Ice fish in Jan. Bury remains carefully so not attract critters as our garden is 40' from a creek. After using chicken wire,coyote urine ect. that usually keeps them out until I fire up my strands of hot wire in May. So far our garden likes the fish, especially pumpkins. Fish 6" deep in a hill, seed 1" deep bury a gal. milk jug for water flush with ground about 1' away from plant and your in business