What is your criteria for determining a mature doe in your area?

The answer "may" not be as easy as you'd think.

Droopyor even sagging breasts.

Bawanajim, your too much, and you beat me to my thought...
How about the double chin or in my case the triple chin?
The Doe probably doesn't put out much, unless it's your birthday or something, and you have to keep on reminding them that it's not just for peeing! Opps!

I like that!


When I see a family group of does and fawns, it usually consists of two adults and 3-4 fawns. Usually one of the adults is much larger, she is the matriarch. If you see multiple doe units in a field feeding in close proximity, the most senior ranking doe will be treated with the most respect by the other deer. They are mostly related to each other, all of them.

I see doe groups as large as TWELVE.

Just like in bucks.....the largest one isn't always the dominant one......NOR is she necessarily (and in the case of the area I hunt....predominantly) the oldest

Around here they get that John Kerry look with a real long face. And they defiantly rule the herd.

MOST of the time they are ...... they are bigger because they eat first ....at least that's what I read

Ok More importantly and sorry if this hijacks this baby...

Why do I care (honestly, not being slanderous) I'm not a doe hunter and if I was I wouldn't shoot the oldest one. Cuz I'd prefer young and tender.

So as a person who is targeting "better" bucks what am I missing by not age structuring the does I see?

The chance for a buck to take her place residing on your land.

So She will run off attempts at breeding? I would think if she is so dominant and this statusgives her some magic woods wisdom she woud attract or seek out the best mate?