I'll shoot them without a second thought , the fawns are more than old enough to survive on their own .

here in ohio late season is a very rough time for surviving does. we have very frigid weather and unfortunately most farmers have plowed all the fields under limiting the food source. I would pass a young mama with little ones just to ensure their survival till next season. I have no problem taking an old doe

I'll shoot the biggest doe every time. Not only can the fawns survive by the time even the earliest hunting seasons open, but there is musch research which shows that the button bucks are MUCH more likely to stay in your area (versus relocate) if their mother is not there to chase them away.

Dave-

Thats exremely interesting. Where did you get that information on button bucks, I would like to know more. Thanks,

Michael

Since I don't do my own processing, no, I don't shoot fawns. To me, it is just not worth it. Also, I would not shoot button bucks ever.

And yes, I would shoot a doe with fawns.

Dave H is correct. Does typically chase off their male offspring. However, specifically targeting those does is not a practice I would encourage. It's mother natures way of preventing inbreeding among the local deer population. While you may lose a few home-town buttons, buttons from out of town may wander in to fill the void. It should all even-out in the end.

That being said, I've never hesitated to take a momma doe during the season. I just don't specifically target the ones with male offspring.

I only get two deer tags per season. I use them on bucks, but if I were ever to have a tag left on the last day of late archery season, I would definately harvest a mature doe for the freezer. By this time Those fawns are pretty adapted.

Neither my dad or I have a problem with shooting a doe with young ones in the later season. We need meat and will shoot a doe with young ones if we have to.

If the fawns have spots, i will let the mother live, but no spots, she is going to find the tip of my arrow quickly. I think fawns with spots could live without their mothers, but i just feel bad. Like it was mentioned earlier, a mother will push the button bucks out of the area, so its possible that if she is taken out, the button will stay in the area, but then again, who knows. Early season im more incline to take a doe out than later in the season, cause the doe could possibly bring a buck in, even after the rut. Like we all know, males do stupid things when the urge for a female hits.

I'll take a doe just as fast on opening day just as fast as the last day of the season. The fawns are plenty big enough to survive on their own by then.