Punkin' Chunkin' competition underway in Colorado

The sounds of fall in Colorado are a little different than you might imagine.

Fall in Aurora, CO brings the sound of frost-covered gourds being launched into the sky by cannon-like contraptions; an activity known as Punkin' Chunkin.

Chuckers from around the country gather at Aurora's hallowed Punkin' Chunkin' property, Arapahoe Horse Track.

Their mission: Propel plump, orange orbs into space, turning pumpkins into premature pumpkin pies.

Teams return year after year, perfecting the art and science of launching pumpkins far and wide.

"I like the challenge of… man against machine against nature, or man with machine with nature, to try to get the furthest possible shot," one experienced chucker explained.

From modest to massive, these passionate pumpkin pushers can launch their biodegradable missiles up to one mile.

So why do they do it?

"The pumpkin is something beautiful to watch as it disappears into the horizon. There's something that goes on in your mind when that little gourd becomes invisible," a chucker said.