haven't so far.

i've heard that the top ingredients to deter deer are capsaicin, eggs, and mint. i usually check out the bottles i buy to make sure they have 2 of the 3 listed as ingredients.