From personal experience-pepper balls contain a powder that will contaminate an area for quite some time. Once you think OC is all gone it will sneak back up on ya and the next thing you know you are crying like a little girl, with snot running out of your nose. I would be carefull using it around the house, kids and pets-any area that will be used in the next few days after hosing the deer down. I think it would be effective though, even with rear end shots that would make them lick at the powder on them.