First Bow Kill
 

Hi guys, I just wanted to thank everyone on this forum for all there pointers all summer. I got my first bow kill last night, what a gratafiying feeling even though it was a doe. The strange thing about it was (and its kind of gross) but it still had a fawn inside I found when I was gutting it out and also it had a nubs like a buck. Has anyone else expierenced this? The guy that does my butchering said it could be inbreeding what do you all think.

RE: First Bow Kill
 

That's really strange and close to impossible! The fawns are born in the spring, by now they're losing their spots. This would be a good question for a real deer biologist.
My first bow kill 3 yrs ago was a pheasant that had the misfortune of walking under my stand!

RE: First Bow Kill
 

I don`t know about the nubs?or the inbreeding going on there:eek:
I thought that stuff only went on in alabama:D
But hay CONGRATS ON YOUR 1ST:)BOWKILL
And what do you mean it was only a doe?
Be thankfull no matter what!
There is nothing like your first.
Congrats again!

RE: First Bow Kill
 

Sounds like you shot a freak. Never heard of such a thing. Congrats on the kill, great job.

RE: First Bow Kill
 

congrats on the deer.

RE: First Bow Kill
 

congrats on your first kill, and thats really wierd, never heard of it before.

RE: First Bow Kill
 

Congratulations on your first bow kill. I am hoping to get mine this weekend. I have never heard of a doe carrying the fawn this late either. I agree that a biologist may have a better idea of how this could happen.

RE: First Bow Kill
 

First of all, congrats on your first kill. Don't worry that it's "Only a Doe." It's just as important, if not MORE important to take does to balance the herd. I do a management hunt every year where all we are allowed to take are does.

I have seen nubs on does before. This is why most states rule an "Antler less" deer as having antlers that are 3" or less and also why it is listed as "Antler less" instead of buck or doe.

I have also seen one full fledged hermaphrodite. It hade a vulva AND a penis, but no testicles.

But this one carrying a fetus? That's a new one to me, although, I don't see it as impossible.

RE: First Bow Kill
 

Are you saying the fawn had nubs, or that the doe you shot had nubs?
Weird either way.

Congrats on the first kill!

RE: First Bow Kill
 

That is very strange. All fawns should have droped long ago.

Congrates on your first.;)

RE: First Bow Kill
 

Great job!

RE: First Bow Kill
 

I've sent your statement to a wildlife biologist friend of mine who works for DNR. We'll see if he has a comment either way.
I wonder....If the doe that was shot was born late last year and then came into "cycle" later that same year....if a buck go hold of her...who knows!
Interesting to say the least.

RE: First Bow Kill
 

as far as nubs on Does yes this can happen thats why here in N.H. we have to shot 3in or more to be legal yeah it's weird but the things I have read from and those I have talked to say it has to do with minerals and things they eat baby inside well that is weird I do know that rut happens in stages and she must have been breed late in season, last yr while i was huntin 1 st day out a doe and fawn came out , fawn was real little so that can happen . Congrads on your 1 st deer mine was 2 yrs ago 20 yard 128 lb DOE.

Heidi N.H.

RE: First Bow Kill
 

Okay...here is the scoop from my biologist buddy at DNR. Enjoy. Even if this is not the case, the info he provides is good stuff.
************************************************** ****
Well, I'm very confident in saying that inbreeding is not the problem….. Here is a quick low down on the deer breeding cycle.
Late October/early November - mature does come into heat and are bred.
Late November/early December - does that were not bred or did not become pregnant during their first breeding cycle come into heat a second time (second rut).
Late December/January - Does not bred or did not become pregnant during October and November come into heat a third time and fawns in good physical condition come into heat, third rut.
Late January/Early February - Due to changes in the amount of daylight and lower testosterone levels in buck breeding ceases and bucks loose their antlers.
February - Due to the changes in the amount of daylight and changes in the deer hormone levels deer, under normal circumstances, a deer will not come into heat again until the fall
Early May/Mid-May - Does bred early in the first rut (October) give birth to fawns.
Late May/Early June - The majority of does give birth during this time.
Late June/July - Does bred in the "second rut" give birth.
Mid July/Late July - Does and fawns bred in January give birth. That should be the end of the birthing season.
Late October - Breeding season begins again.
The gestation period of a White-tailed deer is a little over 6 months, +/- 200 days. Therefore, for a deer to still be pregnant on September 15, she would have been bred the very end of February. This is not impossible, but very unlikely. What is more likely to have happened is that the fetus died, for whatever reason, and the doe has just not yet gotten rid of it. The age of the deer would say a lot here. If it was 1-1.5 years old when it was killed, it is possible that it was a fawn that came into heat very late, but finding a buck that still has the stamina to bred her is very unlikely. Daylight more than temperature drives the rutting cycle in white-tailed deer. For the most part all does will be bred during the first and second rut, then the occasional fawn late. However, in a situation where a population is out of balance and there are too many does, the bucks literally cannot tend to all the does that are coming into heat at virtually the same time (OH what a problem to have, hhmmm…) and physically run themselves ragged.
Very interesting situation and one that makes me think, thanks for throwing it my way. I like this kind of science, give me some more!

RE: First Bow Kill
 

Congrats

RE: First Bow Kill
 

Sounds pretty crazy but Congratulations

Tim

RE: First Bow Kill
 

Congrats on your first bow kill! If you are like me(and most bowhunters) you will never forget that hunt.
I hope you realize that you are now forever hooked and there is no turning back now:D

Enjoy the backstraps!

RE: First Bow Kill
 

congrats!

RE: First Bow Kill
 

CONGRATS ON YOUR FIRST!!!!!! That is a memory that will stick with you forever.

PS. What do you mean "only a doe"? Your first bow harvest is something to be proud of no matter how big or small it is. Heck, any harvest is something to be proud of!

Congrats again!

RE: First Bow Kill
 

First of all, congrats on your first bowkill! secondly, I'm with the others here on the "just a doe" comment. You needn't apologize for taking a doe - does should be harvested as well as bucks to help keep the buck/doe ratio in check and to control the deer population. Many of us take does -- heck, here in MD, you are forced to take a few does before you can shoot a 2nd buck and they encourage shooting a LOT of does here. Enjoy your success.:)

RE: First Bow Kill
 

Way to go. Any deer is a great deer. Weird story though.

RE: First Bow Kill
 

I would have to agree that the fawn was probably dead and the doe never gave birth to it. This actually can happen to humans also.

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any deer especially your first with a bow is a trophy its all about getting close and watching nature and being a part of the watching deer up close and personal.congrats

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Congrtats on your first bow kill. It doesnt matter if it was a buck or a doe that you shot as it a success and we know they aren't always that easy to get, Happy hunting.

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That was a great read Navy, think I'll keep that around for future reference. BTW PSE congrats on "just a doe"...;). Hopefully my first bowhunting "just a doe" will be along shortly....:)

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Is your stand near a nuclear power plant?! [&:]

Congrats on your first bow kill!!!!!