I read somewhere( maybe here?) that the old idea of taking the alpha doe may not be the best idea. Now I'm not being judgemental at all, I just like to see what everyone else thinks.

The reasons...
1. The alpha doe or Matriarch is an older deer with very good survival skills. Chance of death by winter kill or predators is significantly reduced as she's probably "been there done that" and survived.
2. It takes more nutritionally(sp) to get a yearling doe through the winter than an older doe as the younger is still growing. The big picture result being more food for the trophies and older animals.A key to growing larger animals.
3. The older doe has a higher succses rate of rearing and protecting young...I.E. may be a better mother through experience. Giving a better chance of survival to those budding button bucks.
4. And my personal favorite...Young deer TASTE better!

Now I'm not going to shoot a fawn, but I'll try to take a younger one on occassion for the freezer. I'm not a trophy hunter, but I do love the challenge of outsmarting the older wily ones as well ( although they seem to have outsmarted me thus far this season!)

Maybe this is off topic, but I'd be curious as to everyone else's pont of view on this theory.I'll post it seperately if anyone thinks it is. Again, I'm not casting stones by any means, just some food for thought.

Trushot }}------>