Pumpkins

Has anyone ever planted pumpkins as a food source? I’ve heard deer will eat them but is it a last resort for them if there are other options? I drive by lots of pumpkin patches and I never see deer out in them no matter what time of year.

 

I have every year for the past 12 or so.
Getting to be my favorite foodplot

 

Honestly we use to use Halloween pumpkins for bait. Just have to squash them first and the deer will go nuts over it.

 

Last resort..hahahaha

 

Here is what I've done in the past. I save seed of all my garden squash as well as seeds from melons. I then plant them all in a general area once they get established . I will do a quick weeding with a hoe. Then spread a annual clover over the area. I'll get enough for us and the rest is for deer. They love all squash and musk melons are candy for them.. as fall sets in the leaf cover dies back with fungi and the clover takes off. If not you can still walk over rye grain in Sept.

 

They're fun to grow but I've never had much luck with them as a food source for deer.

 

I planted pumpkins near the food plot years back, dang deer ate the flowers off the plants.

 

Good info, gonna have to keep that in mind. thx

 

I have not used pumpkins in a food plot, but others I know have been successful with using them.

 

I plant the smaller sugar pie.
Deer just now started on them.
I doubt there will be any left by the time I start hunting.