Once a fawn starts eating "hard food" it can survive on it's own. Their survival skills are learned from their mama. So their survival is less likely without their mom. I have seen what I believe is fawns who lose their mom hanging near or joining other family groups.

If you want to shoot a doe or fawn you have my blessing

The fawns will be fine. Shoot momma in a heartbeat.

GMMAT has posted a copy of an email he received a reply to from his local game biologist. I don't remember what the exact time frame was, but....It was very clear that by the time fall rolled around the fawns are perfectly capable of fending for themselves.


Just to add another spin on things.....Why not shoot the fawn? Ever had backstraps from one? If you have, you know what I'm sayin....

ive never shot a doe that had fawns casue i wanna be safe just in case a fawn cant be my theirselves.

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Thats what its all about!!My uncle would be proud of ya, he usually shoots 3 or 4 of those a year to smoke. He doesn't call them fawns, he calls them "smaller targets" LOL.

Last time I checked, spotted fawnswere illegal to kill, at least in LA. they are. You may want to check regulations before you start posting some pics on a popular hunting site.

It's legal, and therefore ethical. If the fawns make it to hunting season they'll make it to winter, after that all bets are off.The antlerless limit for my county is 8, and I have a freezer to fill, I'll pop Mom and the fawns if opportunity presents.

I also don't believe this is an "ethics" thread! There is nothing about shooting a fawn with spots/no spots that is illegal that I am aware of. It is just a matter of personal opinion whether to shoot the adult doe or not or to shoot the fawn or not.

If the fawn(s)seem to be old enough to provide for themselves and don't appear to be sick or feeble, I would think thatthe adult doe makes a great target. It may come down to what you want/need to keep your deer herd balanced!

On a personal note, I don't shoot the fawn(s). With or without spots! That's my right as a law abiding ethical hunter, and it's just the choice that I make. I equally don't care if any other licensed hunter does make the choice to shoota fawn.I would not think any less of a hunter who does decide to shoot it. As I stated earlier, it's just a personal choice that each hunter makes and is entitled to make.

When our season opens 10/15 fawns are perfectly capable of surviving on their own provided they were born in late May or early June.