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Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) #6038019 11/19/15 02:22 AM
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Lil Joe Offline OP
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I hunt with some people that are insistent on not shooting a doe with fawns. Where we hunt it's just about impossible to find a doe with no fawns. These people end up not shooting any doe because they are so worried about shooting one with fawns. Me personally, I don't worry about it because I feel the young ones are far enough along that they will survive and I like my deer meat. Most years if I didn't shoot a doe or two I wouldn't have any deer meat.

Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038041 11/19/15 02:36 AM
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When fawns are 5 months old they are old enough to live on their own. If your fawns are born in May or June they are 5 months old now. Those born in July can be shot after Thanksgiving.


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Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038066 11/19/15 02:47 AM
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If I do shoot one with fawns its typically if there's a group and there's more 2.5+ year olds than fawns. And I'm not shooting if the fawns still have any spots or don't seem to be doin well.



Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038067 11/19/15 02:48 AM
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If the spots are gone, the fawn is old enough to survive... Its amazing the number of hunters that would rather shoot a 1.5 year old buck than a doe for meat. But it is what it is!


Longhunter >>>-------> Make It Count!!!<><





Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038082 11/19/15 02:59 AM
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I passed on a doe with two nubbing bucks last week. Wanted her to take a little more care of her boys and raise them healthy. Good thing, a few minutes after they left, I blew a doe in estrus call and a 24" wide 9 came in.... Boom

Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038185 11/19/15 03:57 AM
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I was watching a nice size doe through my scope last week with her fawn. I've watched this pair with my game cam over the last few months. I really wanted to put some meat in the freezer and as I'm watching this doe, thinking about freezer meat, her fawn runs up and starts trying to nurse. Shortly after, the fawn started eating corn, but I just couldn't shoot the doe. There were no other deer around, so I wanted to make sure that the fawn could last another month or so. In return for my patience, I was given a shot at an 8pt AR legal buck, which I did harvest. I will shoot that doe later if needed, though.

Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038223 11/19/15 04:28 AM
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Like some of the others, if a doe has a fawn with spots still, I'll pass. So far that's never kept me from putting meat into the freezer.

Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038225 11/19/15 04:29 AM
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No spots on the fawns, mom is fair game.

Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038226 11/19/15 04:33 AM
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IMO as long as the fawn or fawns are good-sized, mom is a target. If the fawn is a jackrabbit I pass. We have a lot of deer, though, and I have time to be selective. I prefer to shoot dry does first, single fawn mothers second and twin mothers last. It always saddens me when a fawn watches me load his mother in the truck.


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Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038347 11/19/15 12:35 PM
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Why would anyone shoot a doe with a fawn? Do you need to "fill the freezer" that bad?

Spend more time hunting, take a cull buck.

Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038380 11/19/15 12:59 PM
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Yes, many will say that fawns without spots are "old enough to make it." While that may be true to some point, I have seen such deer hang close to the area where the mother was taken for several weeks as if to look for the deer that provides them with guidance. Statistics have also shown that deer collisions with vehicles peaks around the time each year when doe will separate themselves from yearling bucks in anticipation of having their fawns. The fact is, fawns and younger deer would not be with their mothers if there they were not benefiting from them. And who has not observed how the mother doe is the most wary of the two.

So while they may "make it", their chances are far better with the help of an older deer.


"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038384 11/19/15 01:04 PM
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A doe will chase her young buck off from a feeder and a lot of times completely out of an area. We shoot does with nubbins buck offspring and the bucks then live around the feeders and survive the winters better. When a doe chases it off from easy food its chances of survival go down.
The doe chases the offspring buck off because even at les than a year the buck will start trying to breed the doe. It can't but it tries. The doe of course doesn't allow this to happen and runs the young buck off.

Tex's Dan I agree on the young deer getting run over but if you stop and look at those little deer you will find that 99% of them are young nabbing bucks that the momma ran off, not a hunter shooting the momma deer.

Last edited by huntwest; 11/19/15 01:08 PM.
Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038385 11/19/15 01:07 PM
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Statistics have shown that most deer on deer crime occurs with fawns raised in a one parent or no parent household. So....are you part of the solution, or part of the problem?


Rob Valle
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Originally Posted by Texsun
The three things you need in life are a good doctor, lawyer and taxidermist.

Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038386 11/19/15 01:08 PM
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I shot a doe with a little button buck. I watched them for about an hour, the little button was eating corn, the green wheat sprouts and when he tried to nurse the doe would kick him away. So I figured it would be fine (I don't have a lot of deer like some) I took the doe that morning. That evening the button was back, eating corn and grazing then he got very still starring at the tree line. I glassed it and seen another doe starring him down. She ran out, chased him off and brought her fawn out. Every time he came back she did the same thing! So then I'm feeling bad and witnessing something I didn't even think of, without his mom would the others oust him?? I've got a couple young bucks, maybe 1.5-2 that are running buddies and the next weekend there group of 2 is now 3 and the little button was in the field with them while the chasing doe was at the feeder so this time it worked out but I believe from now on I will pass on doe with fawns!


It is our responsibility to be successful under the conditions as we find them.
Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038387 11/19/15 01:09 PM
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At my place in Central Tx i wouldn't take does with fawns for the reason, I don't see as many deer as I'd like. Down in South Tx the biologist suggested taking a number of does and sometimes it's part of management to take a doe with a fawn. Most fawns will find a deer to hang around a day or two then start making their place in the herd. I personally don't like to see the lonely looking fawn but after a few days it's all good. I think I'm getting to be a softy. confused2


Sometimes it's hard being me! But somebody has to do it.
Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: huntwest] #6038391 11/19/15 01:11 PM
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Originally Posted By: huntwest
A doe will chase her young buck off from a feeder and a lot of times completely out of an area. We shoot does with nubbins buck offspring and the bucks then live around the feeders and survive the winters better. When a doe chases it off from easy food its chances of survival go down.
The doe chases the offspring buck off because even at les than a year the buck will start trying to breed the doe. It can't but it tries. The doe of course doesn't allow this to happen and runs the young buck off.


Studies have shown that doe do treat their buck offspring differently, and that groups of doe are often the mother and her female offspring.

But I have seen it more often that older doe that are perhaps not a member of the mother and her offspring will run other doe away from a feeder. These are the ones that top my list when taking doe.


"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: rob valle] #6038412 11/19/15 01:31 PM
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Originally Posted By: rob valle
Statistics have shown that most deer on deer crime occurs with fawns raised in a one parent or no parent household. So....are you part of the solution, or part of the problem?


roflmao


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Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038471 11/19/15 02:12 PM
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I've put many a crosshair on a doe with a fawn. Just could never pull the trigger. Call me old fashioned.


coffee spelled backwards is eeffoc. I don't give eeffoc until I have my morning coffee.
Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038504 11/19/15 02:28 PM
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To just fill a freezer, you'd be better off taking the cost of a lease and buying beef, $1500 up, can buy a bunch of steak.

Been eons since I shot a doe, but would prefer a barren, injured doe 1st. I have no doubt a fawn of 5-6 months can survive, especially if excepted by the rest of the "herd", but I think there is more they can learn from a smart doe through winter.

I also have no issue if someone feels the need to take one, if they feel their herd can withstand a good producing loss.
There are few does where I am, highest hunted area in the county according to the GW, but yet I have one neighbor who bragged about killing 6 does year before last and we have seen a significant drop in deer numbers since. Not real hard to wipe out a herd when the properties are 15-60 acres.


If at first you dont succeed, then skydiving is not for you..

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Dennis

Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038518 11/19/15 02:36 PM
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Doe with spotted fawn, I will pass on her. Doe with very small fawn, I will pass on her. Group of does, I always look at the largest one to take.


Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038526 11/19/15 02:41 PM
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I love you guys quoting stats and not posting a single link. I don't believe that at all, BTW. I see the most fresh dead deer on the side of the highway within about a month of the rut, as deer travel more and get squirrelly in general.


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Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038528 11/19/15 02:42 PM
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I think the question is, why would you shoot a doe that is still producing good fawns? That doe could raise 3-4 more deer pretty easy in her lifetime. 1 could be that monster buck in a few years.

Honestly, I don't think much of "hunters" who just go out & shoot a doe, without some management plan or at least selective harvesting. The guys that shoot every deer they see are not sportsmen, & are doing a great disservice to other hunters & future hunters, like their kids.

Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038599 11/19/15 03:16 PM
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Usually pass on does with fawns. Just my personal preference.


Tired, Wired, and Uninspired
Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: maximus_flavius] #6038613 11/19/15 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted By: maximus_flavius
I think the question is, why would you shoot a doe that is still producing good fawns? That doe could raise 3-4 more deer pretty easy in her lifetime. 1 could be that monster buck in a few years.

Honestly, I don't think much of "hunters" who just go out & shoot a doe, without some management plan or at least selective harvesting. The guys that shoot every deer they see are not sportsmen, & are doing a great disservice to other hunters & future hunters, like their kids.




I don't think much of 'hunters' that only kill bucks, either. You have to help balance the herd.

Buck mortality is very high compared to does-talk to a biologist if you don't believe it. The one I spoke with said 67% of buck fawns won't make it to 4.5 in our area. If you are only harvesting bucks you are doing a disservice to the herd unless your numbers support that strategy. We are overrun with deer, and while I don't like to shoot does off fawns, I will do it in order to help cut numbers. In the last 3 years I've taken 2 spikes, 2 mature bucks, and 11 does. Our family eats about 10-12 deer per year and we have 3-5 processed as gifts for close friends.


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Re: Opinions on Shooting Doe with Fawn(s) [Re: Lil Joe] #6038673 11/19/15 03:42 PM
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IMO, their is no set rules on doe harvest, very dependent on CC and management of each area. I hunted and MLD lease a friend has had for years, they had to remove 60 does on just under 1k acres, where I live now, kill 6 and you wont have many to look at for some time.

On the mld lease, we did most the doe hunting through December and later, I think that is a good strategy anywhere. Most fawns will have some idea of winter browse and be plenty ready to be an individual in the herd even most of the last hatch-lings.


If at first you dont succeed, then skydiving is not for you..

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Dennis

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