"Mature Doe"
 

With all of the hype lately about "mature" bucks, I was wondering how many of you believe a "mature" doe is an equal advisary as far as cunning is concerned?
Forgetting that mature bucks are reclusive by nature, I believe a mature doe is at least as wary, if not more so,as a mature buck, who only looks out for himself,because she has spent years raising and looking out for her offspring. She spends much more time out and about for this reason.She not only has to watch out for herself but the little one's as well, perhaps giving her the edge on alertness.What do you folks think?
Let me add this to the thread. Of the 30+ deer I've killed, 17 were doe. Of these, only 3 were "mature/matriarch" doe's. The biggest was this one. She weighed 149lbs (butchers scale)dressed with legs cut off.

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

This is their DOWNFALL, IMO.

Negative.[&:]

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

I agree with you 100%, three years agoI had an old doe that would run all the otherdeer off everytime she would come around, blowing at snorting at me(the other deer never knew I was there). I had to pull some tricks out of the hat to get her down and it took about a month to do it, she was one smart ol cow.... I did finally get her and the guy that owned the place I was hunting is a biologist for the state and he aged her at 7-8 years of age.....That was one tough cookie to get an arrow in...

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

I agree with that 100%. Old does are super wary and jump at the least bit of disturbance, but they have to tend to their young and get them fed as well which forces them to feed more in daylight, spend more time in the open, and not merely escape danger but try to get their young from the danger as well.

These facts make them an easier target than the mature bucks, but their wariness and cunning are no less. The challenge, on the other hand, is less. IMHO

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

i agree with GMMAT

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

If it is not too much to ask, could you please explain how it is their downfall and all? I have always thought an old doe was one of the wariest creatures in the woods, but now find I may be mistaken.

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

Bry explained it very well.

If they didn't have the fawns to deal with......they would be VERY hard to kill (the older, mature does).

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

I think they will spot you faster via movement then a big buck will just because they seem to look an listen a lot more than bucks. If youwatch a doe feeding and walikg along they will lift theirheadsand move their ears more than a buck will. Just my opinion.

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

old does have cost me shots at bucks at least 2 times and i tried hunting one specific mature doe and i swear,that thing picked me off even when i moved my stand to a different tree

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

Because she is not as reclusive and because she does have fawns, no she is not as tough an adversary as a mature buck.

But with all that taken into account, I put the average "mature" doer above a 2.5 yo or younger buck.

And then there is the fact that all "mature doe" are not created equal. Some (probably the older ones within the "mature" category) are more wary and wood smart than a 3.5 yo buck, IMO.

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

EI:

The largest does are not necessarily (and here....not even LIKELY) the oldest does.;)

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

I do %100 yes!!


Hatchet Jack

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

Oh, are your smallest doe's you most mature?[8D]I never said my statement was "Gospel".:DWhere I hunt though, the largest doe's are the older one's, more often than not. On a side note. If you hunted in Alberta just once, I'd be willing to bet you'd stop asking "mature" buck questions.;):D:D:D

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

Hell I don't have to go there. Every time you post I feel like I ought to get frequent flier miles.

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

I agree with you to an extent. Does will snort at hunters and are much more weary of predators. Bucks for most of the year have antlers to fight predators off with, whereas does only have their senses.

With that said, I still think too much credit is given to deer. Yes, they are smart, but they are not geniuses either.

Ultimately, I believedeer are similar to dogs, people and other wild animals in thatthey all haveindividual characteristics. Somedeer regardless of gender may be more catious than others.We all have heard stories of nocturnal bucks etc..

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

Yes you do.:) I only scratch the surface Jeff, trust me. It's something that has to beseen to be believed.You would be in your "mature buck" glory! I think it was your "location" thread that got me going there.;):D:D

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

Big old does are smart and sometimes and enormous pain, but just due to thier nature & all, they aren't as hard to kill as a mature buck IMO.

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

I can think of 4 or 5 135" or so bucks that the doe in each scenario saved there ass from me shooting them by winding me or picking up my walk in trail. Certain times of the year (rut) a 4.5+ buck can be as dumb as they get, the doe's never change. Certain times of the year a 4.5+ buck is one tough critter to even see.

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

I agree the lifestyle of a mature Doe may put them in front of you more often, butin my experience they are just as likely, if not more so, than a Buck to pick you off if you make a mistake. By the time hunting season rolls around the Fawns are old enough to not be much ofa distraction anyway. That theory is a bit of a red herring, IMO. ;)

RE: "Mature Doe"
 

In my woods you would be hard pressed to find a deer more alert to its surroundings than an old doe. I cant imagine they would be any different anywhere else.