I have some traps set in one area where deer keep setting them off by accidentally stepping in them, and someone told me that hanging a foil pie plate on a string will scare deer away from that area. However, I don't want to also scare away the animals I'm trying to catch - raccoon and fox.
Here is a pic of the set up - this was taken before I put a plastic chain in between the two small trees and built up a mound of sticks and limbs spanning the ground between the trees to prevent deer from going in between the trees. This photo was taken about 3-4 days after a deer had set off one of the traps - unfortunately I did not notice it until the day I checked my camera and found this picture. The fox was basically sitting right on top of a sprung trap.....talk about the one that got away! I didn't get any pics of the culprit deer because the batteries in the camera had died during the time the trap was sprung. Deer seem to want to frequent this area because there had been baiting going on for a few years in the past. Just wondering if I should try to repel the deer (without repelling my target animals), or should I just give up on this spot and move my set to an area where I don't see many deer? I had wanted to make a set in this area because I am always seeing foxes and coons on these cameras and figured it was a good place to try and catch one.
BTW, I've caught a couple of coons and more than a few opossums in a couple other areas not too far away from this one earlier this season. Oh, the box trap in the back in the pic is for coons - I've caught several in this area in past seasons but of course deer don't bother those traps.

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Don’t use fox pee. Helps a lot down here where are deer density is 35-40PSM. Don’t know what it is about it, but they seek it out. Only had one trip this week and it was after a bobcat catch and I grabbed the wrong urine.

Are you on a trail or near it? If so I would simply move the sets farther off the trail. Placing wire gates between trees is a good idea or finding spots where the deer cant actually step.

How do I deter possums from getting in my traps. It seems like that's all I keep catching

Dispatch them and reduce their numbers. You'll be doing the turkeys a favor.

If ya figure that out write a book & become a millionaire

You’d be wise to start yer own thread instead of hijacking this one, just saying.

My best advise is move locations, try a step down dirt hole set or set multiple sets and hope some are still operational when the target animal comes around.

I use a lot of step down dirt holes where i have deer issues and i am going to try mt lion urine and see if that will spook them away long enough to get the coyotes caught . I did spray some in my alfalfa field to spook deer off and it must have really scared them because i got to fix a lot of fence the next morning

As far as deer - try overhanging a couple poke sticks

I have yet to find any urine that will not attract deer.This includes wolf and mountain lion urines.If I have locations that are heavily used by deer,I don't use urine.You can still catch canines.