I plant then most years - in that back end of a clover plot - or with cultivated corn. I plant them for my kids to go pick out their own pumpkins in October.

Never once have I had deer look at them with any interest until after Mid October. Even then, they might occasionally break one open - or take a nibble.

My little pumpkin patches don't mean much - but I think its safe to say that at best -they would only offer a "treat" over a very short period of time for the deer. Unless your soil is really good, they need quite a bit of Nitrogen added to get any size to them.

FH