[Groucho]

Most people are lazy. the path of least resistance will most always be taken.
Rock ledges, overgrown creeks, dense bush any "blocked" areas most will go around. get wet, crawl on the ground, climb, whatever it takes.

[two heads]

Trancerdancer - I'm also very allergic to poison ivy, ever since a nasty mountain bike wipeout into the stuff many years ago. The trick, as you may already know, is to wash thoroughly with soapy water (or better yet, rubbing alcohol) as soon as possible after exposure. I find if I can get the oils off my skin within a couple of hours I don't get a reaction.

Actually poison ivy isn't a great deterrent for a few reasons. Most people don't react to casual exposure and even if they do, the itching doesn't start for a few hours. Most people don't even know what it looks like. Something that works right away, like nettle or those evil Devil's Clubs at acidfire's site probably works better at deterring rippers. Every little effort helps though.

[bongasaurus]

personally, i follow the game trails for the most part. theres so many paths everywhere through the bush where i am. i can usually follow one for a ways then jump onto another one. i just try to venture away from them when i find a good area for a plot.

also i try to stick to the rocky outcroppings. growing the the canadian sheild, there lots. leaves no sign that anyone has every been around. unless maybe of course your "Mantracker" anybody ever watch that show?

[Jochsmokes]

Great topic!
I also have lots of game paths that i use for getting to my spots,
and after reading the psychology of deterants
I thought of somthing couldn't you distract the deer away from your plants by hanging say....scents? or somthin in the other direction?
I don't know if their that easily distracted.
My biggest solution to the dreaded path is to snowshoe in during winter w/ heavy stuff soil and such. Then i just try not to carry too much water at once as it makes your tracks more apprent when your 50pds heavier walkin from the stream,
like i'm not a heavy enough anyway JS

[Trancerdancer]

Originally Posted by two heads

Trancerdancer - I'm also very allergic to poison ivy, ever since a nasty mountain bike wipeout into the stuff many years ago. The trick, as you may already know, is to wash thoroughly with soapy water (or better yet, rubbing alcohol) as soon as possible after exposure. I find if I can get the oils off my skin within a couple of hours I don't get a reaction.

Actually poison ivy isn't a great deterrent for a few reasons. Most people don't react to casual exposure and even if they do, the itching doesn't start for a few hours. Most people don't even know what it looks like. Something that works right away, like nettle or those evil Devil's Clubs at acidfire's site probably works better at deterring rippers. Every little effort helps though.

Yeah washing helps a good bit... I think I may be getting a resistance also, used to get it real bad now only very mild cases.

I guess it depends on your unique situation but the specific spot I'm referring to where I'm using Poison Oak is a bramble and poison oak pit basically. It's thick with 7 ft poison oak bushes... anybody who has a clue what it looks like is not going to attempt to climb into the belly of the beast

Nettles are ideal though... instant consequences for coming near.

Hi everyone,

As usual, there are lots of good ideas that I hadnt thought of. Its great to be able to come here and get ideas from other growers.

TokinJoe, I use the urea for small pines, cedars and honeysuckles in the area but I hadn't considered using it on the path. Very good idea and one Im taking note of.

Ulysses, I find crops every year while looking for new sites. As soon as I see a path then........

Thanks HK. Good to see you

two heads, joe said he takes different paths as well. This hasn't worked for me. I have trouble hiding one entrance path, ive always felt to add more would only compound the problem, but hey, if its working for ya, keep on keepin on.

Hi Backcountry. Truer words have never been spoken, and its the first rule of OD growing.. What can be worse than loosing the grow is the fact that you're going to loose the friend as well. The satement...."the only other person that knew about it was.....". , comes up pretty quick and shortly after that, the partner gets blamed. Ive seen more good friendships ended this way. I havent read the sticky for new growers but if that isnt the first line there's been an oversight. Never a good idea.

Hey Mr. C. I would rather have 1 plant that yields 2lbs than 16 tiny plants as tending requirements are reduced by 16X. However, im comming around to your way of thinking and theres no question that your approach has promise for me when modified to meet my needs. The wheels are turning.

Trancerdance, ive tried tiptoeing, jumping, swinging from vines and everything else. By Oct 1, my delicate path looks like you drove a herd of buffalo through the area. The first part of the year when everythings growing - no problems. Its at the end of th run when natural plants are dying back that Im fighting. With the poison ivy, I found out the hard way that you have to be careful if you get it on you. While I may not be allergic, i can carry the oil on my clothes to someone that is. Poiso Oak is a good plant to use as well.

bongusauras, I used to use game trails but I stopped under the belief that it would be more difficult to deter established behavior in the deer. I do use existing game paths to get to my path however. Havent seen Mantracker.

Hey jocksmokes. Yes, carrying water can be the culprit and yes, winter stocking is crucial to eliminating spring and summer trips. Get your mulch and everything else there when pathmaking is not an issue, this only leaves minimul maintanance trips. Has everyone seen the new 15 gallon, slow release water rings that are being sold in home improvement stores and garden centers?

Another thing that i often try is to follow a line of bushes just underneath the overhang of the bushes. Vegetation isnt growing rhere any way, but it does require crawling. Ive spent half of my life crawling around in the bushes trying to grow pot. Its nice to talk to others doing the same thing.


sb

[ChaosCatalunya]

Originally Posted by Groucho

Most people are lazy. the path of least resistance will most always be taken.
Rock ledges, overgrown creeks, dense bush any "blocked" areas most will go around. get wet, crawl on the ground, climb, whatever it takes.

Top marks Groucho !

People are really lazy and scared of getting scratched. As the OP so rightly says, tunnels are great, nobody wants to go grovelling around in the dirt getting scratched and bitten.

In the UK I tunnelled in to blackberry thickets in old bike leathers and never lost a thing. New bike leathers are not so great, many have Kevlar stretch patches in the groin, great for moving around on the bike, less so when growing as you end up spending "happy evenings" pulling 10001 thorns from your groin....although this may be a great bonus for some S&M fans...


Here in Spain, the drought is the problem, anywhere you walk from May onwards will die, leaving a very obvious path and this is a country with a serious plant robbing culture.... I got round this last year successfully by hiding a black hose in the bushes by the path to carry the water the last 10M, this worked fine, bar some scabby critter who bit through a 4mm hose for a fresh drink. Carrying water doubles the damage you do walking through countryside, if you use the hose you eliminate this, and are a lot more agile and can use more hidden means of approach - jumping, climbing, crawling - without the 50KG of H2O.


Great thread Silverback !

Thanks chaosCatalunya, and Groucho is right. People always take the easy path and like him, I try to provide it for them. Its harder for you guys in dry country. With no rain to help keep the path green, it gets wide and brown.

Hey Groucho.

little j, youre right about growing right in the middle of it. Ive harvested 1 big 2lb plant every year for the past 5 years from a sink hole on a golf course. People play around this 10 footer all summer long. I guess they are playing golf and talking to their buds- not looking for weed.

Acidfire, thats the stuff man. It will set you on fire and it don't wipe off. Those hair like needles get into your skin and for the next 30 minutes, misery is yours and you will no the definition of discomfort. Once touched, the victim no longer looks for anything other than relief.

[Groucho]

I like spots where most people say to themselves, who in there right mind would ever go there. why? it seems crazy. and most likely is, but all things worth while take some effort. Blood, sweat, tears. all in a days work. Reap what you sow!

[LazLo]

In addition to the "dreaded path", there are other giveaways. My favorite is the freshly cut stumps at this time of year. A little matte black spray paint and, BINGO, they blend in.

In the primary oak forest I grow in, there are no thorny bushes, no stinging nettles, no poison ivy and not even any buckthorn. It was created by the CCC and most invasive species were eradicated over 70 years ago.

But.....there are deer, at least 1 per square acre. And there are over 300 acres. No predators. These woods ajoin more of the CCC forest projects with thousands more acres spread over several communities. The deer browse the woods and come into the towns for "desert." Arborvitae in winter and everything else all summer.

The only good thing the deer provide are paths. Their trails are visible on Google Earth. With leaf litter, dead wood and grassy mounds I manage to leave few, if any, discernible footprints. By late summer the deer paths are dry and OK to use even with the added weight of water (8 lbs per gal).

This was the harshest winter for the deer in my area for over 2 decades. Found 3 furred skeletons so far this year within just 10 acres. One was a 6 point buck (whitetail). Even so, I will be using deer netting at my sites. Black and almost invisible. And it works! A 7' X 100' roll for $15 US will surround four 8' square sites. Five plants per square. Just don't forget a way for you to get in.