@@bill-winke oh man, I’m so sorry for your loss, Bill. If I remember correctly he was a heck of a fighter when it came to raccoons, beavers, etc. Losing a family pet is never easy..
When my pumpkin plants are small enough to still fit under a solo cup I cover each plant and then spray the area with glyphosate. Let dry and then pull the cups off. Knocks the weeds back for a while. I will also put a little dirt on top of the cup to help hold it down.
I have tried this on two different farms in different states and one state it worked really well the deer loved the pumpkins after the first frost and in the other state they really never touched them. Hopefully you have success as a food plot for your farm.
They did like them last year, so I am guessing that they will again this year. Not sure why one area would be different. Maybe the deer in the area where they didn't eat them need another year to get used to what they are and see them as food. Good luck.
There’s something about pumpkins and autumn weather! The mystique I suppose but as a bow hunter a deer food option too ! Good luck Bill and God bless !
We grow pumpkins on our farm and you are correct Bill deer absolutely love them here at our place. Whatever we don't sell or give away we give to the deer. It is comical to watch them try to foot stomp on them if the pumpkin is not already split open. It is also quite funny to hear them chew very loud when they are eating them.
That is pretty cool. I have never seen them actually try to break the pumpkin open. I have seen deer try to eat pears before though. That is pretty funny too.
I plan eventually to plant them around every single grain plot. Not sure if I will ever plant them around clover plots as the logistics of clearing the ground of weeds would be a lot more work each spring. Have a great day.
Thanks for the input. I know a local family that has a huge pumpkin business each fall. They plant about 15 acres using a corn planter so maybe the need to plant in hills is not a hard rule.
Even an idiot can grow pumpkins. Remember that quote and we will see in a few weeks if I make the cut. You are right, I am sure trowelling up the spot first would have made a much better seed bed but I had 600 seeds to get out so I just took every shortcut. I will check them this coming week and if any are visible I will dig them in a little better.
I have had great success with pumpkins in my back yard food plots, until last year the deer demolished the plants! I had planted sweet baking pumpkins, perhaps the leaves are more delicious then the Connecticut field brand. maybe I will try them next year!
If nothing else it is fun and pumpkins are a welcome part of the fall scenery. But, the deer definitely ate them last year so I will plan to do this every year. Super cheap and easy way to add more food to a food plot.
I will definitely put to the test this year as we planted 600 pumpkins on the edges of three food plots. Will be interesting to see how the deer react to that much.
I’ve been planting 5-75 hills of pumpkins the last 5 years in and around my food plot. The deer love them but the bears usually get most of them before the deer do. But that’s fine. We have three different bear seasons in Massachusetts
recently I saw a guy who hing cut trees along his entire field edge and the food/brows/cover that provided was very impressive. have you thought about doing something like that on some of your edges? Just crazy amounts of brows was created. also great screening from the deer for access.
Grandad planted them where the haystacks were previously, worked for him. I wonder if you can save the seeds and plant them next year. Guess I better get going on my few hills, Big Max seeds this year, dreaming big! 😆
That is a good question. I don't know why you couldn't. Storage is probably the issue. How do you store them from fall to spring? You probably have to dry them somehow. The ones I buy are pretty inexpensive.
Someone once told me it's best to break the pumpkins open after they are ripe. Deer can smell them better and will really go after them better that way. It's just what I was told
He is still saving a down payment. I pointed him toward one a couple days ago. It is a farm I would try to buy if I wasn't already in so deep in the the spot we own now. He looked at it yesterday but he would need partners if he is serious about trying. He is so young that he doesn't quite have the track record to pull in partners. He will get there.
Great idea bill. I no deer love pumpkins. Have you grown them before? If so did you have to smash them up. I through a bunch out last yr for the deer and i smashed them. Believe it or not coyotes and bobcats were eating them. The cat actaully ran the dog off
We grew some last year too and I did have to smash one in late October to get them started but after that they handled it themselves. We are going to do this every year from now on. It is a super easy way to add a little more food to the farm. If you buy the seeds in bulk off Amazon it is pretty cheap too.
The sooner the better but only if there are broadleaf weeds present. I have sprayed when they were two feet tall but most experts say to do it only when they are much smaller. Do some research first. Ideally, you don't have to do it. I think I may have sprayed dicamba once too and that worked.
I did smash one the first year so they got the idea. Not sure if I will have to smash one every year in every patch. My guess is that I will until more of the deer know what they are and how to eat them.
i imagine in 2 or 3 seasons Bill will be knocking down deer with his pumpkins and a trebuchet. i’m here for it!
Now we are talking. Or at least coyotes. Can you imagine how much fun that would be?
Duke is the real star of the episode. HAHA!
That is Bentley. Unfortunately, poor Duke died of cancer back in early April.
@@bill-winke oh man, I’m so sorry for your loss, Bill. If I remember correctly he was a heck of a fighter when it came to raccoons, beavers, etc. Losing a family pet is never easy..
When my pumpkin plants are small enough to still fit under a solo cup I cover each plant and then spray the area with glyphosate. Let dry and then pull the cups off. Knocks the weeds back for a while. I will also put a little dirt on top of the cup to help hold it down.
That is a great tip Tony. Thanks for the comment.
I have tried this on two different farms in different states and one state it worked really well the deer loved the pumpkins after the first frost and in the other state they really never touched them. Hopefully you have success as a food plot for your farm.
They did like them last year, so I am guessing that they will again this year. Not sure why one area would be different. Maybe the deer in the area where they didn't eat them need another year to get used to what they are and see them as food. Good luck.
Very smart bill I just got my sorghum planted and sprayed, I think I'll copy u. Thanks for the info
It worked great for me last year. Good luck.
There’s something about pumpkins and autumn weather!
The mystique I suppose but as a bow hunter a deer food option too !
Good luck Bill and God bless !
Thanks for the comment. The pumpkins just seem to complete the picture of what a dream farm is supposed to look and feel like in the fall.
Nice quick and short episode Bill, things should really start to grow with the upcoming heat wave.
Agreed. Lots of moisture and now add heat. Stuff should really jump.
We grow pumpkins on our farm and you are correct Bill deer absolutely love them here at our place. Whatever we don't sell or give away we give to the deer. It is comical to watch them try to foot stomp on them if the pumpkin is not already split open. It is also quite funny to hear them chew very loud when they are eating them.
That is pretty cool. I have never seen them actually try to break the pumpkin open. I have seen deer try to eat pears before though. That is pretty funny too.
Can't wait to see the big buck harvest photos in the pumpkin patch! Unfortunately I have wild hogs so I can't plant much that they won't destroy.
I plan eventually to plant them around every single grain plot. Not sure if I will ever plant them around clover plots as the logistics of clearing the ground of weeds would be a lot more work each spring. Have a great day.
Glad to see you doing it Bill.
I've never put them in " hills".
Got my plots done last week. Bout 900 plants.
Good luck.
And you're no idiot. Lol.
Thanks for the input. I know a local family that has a huge pumpkin business each fall. They plant about 15 acres using a corn planter so maybe the need to plant in hills is not a hard rule.
I got this idea fron you last yr so i planted a few packs of seed the 1st wee of june. Hope they grow.
They should Nathan. They seem pretty easy to grow.
You plant those pumpkins like my wife would plant the garden - minimal effort lol! That is why I plant the garden now. I'm sure they'll do fine.
Even an idiot can grow pumpkins. Remember that quote and we will see in a few weeks if I make the cut. You are right, I am sure trowelling up the spot first would have made a much better seed bed but I had 600 seeds to get out so I just took every shortcut. I will check them this coming week and if any are visible I will dig them in a little better.
I have had great success with pumpkins in my back yard food plots, until last year the deer demolished the plants! I had planted sweet baking pumpkins, perhaps the leaves are more delicious then the Connecticut field brand. maybe I will try them next year!
Good point. Never considered that. They didn't touch the leaves on my Connecticut field variety. Good luck.
Great de-wormer! At least that’s my experience from livestock, we did the same thing on our farm this year.
If nothing else it is fun and pumpkins are a welcome part of the fall scenery. But, the deer definitely ate them last year so I will plan to do this every year. Super cheap and easy way to add more food to a food plot.
I know deer love watermelon but never imagined punkins... learned something new today!
Thanks for the comment Super Dave. It was news to me too when I heard about it last year. It worked well though.
Excellent. We are too also then. We have a decent area that we just started reclaiming. It is mostly bare.
Perfect place to try a few pumpkins and then plant to a more traditional plot blend next year with pumpkins around the outside. Good luck.
@@bill-winke Based on your testimony and results we put in 4 small sorghum patches also.
Did this a few weeks ago in northern Missouri, theyve germinated and are maybe 4” tall but in need of some rain soon!
It looked Ike you got it nice rain last night but maybe that missed you. Good luck.
I mentioned before. I came home one evening and there were five dos and a six point standing in my pumpkin patch
I will definitely put to the test this year as we planted 600 pumpkins on the edges of three food plots. Will be interesting to see how the deer react to that much.
Hard getting old! I need my readers too!
Amen. Every year takes a small toll now. The spirit is strong but the flesh is weak.
I’ve been planting 5-75 hills of pumpkins the last 5 years in and around my food plot. The deer love them but the bears usually get most of them before the deer do. But that’s fine. We have three different bear seasons in Massachusetts
Man, glad there are no bears here though one was sighted a couple of times during the last month about a mile from the farm.
I can’t grow pumpkins, so thanks Bill! 😂. Nothing prettier in the fall than corn, sorghum, and ripe pumpkins.
Ah Tommy. I only heard that quote so maybe only the person who said it is the idiot. But even I can grow pumpkins so...
recently I saw a guy who hing cut trees along his entire field edge and the food/brows/cover that provided was very impressive. have you thought about doing something like that on some of your edges? Just crazy amounts of brows was created. also great screening from the deer for access.
That is not a bad idea. I don't like doing it as a general practice in TSI but on the edge that does make sense. Good input.
Grandad planted them where the haystacks were previously, worked for him. I wonder if you can save the seeds and plant them next year. Guess I better get going on my few hills, Big Max seeds this year, dreaming big! 😆
That is a good question. I don't know why you couldn't. Storage is probably the issue. How do you store them from fall to spring? You probably have to dry them somehow. The ones I buy are pretty inexpensive.
Your dog photo bombing you is a hoot! 😆
Someone once told me it's best to break the pumpkins open after they are ripe. Deer can smell them better and will really go after them better that way. It's just what I was told
I did bust one open last fall and that started them. Probably not a bad idea every year to break one open in each patch.
Any updates on Ethan's search for his own hunting ground to buy?
He is still saving a down payment. I pointed him toward one a couple days ago. It is a farm I would try to buy if I wasn't already in so deep in the the spot we own now. He looked at it yesterday but he would need partners if he is serious about trying. He is so young that he doesn't quite have the track record to pull in partners. He will get there.
I ilke it...while the dog rolls in something dead in the background hahaha
Always finding something stinky to roll in.
On Halloween night, around my house no jack-o'-lantern is safe from being a whitetail dinner.
That is funny. You must live in country or a suburb with a lot of deer.
I like this idea! How far apart do the little mounds need to be? I see you plant 4 seeds per hole, but not sure of spacing for holes.
It doesn't really say in the instructions. I was going about 3 to 4 feet apart.
I’ve always been told deer don’t like to walk through the spiky vines. My mind is blown.
That is not my experience.
Great idea bill. I no deer love pumpkins. Have you grown them before? If so did you have to smash them up. I through a bunch out last yr for the deer and i smashed them. Believe it or not coyotes and bobcats were eating them. The cat actaully ran the dog off
We grew some last year too and I did have to smash one in late October to get them started but after that they handled it themselves. We are going to do this every year from now on. It is a super easy way to add a little more food to the farm. If you buy the seeds in bulk off Amazon it is pretty cheap too.
Dream Big brother 🙏
Thanks Edward. Same to you.
Find a local seed store, support local or smash a few pumkins this year and save a bag of seeds
I guess it would be easy enough to save some seeds. I would need to learn how to store them.
At what height do you usually spray your sorghum with 2,4-d?
The sooner the better but only if there are broadleaf weeds present. I have sprayed when they were two feet tall but most experts say to do it only when they are much smaller. Do some research first. Ideally, you don't have to do it. I think I may have sprayed dicamba once too and that worked.
@@bill-winke Thanks for the information. My sorghum is planted in an old field and I'm sure the seed bank is enormous. I'll most likely hit it soon.
Do you have to go out and open them up for the deer after they ripen or do the deer "break in" on their own?
they will smash a hole with their hooves, they love em up here
I did smash one the first year so they got the idea. Not sure if I will have to smash one every year in every patch. My guess is that I will until more of the deer know what they are and how to eat them.
nice! Let me know if you want to try some GIANT pumpkins out there.
How big is GIANT? Would be fun to try a few to see what the deer do with them.
@@bill-winke With care, over 1000 pounds. With little to no effort, 300 to 800 pounds. Contact me if you want some seeds. Thanks.
They will be finishing. Frost won't hurt them they might get burned bot the deer will eat them.
We still have 200 left to plant so those for sure will be pushing the maturity window. Thanks for the comment.
I had pumpkins in a food plot out a few years ago. Coyotes showed up to eat the pumkins and the deer left._
Interesting. Never heard of coyotes eating pumpkins.