Shoot or don't shoot

[D.J. Carr]

I shoot mature doe. It doesn't matter if they are alone or with fawns. I think it is overlooked the behavior of a mature doe in the winter with limited food sources.  They get down right nasty and will chase even there own fawns off of food if necessary.  If the winter is hard and food is limited shooting one big doe may save to fawns.

We had a lot of deer in one area we hunted a few years back.  We shot three does each, plus a few that were supplied by the land owner. We never shot any adult does in October, we always waited until mid November. One year, the first week in November, a fawn got separated from her mama when a woman walking two dogs came through.  The doe ran back and forth within 20 feet of me, several times, while I was standing in a picked bean field. She was making all kinds of noise and was highly distressed. If she was willing to take that much risk, I was not about to shoot at her. I have not been able to shoot an adult doe since then, they have all been one and half year old does after that.  However, our deer numbers are down now, I have not shot a doe for a couple of years and will not this year either.

[sweeney3]

For me, it depends on a number of things including but not limited to how much meat I have in the freezer, how long is left in the season, how many tags I have remaining, the age and condition of the animals in question, how far back in the hills I was at the time, and more esoteric factors like mood and how busy the rest of the day or the next day may be (Nothing like dropping a large deer on an 84 degree evening and being up all night to clean it when you have to work the next day.  Small deer are much better in that scenario).  In short, it varies wildly.

[Mint]

I ahot a yearling once and tasted just the same as the does i've shot and for the amount of meat for the work put in I won't shoot one again. Also I'd rather shoot a big doe and not risk shooting a button buck.

[30coupe]

Originally posted by Mint:
I ahot a yearling once and tasted just the same as the does i've shot and for the amount of meat for the work put in I won't shoot one again. Also I'd rather shoot a big doe and not risk shooting a button buck.

Same here. I can't tell the difference in taste or tenderness, but the amount of meat in the freezer sure is different. This year I killed a big old doe that appeared to be barren. I thought that was a good one to take out of the herd before winter.

BTW: She is VERY tasty!  

[Mr.Magoo]

A doe with a fawn gets a pass from me.

[beaunaro]

What CJ said. And like sweeney 3 said.
There's lots of different scenarios.

I have never killed a deer of any kind with a trad bow, but wrote a story here, earlier, as to how I had passed on a doe and each of her two fawns on opening day here in WI.

In my case, I had two tasty deer in the freezer from last year, and I really wanted my grandson to shoot his first deer. (He was about 600 yards from me.)

Interestingly enough the same deer visited him and he also chose to pass since his only shot was one of the fawns. Neither had spots, and we would never consider shooting one with spots.

No doubt whitetails are beautiful to observe, and many of us have hearts much bigger than the anti-hunters will ever understand, but there are also the factors of too many deer, and too many highway/deer collisions.

All that being said, If I was hungry, I would not hesitate on any legal deer.

Irv Eichorst
 www.truesouthadventures.com
South Florida hog and Osceola hunting

[LimBender]

Don't have my mind made up, but had it happen twice this year when doe hunting.  The first time was a spotted fawn and decided not to shoot.  The second was an older fawn and by the time I decided I might shoot, it was too late.

Also, the buck fawns will typically stick around if mama isn't there to give them the boot.

[Rick Moss]

Originally posted by captain caveman:
I know they are cute but baby deer taste really good and are easy to haul out of the hills.

hahahaha! that is hilarious to me, for some reason!

[Sam McMichael]

I don't shoot does with  small fawns.

[RedShaft]

I take the opportunities I am given. Unless it is super small fawn. I take either. Or both!

One thing about being afraid of shooting a button buck. when we consider the killing spree on tiny bucks that happens during gun season in most areas, taking the high road and letting small bucks pass 'to let them grow' is a good thing, but will come undone in many cases by a gun hunter.  On another note, I never found a good recipe for antler stew.

[Roger Norris]

I don't  usually shoot very small fawns or button bucks, but a mature doe with fawns is fair game to me.