There are a lot of myths out there about what deer do and do not eat. One common question is: do deer eat pumpkins?
Yes, deer love to eat pumpkins, especially the pumpkin guts and seeds. While pumpkins are not a major part of their diet, they provide vitamins and minerals which are critical to deer survival.
There’s a bit more to learn about deer eating pumpkins which we’ll cover in today’s guide. Read on for more info.
Why Do Deer Eat Pumpkins?
As we covered, deer like to eat pumpkins when they’ve got the chance.
But why do they do this?
Pumpkins are a type of fruit that is high in sugar and nutrients, which makes them an ideal food source for deer.
Additionally, deer will consume a wide variety of foods like pumpkins based on opportunity.
Pumpkins attract deer because they grow on the ground so they’re easy to access.
Pumpkins also leave the fruit with leafy greens on there, which deer love to eat the leaves, and they have rinds that are relatively easy for deer to break.
This exposes the pumpkin seeds and soft inner flesh and pulp, which are easy for deer to chew
They’re also more resistant against disease and insects, which deer prefer.
In fact, people specifically choose to grow pumpkins as part of their food plots to attract deer.
If you’re not convinced, leave some pumpkins out for deer to eat (or plant some), and wait to see what happens!
Do Deer Eat Pumpkin Seeds?
Yes they do, and it’s one of their favorite parts.
Pumpkin seeds are a good source of fat and protein for deer, especially in fall and winter when there are less available food choices.
Do Deer Eat Pumpkin Guts?
Yes, the guts (or fibrous strands) inside the pumpkin are slightly sweet and also easy for deer to chew, so it’s one of the parts of the pumpkin that deer consistently go for.
Do Deer Eat Carved Pumpkins?
Although deer will occasionally eat the soft inner flesh off a pumpkin rind like on a jack o lantern, it’s definitely not their first choice.
They’ll usually go for the inner rind only if the pumpkin guts and seeds are gone and if other food sources are running low in the fall or winter.
Do Deer Eat Pumpkin Plants?
Most deer will go for the leafy greens on fruits like pumpkins before going after the actual fruit on the vine.
Deer love immature plants and pumpkin leaves because they’re easy for them to chew and digest.
Are Pumpkins Good For Deer?
Yes, pumpkins are very healthy for deer to eat.
Feeding deer pumpkins provides them with the following vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B1
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin C
- Copper
- Folate
- Manganese
These vitamins and minerals provide deer with many benefits.
For example, vitamin C will help protect deer against scurvy and vitamin assists in deer immune system function.
Deer need calcium for bone, teeth, and antler growth and health as well as other bodily functions like milk production and metabolism.
Manganese assists deer in growth, respiration, and reproduction.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins in Pumpkins For Deer
Vitamins A, D, E, K, and calcium are fat-soluble, so they can be stored in the deer’s fat and liver to be used later as needed.
This means that vitamin A content from deer eating pumpkins can be “stored up” for later use, which is highly beneficial.
Water-Soluble Vitamins In Pumpkins For Deer
Vitamin C, B Vitamins, niacin, folic acid, and potassium are all water-soluble, which means they cannot be stored, so they must be replaced continually.
So a deer that eats pumpkins for the vitamin C or potassium content must continue to consume foods that contain these necessary vitamins to stay healthy.
How To Feed Deer Pumpkins
There are a few things to keep in mind when you feed pumpkins to deer: the size of the portion, your scent, and how many deer you’re feeding.
Make sure to place the pumpkins on the ground where it’s visible and can be easily reached by deer.
If you’ve got a winter food plot with pumpkins or a pumpkin patch growing in it, the deer will eat them right out of the ground.
If deer are not normally around your area in winter, don’t feed them leading up to winter as they will not migrate where and when they should.
This will lead to the deer relying on you as their food source and can result in starvation.
Should I Cut Up Pumpkins For Deer To Eat?
If possible, cube pieces into 1″ or 2″ chunks or cubes to make it easier for the deer to eat pumpkins.
At the very least, break the pumpkins open so that the deer can easily get to the seeds, pumpkin guts, and the inner rind of the pumpkin.
Don’t Leave Your Scent On Deer Food
Deer have a keen sense of smell that allows them to smell human scent farther than bloodhounds can, and can smell up to six different scents at once.
Deer won’t eat food like pumpkins if they have a strong human scent on them, so you should take care to minimize your trace.
You can do this by rinsing the outsides of pumpkins and also washing your hands with antimicrobial soap.
Alternatively, you can put a few drops of apple cider vinegar on your hands when handling food you’ll be giving to the deer.
Another easy option is to use gloves when handling pumpkins for deer to eat.
Consider The Amount Of Deer You’re Feeding
If you have lots of deer in your area, think twice about putting out food continuously for them.
If you bring deer together at the same feeding site, it can increase their risk of contracting chronic wasting disease or other communicable diseases from each other.
Can Deer Eat Pumpkins? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat pumpkins?
The answer is yes!
Deer will eat pumpkins if they’re available, and they can actually benefit from the vitamins and minerals found in these peels.
Just be sure to take care with your scent, the size of the portion, and how many deer you’re feeding when placing pumpkins out for them.
Have any observations to add to the discussion? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
Check our our other helpful wildlife guides while you’re here: