That's the way I look at it as well. We farm in addition to gardening and lose a great deal of harvest to deer, hogs, racoons and bears every year. The squirrels don't do quite as much damage, but they are a problem.
We planted 5 acres of watermelons three or so years ago and discovered that melons are the best deer attractant in the world. They can smell which are ripe and then with a few swift kicks the melon is open. Lost probably half of the crop. Found watermelon vines all through the woods that autumn. LOL!
You simply have to plant more than you plan on harvesting. We also look at it as fattening program for the critters that we end up harvesting during hunting seasons. One way or another we get fed. ;-)
And canteloupe. The deer absolutely the baby canteloupes. My husband swears they must be like Sknickers' bars to the deer, but he insists he wants to ry them again this year........