Fencing and barriers seem to be the most effective exclusion deterrents currently. Dogs in the area would certainly keep them at bay. The unwise use of urines is actually an attraction in my experience. If anyone has some proven techniques that wlll do the job I am listening.

I don’t think they can be deterred from what I can see. I am finishing up nest predator trapping, and there’s a bumper crop of them. I have caught a few. I think there is a curiosity factor involved.

They will check out urine.

Aside from fencing/barrier I would think severe habitat modification such as bare dirt in place of vegatation is about as close to a deterrant that's available.

I am not sure if even the bare dirt ground would act as a deterrent. Our cottontails around here are always seen in the open bare ground areas possibly for depositing droppings and urination on these areas. I typically find their scat on and around bare patches of sod and on our hardtop drive way.

Fencing is the most likely to be successful. Either for individual plants or whole areas that need protecting.