870???? I thought this was about challenge?? I'm good with firearms hunting. But I'm shocked that you'd choose such a devasting weapon. With your expertise and dedication to a challenging hunt, I thought for sure that you'd use a muzzle-loading musket pistol, firing over your shoulder, while looking in a mirror.[:-]This would be truly amazing, especially, given the size of your average target!

Maybe I can help.

These boys have been waiting to come out and play haven't they

I do however miss the big debates with ole' atlas like this durning the offseason....

He won't even acknowledge my posts when I try to communicate with him any more guys I bet it has been well over a year since he last sent a "rebuttal" my way...

You guys may be next, if your not careful

Atlas, let me teach you something. During the breeding period, the fawns are chased off only for the length of time that it takes for her to get bred. After the mission is accomplished, the fawns rejoint the doe, Even the buck fawns. Usually does hang around in family units and when one is being tended by a buck, the tended does fawns willhang aroundwith an adult sister or aunt. The buck fawns will be dispersed in the spring, just before birthing. I hope this helps.

Greg I didn't realize the fawns came back after the mom is bred. I killed a mature doe this year with 2 yearlings thinking they were about to be out on their own anyway since the rut was in. I also thought the doe must not have been bred yet since the yearlings were still with her. Now I realize I may have shot a pregnant doe with yearlings. I may stick to early season doe only now and bucks from then on...thanks for sharing that info. I'm still learning.

fun2hunt, she may or may not have been bred, watch their tarsal glands. Once a doe has been bred she will lick them clean and they'll appear white again, while in estrous they will be black/brown like a bucks tarsal glands. It's also a good way to watch your doe herd as the rut approaches.

Greg is the first person I've ever read make that statement. Buttons are pushed off in the fall prior to breeding and I really don't see them actually return to ma other than herding up, buttons always want to belong to someone and they usually roam alone. When you see a lone antlerless deer, chances are it's a button.

Doe fawns will remain with ma, usually for life in a matriarch family. Generations of doe will remain together. I think and Greg can correct me if I'm wrong with what he meant, when does are in estrous she'll loose her doe fawns/push them off while breeding but they'll return together and again, be a matriarch family. That's not set in stone tho, your doe may or may have been bred.

But we're hijacking the thread, back to your regularly scheduled dead horse beating.

You didn't read anything about me taking bullets did you

That doesn't jive with what I have seen.

It is rare to see does with their little ones still in tow this late in the year. I have my own deer herd that visits my property on a daily basis so I have been fortunate enough to be able to observe them in the woods and all year round in my yard as well.

Not saying you are wrong because I am sure you are going by what you have seen (I hope)............just that I have not witnessed the same.

Thanks Rob...ok go back to the beating.