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Midway, UT

There is a young grower here in Colorado who has been emailing me for the last 4 weeks about growing pumpkins. He just emailed me a bit ago asking what growers do to keep deer away from their pumpkin. He has a lot of deer in his area and his pumpkin got eaten two years ago. I've had deer in my neighboorhood but have never had the issue myself since I'm on the edge of a suburb so I'm not sure what to tell him. What suggestions do you have that would be reasonable for a 14-year-old to do?

4/20/2009 5:49:55 PM

Cincinnati,OH

I have used bloodmeal with some success.

4/20/2009 6:24:03 PM

Rhode Island

1. 7 ft deer fence around plant
2. wire hoop over freshly pollinated pumpkins ( leave
covered/protected until basket ball size
3. play a talk radio station 24-7
4. keep a dog or two in the area
5. eat a lot of venison

4/20/2009 6:28:07 PM

Taylorsville, California

the old 30-06 method here,,

4/20/2009 6:30:53 PM

Coventry R.I.

I use some cut up slices of Irish soap,, so far so good.

4/20/2009 6:42:04 PM

Linden,PA

My neighbor guards my patch. He sits on his porch, drinks beer and says he will shoot anything that gets into my patch. Last year all he shot was a crow. There were some deer passing through but they did not stop to eat anything.
The only bad thing the neighbor goes to bed early so no one guards the patch after sunset.

4/20/2009 6:50:36 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

I agree with rivers 30-06

4/20/2009 7:18:42 PM

I do what frank does.

4/20/2009 7:24:14 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Live trap the little buggars :)

4/20/2009 7:29:10 PM

Western NY

liquid fish as a foliar, as well as the insecticide seem to keep them off. at least until last year, anyway. I must have missed a few applications.

4/20/2009 7:36:21 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

A picture of CoJoe the state champ...I know when I see him standing in my patch....I drop Zome Nitrogen......

4/20/2009 7:43:28 PM

[email protected]

Ditto Pap for a child.

Thiram & Hot Sauce for adults.

4/20/2009 8:01:23 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

hot sauce with vasoline

4/20/2009 8:05:56 PM

Springfield, VT

Electric fence

4/20/2009 9:04:00 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

7' electric fence. Deoderant soap. Food plots to lure them away from the patch. Bow and arrow. Muzzleloader. Shotgun. The state of Iowa is liberal with doe permits. My son is becoming a very good hunter too.

4/20/2009 10:28:57 PM

Darfield, British Columbia, Canada

If there is barber around get some hair and put it in nylons and put them around the plant. Works well to keep them away from cedar shrubs

4/20/2009 11:40:13 PM

Colorado

I put molasses and a salt lick next to your patch for deer.Is it working?

4/21/2009 12:42:27 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

# 5...Eat a lot of venison!!! Tasty too!!! Peace, Wayne

4/21/2009 1:43:19 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Nice big dog you've trained to think venison is a delicacy.
Signs on post saying mean dog.
Warden can't do much if dog has venison snack IN your yard.

:)

4/21/2009 3:56:36 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

.177 daisy....knocks em dead! LOL

4/21/2009 7:49:14 AM

Volant, PA

I have never had a deer bother to step over my 3ft fence. Maybe I have been lucky, but something tells me pumpkin plants aren’t much of a draw for deer. My patch is in a 3 acre alfalfa field that has 4-10 deer in it every night. 6 ft fences on all the trees, but the pumpkins have been fine.

Otherwise I think the 30-06 is an excellent choice, although I prefer the .243.

4/21/2009 10:18:23 AM

Deer Park WA

We live next to Turnbull wildlife refuge and have hundreds of deer. We have never had one eat on a punkin in the patch because we have shade covers over them and sheets or blankies depending on the time of the year. Once they punkins hit the compost pile its a feeding frenzy that is really comical.

4/21/2009 11:03:09 AM

Long Island,New York

lol@chuck

4/21/2009 4:00:02 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

How about an 82LB recurve , 32IN xx75 SuperSLam ,with a 2 blade Zwickey on the end of it.

4/21/2009 11:41:02 PM

Taylorsville, California

Not to hijack the thread,, but,, WHAT DO YOU USE DEER FOR?---i like a good stew, jerkey also with the shanks and neck, some ground, and a good backstrap or rump steak pan seared rare, mmmm,,oh and chili con venison is a good one too,,

4/22/2009 3:28:00 AM

Carrollton, Ga.

Chuck that has to be a record kill! lol

doug
jn.3:16

4/22/2009 6:29:16 AM

Clinton, Iowa

I have heard all deer have the instincts to fear Lions. Whether they live where there are lions or not. I have been told that if youlive near a zoo you can get some lion bedding that contains some of the urine in the straw that just a very little bedding dispatched thruout the patch or along the edges really works wonders. I have never tried it but others says it works.
DAN

4/22/2009 10:15:18 PM

Frankfort Ohio

if i had that issue i would put up a tree stand they dont come near that in the fall lol

4/23/2009 6:04:53 AM

Cochecton, NY

I have 4 foot fencing around my property, with clover, chikory, and turnips planted around the outside of my patch to keep the deer away from the pumpkins. Every day I have at least a dozen deer pass by the house in the morning and the afternoon. They don't even bother to jump the 4 foot fence for the clover and such, so I think my plants are safe.

As for my deterent if I catch one in the patch....270 WSM.

4/23/2009 8:24:31 AM

bliss,n.y.- heart of Wyoming County

I just post my pictture on the corners of the patch..
now that will scare anything.. grin...

4/23/2009 9:43:10 AM