Forums46
Topics538,235
Posts9,734,657
Members87,075
|
Most Online25,604 Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
Doe Killing, What's your preference
#6747573
04/27/17 02:07 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,984
Stompy
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
|
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 7,984 |
With the fawn numbers the past couple of years and probably another good one this year I'll need to take several Does off the ranch this year. What is your preference, take them out early in season or late and why?
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6747583
04/27/17 02:19 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 909
Triplesnake
Tracker
|
Tracker
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 909 |
I like to take them early. For one, they most likely won't have been bred yet so you aren't removing an offspring that might have been sired by your best buck. And, it reduces the doe pool so the better bucks are the ones most likely to be doing the breeding when the time comes. Secondly, it allows me to focus the rest of the season on finding a nice buck and not worry about having meat in the freezer. I can be more patient.
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Triplesnake]
#6747586
04/27/17 02:21 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,684
CitySlickerHunter
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,684 |
I like to take them early. For one, they most likely won't have been bred yet so you aren't removing an offspring that might have been sired by your best buck. And, it reduces the doe pool so the better bucks are the ones most likely to be doing the breeding when the time comes. Secondly, it allows me to focus the rest of the season on finding a nice buck and not worry about having meat in the freezer. I can be more patient.
"I can't be over gunned because the animal can't be over dead"-Elmer Keith 10/30/2012 I VOTED for The American
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: CitySlickerHunter]
#6747630
04/27/17 03:02 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,496
Halfadozen
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,496 |
I like to take them early. For one, they most likely won't have been bred yet so you aren't removing an offspring that might have been sired by your best buck. And, it reduces the doe pool so the better bucks are the ones most likely to be doing the breeding when the time comes. Secondly, it allows me to focus the rest of the season on finding a nice buck and not worry about having meat in the freezer. I can be more patient. agreed
Freedom is a fragile thing ...Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have never known it again. -- Ronald Reagan
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6747640
04/27/17 03:10 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,605
fouzman
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,605 |
Whenever I can. Bred or not.
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6747649
04/27/17 03:15 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,542
rickym
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,542 |
Anytime but ill try to take a decent number early if ive gotta take alot of them.
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6747705
04/27/17 03:52 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,379
Schpanky
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,379 |
....call me crazy but I want as many hot girls running around during the rut as possible....that said, I try to take a doe in bow season....usually only take 1 per season however I will take a second late in the season if I'm not able to get the right buck in the scope..... but I agree that numbers are probably going to be up as a result of favorable range conditions the last few years.
Last edited by Schpanky; 04/27/17 03:57 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6747713
04/27/17 03:56 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,565
redchevy
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,565 |
We shoot them late.
There are more does holding our bucks around and pulling other bucks in Keeps the pressure down and pasture quiet Your eliminating the same offspring no matter what, just in one instance they are never bread.
Chances are the majority of the deer running around on a low fence property carry some bit of the genetic makeup to create your best buck it just requires the right combo and chance to happen. Just because you have an awesome buck doesn't mean his offspring will look anything like him.
It's hell eatin em live
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6747716
04/27/17 03:59 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,565
redchevy
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,565 |
We have had years of good rainfall and conditions. After hardship populations rebound at really fast rates through increased recruitment. As the population reaches carrying capacity the recruitment rat should decline to meet die off. If it took more than a year or two to get your population back up there is something more affecting it than just the drought.
It's hell eatin em live
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: fouzman]
#6747728
04/27/17 04:10 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,981
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,981 |
Whenever I can. Bred or not. My take on it. There are arguments to both sides of the coin. I tend to favor the "shoot them late" mentality to reduce completion, buck mortality and broken horns. But, if you have to take large numbers you do it when you can, where you can. These doe killing missions I see people putting on late in the season often fail due to the number of deer they need to take in a limited time span and them getting wise to pressure. I started early and finished late when I needed to when we were running a hunting ranch. Now my doe kills are really whenever I feel like it. It also depends on the property, you do it different on a large hf place vs. a small low fence place And yes, I do get a kick out of sitting in a tower and ending the hunt with 5 or 6 does laying around. Good Practice and really a great learning experience as to how deer react after the shot and bullet performance
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: redchevy]
#6747733
04/27/17 04:12 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,981
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,981 |
We have had years of good rainfall and conditions. After hardship populations rebound at really fast rates through increased recruitment. As the population reaches carrying capacity the recruitment rat should decline to meet die off. If it took more than a year or two to get your population back up there is something more affecting it than just the drought. IME people always forget about predators.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6748104
04/27/17 11:02 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,574
Leonardo
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,574 |
Earlier the better for me. Unless i have a big deer to chase and want to keep the area calm. We also try to shoot doe away from the stands and feeders. Corn the roads, off to the side of my setup ect....
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6748111
04/27/17 11:08 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 301
DryFire
Bird Dog
|
Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 301 |
Can see good arguments for both sides but think I fall more toward early. Maybe its the itch to get meat in the freezer so I could hunt a good buck the rest of the season. Interesting topic.
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6748173
04/28/17 12:03 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,811
TxAg
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,811 |
We usually have a bunch to kill so we get on them in October. Then, we try to let the ranch settle down for the rut and kill the rest in Jan, Feb. But, they get much harder to find late season.
Figure one upside is there are less months to feed in the late winter when the land is at its least.
Last edited by TxAg; 04/28/17 12:08 AM.
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6748427
04/28/17 03:42 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,615
MELackey
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,615 |
depends on who is in the stand. My sons and nephews are all getting pretty good at hunting and are pretty hard on the deer population. Last year there were a crap ton of goofy looking bucks, so they kept busy shooting the 3 points, unicorns, and goat horn spikes and I got to bump a couple of does late in the year. We try to take a couple early, but we don't get terribly bent out of shape about when it happens.
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6748546
04/28/17 12:29 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,604
lubbockdave
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,604 |
shoot the first one you see, then the one standing next to her, and then then next one until there are no more does or your out of tags.
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6748577
04/28/17 12:59 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,113
Ranch Dog
Veteran Tracker
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,113 |
Late, being any time in December as I keep fetus measurements with conception dates. Just like our bucks, select mature animals to be taken.
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6748771
04/28/17 04:11 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,850
Texan Til I Die
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,850 |
I like late, but for a different reason than most. Late is when the colder weather hits and I absolutely hate dealing with a dead deer when it's warm.
Silver spurs and gold tequila keep me hanging on. Pretty girls and old cantinas give me shelter from the storm.
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6748774
04/28/17 04:12 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032
Navasot
Hollywood
|
Hollywood
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 28,032 |
Take them when you can...
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6748781
04/28/17 04:24 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8,719
cameron00
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8,719 |
At my new place you can shoot a doe, and by the time you collect her, there are 12 more back on the corn completely oblivious to the fact that you're eviscerating one of their own 10 yards away.
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: fouzman]
#6749401
04/29/17 01:23 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,653
Pitchfork Predator
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,653 |
Whenever I can. Bred or not.
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6749416
04/29/17 01:43 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,982
Stub
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 43,982 |
If I take one it is always late in the season for four reasons. I am in N. TX on small acreage so what works for me might not be as relevant if you are on big tracts of land. 1. The main part of the rut in N. TX is early from around 11-5 to 11-20 so I do not want to shoot a doe early and spook the deer onto neighbors property. 2. Firm believer in he who has the does during the Rut, will have the best opportunity of seeing more bucks. 3. I feed year round, have a food plot so the does are eating plenty all season long. Your does will have less bugs like ticks and fleas on them after a few good freezes and probably less parasites. 4. If you have does that did not breed in the first estrus cycle during the rut, good chance she might come back in heat later in the season and give you a better or another chance of seeing that buck
Last edited by Stub; 04/29/17 06:51 PM.
“I never forget a face—but in your case, I’ll be glad to make an exception.” —Groucho Marx
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6751219
05/01/17 05:17 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,947
Curtis
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,947 |
If it's a noisy doe bleating at me and they need thinning out anyways, it's taken out as the opportunity arises. I just talk d with my biologist about this a month ago and he said early would be better. That's what I will go by.
Double Arrow Bow Hunting www.doublearrowbowhunting.comBow hunters welcome! Whitetail-Axis-Blackbuck-Fallow-Barasingha-Scimitar Oryx Located in Gonzales County. Visit our Facebook page for current updates!
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Curtis]
#6751323
05/01/17 07:14 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,981
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,981 |
If it's a noisy doe bleating at me and they need thinning out anyways, it's taken out as the opportunity arises. I just talk d with my biologist about this a month ago and he said early would be better. That's what I will go by. The snorting/blowing doe always gets what's comming to her early. Had a doe blowing at us all last season from bow thru rifle. She was missing half her ear so made her easy to spot. I kept giving her passes and I never did get her. I see her this year I'm killing her I don't care if I see her the first 5 min into the bow opener
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
|
|
|
Re: Doe Killing, What's your preference
[Re: Stompy]
#6751457
05/01/17 09:20 PM
|
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 737
Treinta-Treinta
Tracker
|
Tracker
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 737 |
Your old does are more apt to breed with the older bucks deep back in the brush and cull bucks are more aggressive breeders according to Texas A&M studies.
I shoot does that are between first year and 1 1/2 years old because the taste better and skin easier.
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, hetman, jeh7mmmag, JustWingem, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, rifleman, sig226fan (Rguns.com), Superduty, TreeBass, txcornhusker
|