I'm new to hunting, when finding does to shoot should you not shoot does with new born fawns? When are fawns able to take care of themselves?

Ever since I watch Bambi 100 years ago, I have a hard time shooting any doe that comes in with a youngin in tow. Certainly wouldn't shoot a doe with a spotted fawn.

Shoot them both? Them little one are tender.

The fawns are old enough to take care of themselves by the time the regular deer season starts. They are born in the Spring and are not "newborns".

we let the mamas go

I don't mean to put to fine a point on this but is this observational data or scientific data?

There is a reason the season is where it is. The fawns are good to go. They are with their mamma's but not dependent on them, even the ones with spots.

Even July babies (less than 10% of a fawn crop)are 4-5 months old and don't need the mother for life support.

You could pass on one during archery season if you have a soft heart but November on.......put the meat on the table.

Scientific data. I actually know of the data for why they have the doe season AFTER regular season. They used to have it preseason, and there was a higher mortality rate for fawns.

When we start shooting does (usually December) the fawns are fine on their own. Most does aren't lactating at all, and we check this.

There is no reason not to shoot a doe with a fawn. In fact, that is the best way to make sure you are shooting a doe, and not a buck fawn.

I was wondering because if most mature does have babies and you are suppose to let them go to take care of there babies then you will end up shooting more juvenile does.

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Shooting mama does is fine. I shot one this year, her fawn ran off. I saw that same fawn at the same feeder almost every time I hunted that stand. They will survive just fine, especially with feeders around.

Thanks. I am new to hunting and my son and I were asked to take as many does as possible, up to 11, this weekend. I noticed that when we had to pass on does with young then the field of does were greatly reduces and we ended up taking two smaller does around 2.5 years nice but smaller than I would have liked.

I think what has not been explicitly stated is that whitetail deer does all give birth around the same time of the year, in May. So, in November when the season starts, all the fawns are 6 months old and able to survive on their own.

For best eating, you want young, but full size deer, yearlings (1.5 YO), or 2 1/2 YO. (Note that because they're all born six months out from deer season, during the season all deer are n 1/2 years old.

.5 = fawn
1.5 = yearling
2.5 and older have no special term

Our biologist says we have a .33 recruitment rate.... and wants us to get to a 2 does to 1 buck ratio. As long as we have plenty of does to choose from I will never shoot a doe with a fawn....and may not do it when or if we reach 2 to 1. Call me soft, call me whatever, just a personal thang.

+1 All the meat taste like back strap.

That's not necessarily true. In areas where the buck-doe ratio is out of whack, there aren't enough bucks to get the job done while the does are in estrous. As a result the remaining does will cycle into estrous again a month later and so on until they all finally get bred.

It's not unusual to see newborn fawns at our lease on the opening of dove season and fawns still with spots on opening of deer (gun) season... four months behind normal schedules.

When I was studying does and there fawns I did notice that one did look younger, very fluffy and smaller, than other fawns.

I also have a problem with shooting fawns. Especially when there are bigger does or yearlings to shoot, but i will reconsider shooting does with bigger fawns.

shoot them both. last year i got in my bow stand and had a doe and her little one run up. i shot the mama with my bow. the little one just stood around so i grabbed my gun and shot her. greaaaaaaaat meat.

A doe with a young'un gets a pass from me. But each to their own.


Jay

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I have heard it put like this and it makes sense to me. Shoot the doe with the fawn late in the season, especially in South Texas when the does drop late fawns. His reasoning is that does kick the fawns off and they usually leave the area. If you shoot the mama the fawns stay on your property, if the fawn is a doe your even and if it is a buck, he stays on your place.

Yes, but for someone who apparently didn't know that whitetails weren't born year around, it's a good rough approximation to the truth.

shooting a mama is fine, the fawn will be fine but is really just a matter of preference and what is acceptable to you

Wow. I can't say I'm suprised though.