Ok, here's the deal, I'm 20 years old and have been bowhunting for 5 years. I have yet to kill a deer with my bow (killed 9 with firearms). It's not I can't get them within' range, I just am waiting for the big one...even though I've had 4 chances in 5 years to kill a P&Y, I'vefailed due to inexperience and stupidity. Stupidity being I was so confident the the150 class 12 pointer would be dead at 6 yds, that I dropped my bow to seehow good a shotI made, making the arrowdrop just underneath him. I passed on a 120 class eight pointer last season at 10 yards and usually I just let the does pass early if I think it's too hot, then later in the season am torn bc I don't want to shoot a doe to disturb the woods if the bucks are starting to move. Am I crazy, my dad thinks so...should I just take out my frustration on the first doe within range no matter what the temp.? I still don't want to take a buck that's no going to make the books or be close.

You set your goals and stick with them...Then you can always be proud of what you've done. But killing does is a responsible thing to do as well, and whacking one or 2 of those will gain you VALUABLE experience.

Or 30 or 40

shoot a doe, it helped me get alot of jitters out. i am 21 and was in the same boat (minus the huge deer) bow hunting since 13 and didnt kill my first deer till 19. wack a doe, it helped me work some newbie problems out, good luck. you will get it

And what's wrong with that???!!

[/align]Doe hunting is an excelent way to gain experience. Plus it helps the population. Don't be affraid to take a doe in warm weather. I shot one on the first day two years ago. It was 60 plus degrees F. I had an hour drive home . I field dressed her and bought some ice at the local gas station. I packed her full of ice and drove her home[by way of the check station of course]. When I got home; I processed her and put the meat in the fridge over night. I froze most of it the next day. It worked out just fine. Don't stop yourself from gaining experience because of the heat.

Common theme, here.

You don't really know what you can do until you've done it. Gain the experience of laying one on the ground. I did the same things you're doing.....holding out....and I'm glad I did to an extent. But I still believe .....if I'd laid a doe down my first season (and I had the chances).....I'd have been better prepared when I had a deer in front of me I did want.

It can't hurt you to lay one down. As others have said....its valuable experience gained.

The odds are long against a newbie bowhunter taking a book animal. Hell, the odds are against the vast majority of bowhunters ever taking a book animal. That's why they came up with the books to start with. The animals in there are extraordinary! Take all the deer ever entered in the books, add 'em all together and they'd make up only a tiny portion of any deer hunting state's annual harvest.

So, I have to agree with your dad. [&:]

I don't understand what the temperature has to do with shooting a doe or not and why the temperature doesn't come into play if you see a 150 class buck but it does for a doe?????????????

If you think it's too hot for a doe then it's too hot for a buck. [&:]

Do you only eat the does and only shoot the bucks for the antlers??????

Too hot bc I'd rather not mess with field dressing and dragging out a doe but a nice buck is worth it. And yes, I try to shoot quality bucks, which also make great jerky, burger, and steaks....the sex of a deer has no effect on whether they'd make for good meat. it's all good to me, just depends on how you prepare it. I will not shoot small bucks for management purposes, usually I will take a doe just to get some meat...

So don't go putting words in my mouth...no I don't eat just the does, and yes when I want to take a buck it's for management purposes. I can pretty much kill a doe anytime I want in my area, so killing one early isn't a must. But a quality buck on the other hand, you don't get too many chances with them, so take'em when I can.