Butternut squash

I have a lovely butternut squash plant that I hope to save seed from (and eat squash). It has taken over its corner of the garden quite voraciously, and has many big squash on it. The deer that have learned to jump my fence have left it alone so far. But I’m worried now that the squash won’t have time to ripen. They’re still light green and the weather is changing to fall. Anyone know how long it takes for a butternut to go from green to ready to pick?

Squash ripen quickly. As soon as the skin gets hard enough that I can't poke my fingernail into it, I feel good about picking it.

Squash generally store better on the shelf than in a field, especially if deer or frost threaten. Though deer tend to only eat immature squash. At my place, butternut rank lower on deer predation than other species of squash.

This is my first year growing butternuts and I was just thinking the same thing!

I found it interesting how aggressive the vines are compared to cucumbers. I have a cattle panel trellis that my cucumbers climb up and the butternuts have 'acquired' the trellis as the cucumbers have been dying back. I hope it holds all the squash!