Jeff, I know what you're asking and have been a little torn over that for years, especially when hunting Maryland early season and crop damage in July and August. They say they'll survive and all that. If the fawns have spots I won't even think of raising the bow. And in reality, even if they don't have spots... I just can't bring myself to do it. Late in the season, Nov, Dec and Jan I'll shoot.... but earlier... I myself just can't do it. Maybe it's a throw back to my upbringing when a doe shooter was lower that pond sludge. I think a lot of it's just that.... you were slime if you shot a doe when I was growing up. Maybe when all we old coots die off and are gone these feeling will disappear, but as long as I'm alive I can't do it. I know the young will survive and I think NO less of anyone that shoots. Besides the fact I've been shown they'll survive, we're suppose to kill does because of over population. The occasional fawn that might not survive(and I believe it would be the exception rather than the rule) would really help in thinning the population. Kind of two for one arrow. If you ask me I'll tell you they'll be fine this time of year. The real late bloomers probably aren't good for the herd and breeding cycles anyway. But me, I really just say there'll be another deer. I always had Len and his boy around who were more than willing to take out some deer on crop damage permits. The tags were always filled with them around. LOL

David....I'll share this with you.

When I got into deer hunting.....I wanted to do it for the fun of it. Will I have "fun" taking out a doe with a fawn in tow? Honestly....it's not even close to being "fun". Will I, as a man, feel remorse? Yes. I feel remorse every time I kill an animal. I hit a rabbit on the way to work this morning....and THAT bothered me (still does).

Have I bitten off more than I can chew with this herd reduction thing? I don't know. It won't let me hunt the way I want to. And the way i want to hunt won't let me sleep good.....knowing I could be doing better in the overall herd's eyes. If I'm naive.....then let me be. I don't know any better, right now.

You see.....I kinda look at this like the person that wants a nice, juicy steak.....but doesn't want to know how it got on their plate. I want to have and hunt a healthy deer herd. I need to understand how it can get that way......and do my part. No one's gonna serve that up to me.

Time will tell.

Interesting info Jeff.

I kinda figured the fawns would survive, lots of bad things can happen to adultdeer in the wild so they may not always be around to raise their young. I guess it's nature's way of preserving the species by making the little ones tough bastards. <----can I say that?

Interest stuff GMMAT.

I'm not sure that I buy the info they gave you in reference to milk production. Last season, my buddy asked me to sit in his rifle stand with him. I ended up shooting a doe that was about 80 pounds. She had a fawn with her that was nearly the same size. This occured right at the end of the rut in our area, 2 or 3rd week of November. I can't remember the actual day I shot her. Anyway, when we got her to the skinning rack, she had milk pouring from her teats. She was without a doubt, still producing milk. Maybe it was a fluke but I kinda doubt it.

Do I think the fawns will survive? I think that most will do just fine.

tx.....If I can't trust the wildlife Bio's in my own state.....who can I trust?

With your rut being so late.....the gestation period would be pushing your fawn births much later than ours. What month are you talking about?

Edit:

sorry...I didn't read closely enough. So....if a late bred doe is bred in January......she gives birth two months later than ours do......your scenario isn't far-fetched at all, to me.

I had a momma dead to rights Saturday morning, she had a fawn with her, I didn't draw...Just not my cup of tea...I hate to skin a doe with a full milk sack...I kill plenty of does, Saturday was the first day of the season, plenty of time left for me to kill my 4-5 does...

I posed this very question about a month ago due to earn a buck
here in the state of Wisconsin.

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=2240947&mpage=1&key=wisconsin&am p;#2240947

your reply then:
As long as it's out of spots.....THIS SEASON.....yes. I will shoot doe fawns.

I'm not proud of it. I'm not ashamed of it.

I won't post pictures.

_____________________________

"It's not about us (hunters). What we do is about THEM (the deer)"

Jeff

1190223 -- 9/8/07

That's a little different, Fraley....don't you think?

I'm not saying I'd question anything about the practice....I just don't see them being anywhere near the same scenario.

Also.....I see your amended post. What is the point?

Our rut in E. TXis usually about the first 2 weeks of Nov.the peak is normallytoward the end ofthe first week. I believe our fawns are born around the first of June sometime, not real sure though.
Before that experience last season, I would've never dreamed that they'd still be producing.
I'm not saying you shouldn't trust them. Just saying that sometimes the info they have may not be accurateall the time. Ya know, I go through life believing what I believe, until I experience something that makes me re-think everything. I really don't know what the heck to think anymore. After the past couple of seasons bowhunting and living on tag soup, now I just try to go into the woods without any preconceived ideas, only things that I've experienced. We'll see what happens this year.

I was thinking about it this morning and is this the same spot you searched for that downed doe? If so that can have a lot to do with no sighting. After a kill by mine I get nothing for awhile even on cams.
Just a thought.