This probably has been mentioned here before, but after viewing several posts in the last couple of days with people asking for solutions to deer problems, I have a suggestion that has definitely WORKED for me. BLOOD MEAL! It works great!
The idea behind blood meal is simple . . . Deer are herbevors, and wont eat any animal products. Just dust a SMALL amount of blood meal onto a plant you want protected, and the deer wont go near it. I have been using this technique for years. And the best part of it is that blood meal is a good fertalizer too. It also works for squirrels digging bulbs.
There is one downside though, you have to apply it again after a good rain since it will wash off. I use one of those hand pump pesticide dusters, fill it with blood meal, and quickly walk around the yard dusting my plants. It's quick, easy, natural, and relatively cheap.
Ken