Careful where you eat....Pic

[joe skipp]

Was out stumpshooting and came across this little fellow. Mother Nature taking her course...

[ishiwannabe]

Poor little one. Nature can be rough at times.
Thanks for sharing Joe. I found one of similar size about a month back....coyotes ran em down.

[Bakes168]

Meat eating trees?  
It's a bummer, but that's mother nature.

[maineac]

I always worried about doing something like that in the old banister in my grandmother's house.  At least I would have had someone to help me get out, unlike this poor young bugger.

[woodchucker]

Not meaning to open a can of worms here.....

This is one of the reasons I will not shoot a mature doe. Having seen many winter "condition" killed deer over the years the vast majority have been fawns. Basicly a fawn has a 50-50 chance of making it through it's first winter,mainly because they have only learned to "exist" and not "survive".

If a fawn makes it through it's first winter accompanying it's mother,then it stands a better chance of surviving it's second winter. If a doe fawn "exists" through it's first winter,(or worse yet gets breed during it's first fall)it will not have the survival "instinct" to pass on to her fawns as she leads them through their first winter. A 3-5 year old doe is as smart as they come,and will lead her fawns accordingly. Hopefully breeding the true "survival instinct" into the herd.

Just one "Old Fart's" opinion.....

[Izzy]

I have seen that before Joe.Cant believe nothing ate on it yet.Thanks for the pics.

[mcgroundstalker]

Mother Nature is... Well... A Real Mother......!

... mike ...

[BowHuntingFool]

Bummer, I found one curled up by the base of a tree the other day! This little guy looked like he just fell asleep! Too bad the weather warmed up a few days later, the snow melted and then plenty to eat!

[Guru]

Nature's way is tuff sometimes....

Chuck, Isn't "survival instinct" just that..."instinct"...sorta "built in" isn't it?

I don't think of shooting does in that way. To me it's a way of managing the herd.

[BOWCHIEF]

Sad to see, but it's reality.

[maineac]

I read a study (just one study) that followed survival rates of fawns whose mothers had been killed and those who hadn't.  In the study the fawns whose mother had been killed had a higher survival rate than those with the mother intact.  I can't remember how many years they followed the fawns survival.  The researchers theorized the need to pay attention to details, such as predator noises etc. increased after they didn't just rely on mom to warn them, making them more aware of their surroundings sooner, increasing their ability to avoid death.

[SteveB]

If I didn't help manage the herd by shooting several mature does every year where I hunt, there would be far more winter kill in a few short years. The mature ones are the most prolific breeders.

Steve

[Boone the Hunter]

i agree steve, were i live the doe's are out of control in some areas, for the sake of management i wish i could shoot a lot more does than i do to keep the herd healthy

[Zbone]

maineac - Happen to remember where I can find that study?

thanx