New to deer hunting, I've never shot a doe because my logic told me...."why would I shoot the baby makers?"...if I pass on the does then I'll have more deer. Then I started researching into deer management, etc. and realized too many does are a problem too.

So the questions, rut is over where I hunt and I still haven't shot a doe:

1. Should I forget about shooting a doe this season since rut is over....seems like I would be shooting a potentially knocked up doe...

2. If you're staring at 5 does for example....3 does and 2 fawns, what would you do? Shoot the oldest one? Does that leave the 2 fawns potentially unsafe since you might be shooting their Mom? Sorry I'm a newbie.

First check to see if your county requires a special permit to shoot antler-less after Thanksgiving weekend. If they do it is too late to apply for one. Also some counties have a late season for antler-less only. so check into those regulations first.

Any doe you see right now is fine, fawns no longer need there moms help but id shoot biggest one or one that keeps acting spooky

1. My rule is never shoot an antlerless deer that's alone. It's too difficult to judge their size. I always wait until there's at least 2 and shoot the biggest one. Fawns at this point can survive on their own.

2. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a doe at this point in the year. Many states have a doe only season in January, but you could be shooting a pregnant doe.

Doe is a Doe the young ones are old enough to handle themselves either way. Really need to know what kind of numbers and ratios your area has to justify it but if your seeing plenty of deer all the time taking a doe isn't going to show you any affect imo.

Oh and it takes two to tango.....

My thoughts exactly - good chance that a single doe will actually be a nubbin buck. made that mistake once.

JR

Yeah pretty much this^^^

Funny how nobody thinks about the bucks when they say they need to save the baby makers (Don't think momma could do it all by herself ) as they tag two/their limit of bucks every year.

If you're going to enjoy the bounty of your harvest, I see no reason not to shoot your state alloted limit. There's a reason (in OK anyway where our lease is) it's 2 to 1 during the regular season and a special season around Christmas for two more Doe.

I'd say most don't take their Doe allotment as they're waiting for the big Buck to appear from the bushes.

Charlie

I remember back in the late 70's through the 80's, Central Texas had the mindset of save the does (the baby makers), some LO had a no doe harvest rule even. I remember going to Llano one time, a bizzilian small deer, graze line in the trees and small bucks, it was like the whole area was a chut'em up day lease, as far as bucks where concerned.

Now that LO's are doing more doe hunting, based on surveys, or observation, the ratios are getting in check, the carrying capacity of the land is better and now you see some terrific bucks coming out of the Llano country.

The larger the land you control the better, knowing what you actually have on your land as Navsot said, would truly give you a game plan. Takes a good amount of real estate and constant monitoring to actually "manage" whitetail IMO, more work than most are willing to do.

See 5-6 does and you need the meat, I'd take the oldest looking one, or at least a mature doe as the fellas said.

if fawns no longer need mom's help....does this hold true on say opening day?

I like this kinda thinking. Shoot them old snorters.

I have always heard once their spots are gone they are old enough to manage on their own.

Have to use your best judgement. I often see young deer (late born). This year we went into deer season and I had two fawns still sporting a few spots. Personally, (if I was doe hunting) I'd pass on that mamma because she is likely young and "came in" late last year. I don't have to have deer meat to survive, or bonify a lease payment, so if in doubt, I will pass.

Bottom line IMO though, if you want a doe, take what you think is the best choice within your management ideals and don't worry about the details after you pull the trigger, that solves nothing at that point, just enjoy your harvest.

Yup, them stomping and snorting does are the first to go.

If you're seeing a lot of does then it won't hurt anything to take even a few. In some cases it might even help.

I'm hardly seeing any does, so I think that this year I won't take any. Every property is different, so if you got some does I'd take one or more.

Yes.. they usually find another doe/fawn or group to hang around. Some doe will tolerate it some wont.. ever see a doe and two yearling come in and the doe lets one eat and keeps swatting the other one back? after doe days some of my doe look like they are running a daycare

Isnt that like getting rid of your best mama cows though? Would you rather keep the one that knows how to raise and protect young or get rid of the one that could care less whats going on around her

Yes sir, I keep the old safe mammas "snorters", only way they survive around here with all the small properties.

I think they will be just fine without the one always having a fit everywhere she goes lol

If you are on a managed place and have been following a plan, technically the younger does should have the best breeding and therefore should be the last ones shot. The old does are the ones you want to eliminate.

My personal mindset is that the longer a fawn can have his mother in his life, the better. I've seen large fawns nurse their mother as late as January, and even after that she is still teaching them things. So far this year I've taken three does, all dry (no baby in 2014). I've passed on several other does that had small fawns or twins. I have one young doe that has a single fawn and that poor kid is a jackrabbit.

If you aren't in the woods enough to know how to determine a buck fawn from a small older doe, I agree you should pass if you don't have others to judge against. One time when I was a kid I had four 'does' come out, and after watching them for about 150-200 yds I shot the biggest one. Yep, you got it, big-[censored] buck fawn. He did yield 26 lbs of meat, though, and we ate every bit of it.

How do I determine dry from 75-100 yards, I never even considered that common sense logic? Is it obvious through the binos?

Don't worry about it. If your going to shoot a doe then shoot one. The fawns can support themselves.

Just like shooting old bucks, young ones will step up and fill their shoes. There will be a whole new batch of snorters step up to the plate.
Plus the really smart does don't even come out in the open like that. We have some on camera that the only way we know they exist is because of cameras.
If they are going to stand there and eat corn and stomp and snort, that ain't too smart.

On a new place, unless I am over run with does, there's no science to just killing does, yes, they are the baby makers.

Take west texas now, just coming from a drought, 3 years of poor fawn crops, meaning fewer 2,3,4 year old deer than normal, unless you have proof there's an imbalance on your place, then just shooting does is foolish.

You'll hear people say shoot does shoot does shoot does.... that only matters or works, when you know what the buck to doe ratio is where you are trying to manage.

Unless of course you just need a deer in the freezer, then shoot whatever works, I agree.