ORIGINAL: wingchaser_labs
ORIGINAL: kickin_buck
I don't shoot does in late season, mostly because they might be carring my next buck.
I know you are worried about that doe carrying your future bucks but if your goal is to lower the number andget a better health on your herd improving the health of your bucks you need to do so. Also what does it matter if you shoot that doe early season (where she is most likely to get breed potentialy carrying your next year buck) and shooting those late seaosn does (who potentially have a buck in them or didnt get bread same as the early season doe). Simple matter of fact is a early season and late season doe has the same chance of carrying a buck in them the next spring. Just something to think about and maybe change in your managment style........... We have the same problem here so we shoot as many big does as we can except for when we arehuntign the rut. Rifle season is when we really take em out although i did shoot 3 does with the bow including a buck this year. WCL
The does I am shooting are within the first few weeks of the opening of season. There is a very slight chance one of them has come into her cycle VERY early, but it is a very very slight chance. By mid Oct I am done shooting does and I am focused on the two bucks I am allowed each year here in Illinois. I don't shoot just any buck, he has to be that something special for me to pull the trigger. The biggest reason why I don't shoot late season does is because I am normally still buck hunting. I have always felt that if I shoot a doe then my chances of my buck walking by just decreased a bit. My two boys that hunt with me, totally different. If they have doe tags in their pock still, then they are shooting. Good for them. As I said, I understand fully that there is a fault with my plan, but it is the way I do things.