Pumpkins

[Bowshotmuzzleloader]

Does anyone plant pumpkins as a partial food plot?? Years ago I hunted in the Ithaca area on a farm and the neighbors had a pumpkin patch the deer seemed to like them late season..

Was considering doing one what's your thoughts ?

[growalot]

Yes..deer love them..I plant them on the edge of my corn...actually deters the raccoon a bit.

Edited April 15, 2015 by growalot

[G-Man]

You can plant but recommend a mixed.planting as they are easily killed by spotty mildew.

[SplitG2]

I grow 4 acres of pumpkins every year...deer eat them!  wouldn't be my first second or third choice for a late food source.

[Bowshotmuzzleloader]

Thanks for the replies, Iim just very limited with time and what I will be able to accomplish this year ,,

Just trying to get something for now , something is better than nothing , going to do some beans and hope if my guy comes through some more mature Apple trees

[Trial153]

Pumpkins for me as feed would have to be a secondary benefit, if you can utilize them and leave a bunch in the field it maybe worth your while. As for just a food plot, like mentioned above they aren't my first choice.

Edited April 16, 2015 by Trial153

[landtracdeerhunter]

Pumpkins work well here. I like the option of having a drawing food source, after Thanksgiving, when all other legumes and grasses have turned brown.  We don't hunt over them, but they sure do draw the deer. I grow a nice open pollinated variety.  Look more like a big pinkish orange squash than a pumpkin. The problem, the last 2 years here was getting the ground worked up, because of the wet conditions. Had to mud some in with knee boots. I always try to plant an acre or more.

 

If you decide to try some, they like plenty of nitrogen.

Edited April 16, 2015 by landtracdeerhunter

[growalot]

I throw grains and clovers in with them once I see they are on their 3rd set of leafs...I do the three sisters of the garden....corn...pole beans and pumpkins/squash...plant these in a group..I do the long east/south side of my sweet corn plot...All of us benefit.

[Bowshotmuzzleloader]

Just a update

Going to do some pumpkins soon..

Been talking to my friend who owns a Tree nursery and was able to score five Apple trees and three pear trees for $50.00 a piece .. They are eight feet tall and about 1 1/2 around and will produce fruit this year as they are flowering out and budding... So happy, I also bought some from Home Depot and planted six of those but they will be years as they are just twigs ..

[First-light]

I have a ton of other food in my area and when I have left out pumpkins for the winter they never get touched. 

[Bowshotmuzzleloader]

I have a ton of other food in my area and when I have left out pumpkins for the winter they never get touched.

Yes I agree, but it really depends on the area , and what food sources are available ..

Where I am they need all they can get ..

Edited May 9, 2015 by Bowshotmuzzleloader

[Doc]

I once saw a sheep pasture with broken pumpkins strewn all over for the sheep to eat, and they seemed to be really liking them. Sure, sheep are not deer, but they are a bit related, and apparently the farmer thought there was enough nutrition in them for his sheep to thrive on them.

[dbHunterNY]

it'll draw deer to an extent but won't hold deer.  unless there's a high energy food source nearby, when push comes to shove the deer will choose something elsewhere.

[growalot]

We have tons upon tons of food and I'm lucky if they leave a few for our use...they eat young ones and they stomp and hollow out mature ones..they like acorn squash as well...but not the butternut...go figure.

[thphm]

Neighbor down the road grows them for his livestock and also sets up his bee hives in the patch. I just grow a few for decorations and the deer do stomp them pretty good once it starts to get cold.