Here's a valid Question for us all...
 

Do you guys shoot does late in season that have young deer with them???

I got to thinking about this as I began taking does off the farm I hunt during gun season. I didnt shoot any 'mama" does with a bow just because then the little ones still have spots and have only been alive maybe 4-5 months. Well in December they are more like 7-8 months old, much bigger, and you can even tell a difference in their caution after 2-3 months of hunting pressure. I personally have no problem shooting does late in season that still have little ones I believe they will make it. I have young deer that have lost mama pass my setup all the time and they seem to be doing fine on their own. I believe in shooting as old of deer as possible so that 1. They don't die of starvation as they get older and 2. So that you keep the age of the herd as young as possible. Of course If I have 2 big does come in and one clearly has a young deer or 2 with it, I will harvest the solo doe, but I believe by the end of season the young ones will make it on their own. This is just my opinion but I am interested to see what ya'll do...

RE: Here's a valid Question for us all...
 

From what I have read a fawn can survive on its own at 3 months old.
I will only shoot a doe that has fawns during the late season. Around here there are bucks dropping already, I don't want to mistake one for a doe.

RE: Here's a valid Question for us all...
 

yeah ill shoot the little ones too.

RE: Here's a valid Question for us all...
 

WLOG you wont shoot a young doe, will ya shoot a young buck? The fawns will be alright. Trust me I live up here in northern MN and the fawns are alright in this neck of the woods. They wil be alright in NC.

RE: Here's a valid Question for us all...
 

Yes, I'll shoot either doe or doe fawns but never button bucks. Button bucks are already pushed and doe fawns survive on their own.

RE: Here's a valid Question for us all...
 

Yes, and for the exact reasons you mentioned within your post. I'm going out Wednesday with the express purpose of orphaning two fawns!;)

RE: Here's a valid Question for us all...
 

Interesting question.... Like you I rarely will shoot a young one in the fall bow season, usually unless it is a really late fawn they can make it on their own, the reason I don't shoot them is not enough meat on em! In the later seasons I am more willing to shoot one, right now its blackpowder here in NJ. I have killed three deer this year, 2 big does, and one buck, so even though I wouldn't mind shooting a young deer, I am holding out for a nice buck.... at least I was on Saturday night.... we will see what happens, but like I said if I need the meat and am not seeing bigger deer I will shoot one. Doe fawns are sometimes bred during the fall, and even then they often only have one fawn, where a big doe is almost always bred and normally has 2 fawns, so in a low deer density area shooting the younger doe makes more sense. We don't have that problem here, so I usually opt for the bigger deer.

RE: Here's a valid Question for us all...
 

In the late season, yes.

RE: Here's a valid Question for us all...
 

No I don't shoot young bucks either. If I need meat I can kill plenty of does. You never know which button buck will make it and become the best deer you ever shot. This year on the 200+ acres that I hunt we killed 8 does and 3 bucks...2 8 pointers and a button buck...the button buck was my buddy's sister's first deer, so thats the only reason for that deer being killed. The buck to doe ratio here is really bad maybe 15:1 or worse so if we continue to take 2+:1 it should begin to show some results. I'm glad I'm not doing the wrong thing by shooting those mama does though.

RE: Here's a valid Question for us all...
 

yes, I have and will in the future. I killed four does this year. three had little ones.