would you take this shot?
 

Late last year I was out on my brothers 30 acres on the edge of a field where I had seen this 130 class 10 pointer a few times,I set up 4-5 feet in the trees on the ground with the wind coming straight at me across the field,long story short-I heard some footsteps and saw a big doe start walking right in front of me down the tree line, here I am with 3 doe tags left,great,I slowly drew on her and waited,I let her walk right in front of me (within 10 feet)then out of the corner of my eye I caught some movement,following her were two spotted fawns which for this time of year was odd but I have heard of second birth fawns before so...it was what it was...I let off slowly and just enjoyed the moment.The fawns hopped around a little and it was great for about 5 minutes.
Would you have shot her and let the fawns fend for themselves or maybe get picked up by another doe?I chose not to and still have three expired doe tags.I cirtainly would not have shot all 3 which was entirely posible.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

Prolly not ... maybe .... it depends ....:D

RE: would you take this shot?
 

What time of year was this?

RE: would you take this shot?
 

mid dec.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

No! I have too big of heart. I about cried dropping my dog off at the kennel today. I'll be gone for a week!

RE: would you take this shot?
 

NO i've had doe's with small one with them eating around my stand .I just sat up there watching them feed, but i know that the hunters in the woods next to me would because i've seen 5 young deer running together last year two were button bucks .

RE: would you take this shot?
 

meat is meat i would have taken her
[align=left] [/align]

RE: would you take this shot?
 

I'm not judging.. by Dec the "fawns" would be fine..but I wouldn't shoot either.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

I would have the same thing as you did and what a memory you have now![&:]

RE: would you take this shot?
 

I would have shot her and had nice back strap for dinner that night. That is just me.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

I like the way kickin_buck thinks.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

In your neck of the woods (MN), no. In mine (MD) yes. Our winters are much more mild and I think that by December the young ones can take care of themselves here. I would think that in MN they would still have some survival lessons to learn from momma.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

ME??

Well....assuming the little ones were both does.........let's just say that I'm regulated by the NCWRC in my decision a little.

I can only kill 2/Day;)

RE: would you take this shot?
 

They would be just fine here in Mn if someone were to shoot the doe.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

I'm sure you're right.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

Well if they were spotted I wouldnt have shot the doe, however if they didnt have spots I would have have shot as many as were legal..

RE: would you take this shot?
 

Nope....I would find no enjoyment or gratitude in taking somethings mother away just to fill a tag.

if you need the meat that bad I will give you some...

RE: would you take this shot?
 

I would like to think I might but I know faced with a doe still teaching the ropes and countles others without fawns I always opt to pass on the teacher, I figure if they are young bucksand she is showing them the way then the way by my stand is a good way to learn, in 4-5 years it will pay off....

RE: would you take this shot?
 

If the 2little ones still had spots...they all get a free pass. Later in the year, IF I had no meat, maybe. I know the young one's would be fine at that age...but I'm still not shooting.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

enjoy a show!!

id be just as happy either way

RE: would you take this shot?
 

Fawns that are in good shape in december will be fine, they will begin to pack up with the others anyway this time of year, I would have taken the shot but thats just me. You will be hard pressed in my neck of the woods to find a mature doe without fawns, although in december they may not have even have beenHER young ones!! Oh well, im sure you still have plenty of table fare!!

RE: would you take this shot?
 

December with venison in the freezer, then NO!

December with no venison, YES!

Either way, the young ones would be just fine!

RE: would you take this shot?
 

Same in Manitoba..... by dec they HAVE to be self sufficient, 2' of snow and very little browse.They may still be with mom but you shoot mom and they won't look back. By this time they know what they are doing. If they don't MOM won't have the energy to take of them for long......... OR......... Mom will be pushed aroung by a buck..... fawns won't be with her for long.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

RE: would you take this shot?
 

Damn I screwed that up royally I just quoted MYSELF[&:][&:]

RE: would you take this shot?
 

I would have shot the doe and let the fawns go. By that time they are old enough to be on their own

rick

RE: would you take this shot?
 

Chances are I would have let the doe walk and taken one of the fawns. I like good meat in my freezer, and IMO a young, tender fawn is as good eating as as it gets. I'll gladly sacrafice a little pundage for tenderness.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

I seen that in his thread that he said the fawns still had spots yet in December. That sounds different, never have I seen a fawn with spots that late in the year. If what he says is correct the fawns may not make it if there that small with mom around or not.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

Might be a good subject for another post,the fawns were no more than 3 feet tall and spotted in dec.
However this is not uncommon,apperantly a doe will continue to be in heat until she has been impregnated.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

Not uncommon?

A doe would have to be bred April-ish to still have spotted fawns in December. In MN....I'd say that was pretty uncommon.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

I agree!! Not common at all. Actually I have a hard time believing it. No disrespect either Jesus towards you but it just doesn't sound or seem right.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

Good thing for me its not a poll than,it`s a scientific fact and it`s not uncommon.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

Seriously....you don't find this a little uncommon? I'm truly interested in why.

You do agree the whitetail rut isn't in March/April, right?

RE: would you take this shot?
 

Have you seen fawns with spots in Dec before?

RE: would you take this shot?
 

No I have`nt personally which is why I called it odd,but apperantly its "not uncommon"

RE: would you take this shot?
 

Trust me, this is uncommon, and you say, yourself, that it's "odd"????

And I thought you said YOU hadn't seen it.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

[ [/quote]

Trust me, this is uncommon.

And I thought you said YOU hadn't seen it.
[/quote] Umm... ya I have`nt ever seen spotted fawns in dec until then. Do some reserch boys,I also have`nt seen an elbino deer,heck there`s alot we may never see.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

Sorry...I guess I misunderstood.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

Uh...yeah. Spot on.

[&:] No it isn't a scientific fact? From where?

me either;):D

In Minnesota, I have NEVER seen a fawn with spots, in December.

..as for the question:

It'd be a game time decision. I might call an audible at the line, and shoot.

RE: would you take this shot?
 

I'd say it's very uncommon, not unheard of but very uncommon.

Let's say the the doe first comes in estrous the 15th of Nov....her second estrous period would be 28 days later or Dec 13th ish, she'd have to come into estrous again in Jan around the 10th ish....a doe carrys for what 200 days ish...? If she's prego in Nov, she births the end of May, spots are usually gone in Oct, if she's prego in Dec, she's birthing the of June and spots would leave usually be gone by Nov....and if she's bred in Jan, she's birthing in July and the spots could be there in Dec.....

I just saw a fawn 2 weeks ago that couldn't have been a week old. Uncommon but not unheard of.