when deer think you've become a softy...

[johnnyk71]

so I'm hunting this morning from my ground blind, and this pair of yearling does come in. I've seen them before, and the largest is MAYBE 55 pounds. they have faces like stuffed animals, so I've given them a pass once already, and again today. they repay my kindness by bedding down 10 yards outside my blind, RIGHT under the legs of my feeder (legal in FL, of course). crazy! they stayed there for an hour, hanging out. it was pretty funny. guess I've become a big ole softy!  

[johnnyk71]

kinda hard to see, but one is in the left panel, and the other is right behind the big pine tree.

[Mr. fingers]

I can't shoot the young ones either there too damn cute  

[SlowBowinMO]

Me either.  Plus they make the most convincing decoys!

[Doug_K]

Originally posted by Braveheart Archery:
Me either.  Plus they make the most convincing decoys!

Exactly. Not to mention a 55lb deer would yield maybe 15lbs of meat.

[johnnyk71]

Originally posted by Braveheart Archery:
Me either.  Plus they make the most convincing decoys!

that's what I was counting on. this particular location is home to a HERD of 8 does that usually come in together in the evening. two huge spooky old nannies (who I heard blowing in the distance, and do almost every time I hunt there. dang ol' smart things!), three good size 2-year-old does, and 3 babies.

I was hoping these other two might convince them it was safe to come in, but no luck today. I think somebody took momma out earlier this season, and they're just typical dumb youngsters. might help me later, though. a party of 8 ladies might bring in Mr. Big Horns during the rut.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I never have had the heart to take the little ones either bro... I had a 300 pound calf elk at 15-20 yards last season and couldn't even put tension on the string.... Mama cow on the other hand was 800 pounds and all she showed me was her rump... it figures....

[northener]

I very well might go without a deer because I let mama and her two yearlings pass at 6 yds. No regrets here. Maybe next year will be different, we'll see.

[Longbow58]

I know I'm a softy also. Years ago not so much. Does with doe fawns now get a pass...doe with button buck fawns, well maybe not. Nothing like a live decoy.

[Robyn Hode]

I've done the same thing several times. The small ones get a free pass.