this question is for the people that hunt nice bucks and dont shoot the first doe/fawn that walks out. when do you start shooting the does to help out the buck/doe ratio. the buck/doe ratio around my house is proberly about 5 or 7-1. it just seems like the bucks aren't having to do any traveling to get on a doe. so when can i thin out the heard? im really wanting to take a few w/ the bow but i dont want to mess up any chance at a big buck.

I would thin em out now. As long as there is no buck around and you have been seeing just does, let it eat baby!!! Does have to be killed too. Can't just shoot big bucks.

Some say early, some say late. It depends on what your looking to achieve.

I start shooting does when they walk in front of me

I normally shoot them in them in september and the beginning of october, then hold off till the the end of november, then i try to shoot everyone i can.

I try and shoot them as early as I can. This year I only got 2. I will be looking to step it up and hammer them from here on out, but I much prefer early season to take does.

to really impact the deer population size, and lower the doe to buck ratio, you have to harvest 40% of the does...thats the number that begins to change the dynamics of the population

I agree. That is a lot of does though!!!

Here in NC the best time is September and October...The rut has already started...Next best time is after the first week in December...

I harvest them when they are in front of me.