Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

I believe this has been beat to death ebfore but figured I would ask again! In reality would it be better to take a small buck this time of the year or a doe that possibly has two small bucks inside of her?? In most cases right now if we kill a doe, are we not killing 2-3 deer??

I am asking this question as if you had no choice and NEEDED meat for the freezer. I dont wanna hear that you would not shoot either, I wanna hear what you would rather do if you HAD too????

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

Do they (does) need taking whre you hunt?

If so....there is NEVER a bad time to take them. Let's say you took a doe in Sept. v. December. Didn't you kill those 2 potential buck fawns then, also?

I don't give a second thought as to what time of year I take them. In fact.....the earlier you take them....the more food is available for the others. But rest assured.....I'll shoot them all the way 'til our closer. NEVER a bad time to take a doe, here.

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

You know I have never thought of it that way?? Thats a good way to look at it!!

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

In all reality this is just as true of a doe shot in Sept. I don't understand why people say this.
Whatever you do you will tick someone off. If you shoot a doe your killing 3 deer, if you kill a small buck the QDM people will want to hang you, if you kill a fawn ..... well, I'm not even going to go there. I've been there and it's a real ugly place!

I would shoot the doe.

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

GMMAT nailed it, that fawn is not born whether mama is shot in Sept vs Jan...

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

I have 2 more does tags left, and I will do all I can to fill those between now and Jan 15th. GMMAT said the same way I would have. No matter when you take a doe, that fawn won't be born.

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

+1, well put Jeff!!!

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

Around here, I would definately shoot the doe. I havetaken 2 since the peak of the rutandif I dontget a buck before Jan 15 willtake 2 more if I can. Will definately try for at least one more.

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

I agree with Jeff. With an over population of deer in my area and poor sex ratios, ANYTIME during the season is a good time to take a doe. Everyone's area is different, but I don't think it's ever unethical to shoot a doe. It's either a good decision or bad decision based on the herd. But I'd never say unethical.

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

If you shoot a doe before she is bred you just kept her from being a mother...so who cares and what is the difference?

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

Actually it is...shooting does carrying babies is part of population control...it is what we do as conservationist...it's sad, but needed.

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

From my area, 5 bucks have been taken, and Im the only one out of the people that hunt it that has taken any does, and thats 3 of them. Im done with them as far as I can tell, I just dont see a ton of does to begin with...

5 bucks and 3 does..... I dont really know what to think about it. Right now, Im not seeing anything.

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

If I REALLY NEED the meat... I'm shooting the first thing that walks. In the instance that they both walk by, I'll shoot the doe. As someone else mentioned, that deer isn't going to give birth if you shoot her on opening day or the last day.

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

We have a doe gun season the on like December 28-30 in WV. So i leave it to the wildlife bioligists at the DNR to decide, lol

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

I shoot them any time they are in season with the buck to doe ratio at over 10 to 1 and the neighboring town being overrun withdeer this is my duty as a hunter to help out the herd

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

Like others have said, you are killing 3 deer, 1 for sure, 2 more potential. Here is a pic of what I found in a doe I shot last year on Jan 15. Do not scroll down as it is graphic if you do not want to view. You can clearly see a doe and a buck.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

That there is pretty interesting pic Rick,
TY

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

Wow. Very cool pic you got there Rick. That would definitely soften me up a bit.[&:].

But I think GMMAT nailed it.

I like hunting does in the early in late season. I like to try to harvest a doe in the early season to intensify the rut a bit, provide more food for yearling bucks and 1 year olds and its a different type of hunting in the early season that I love. I like hunting does in the late season because they are extremely pressured, smart and skittish. In fact the group of does I'll be hunting this late season have had my number the last two late seasons, with gun AND bow. Out of this doe group that consists of 8-10, I would say at least 5 of these does are 5 years old. I have worked my tail off trying to harvets one these deer durning the late season and I will view it as a great accomplishmen if I am blessed to do so this year.

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

yes...

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

Wow, very interesting pic. Doesn't change the subject, if you want to shoot it and it's legal, it's your choice. In this case ethics is a very personal descision. Even in the case of fawns, if legal, and if you want to eat a real tasty and tender venison meal, have at it. If you feel badly, don't . It's a personal choice. If you don't want to see the two fetuses pictured above, don't look for them. At this time of year they are easily overlooked.

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

Yep....a shooting the doe is a buck and a doe not born whether shot in Sept or Jan.

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

I don't think so, because the does haven't been bred yet? In december they are pregnant and have the potential to have those future monster bucks in them. But in September they aren't preganant?

Am I right or wrong. I really dont know.

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

If Barack Obama's mother had died in a car crash at 10yrs old.......did the possibility of her giving birth to thefuture pres. elect die with her?

Of course it did.

Him being in the womb when she passed is of NO relevance.

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

Lovin the analogy there Jeff:D

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

Either way they wont produce fawns. If you shoot her when she is not pregnant, she wont produce fawns, if you shoot her when she is pregnant, she wont produce fawns. It's the same thing. Bottom line, no matter when you take a doe, she isn't going to produce fawns the next year.

Let's break this down......

You start out (hypothetically speaking) with 10 does at the beginning of season. Assuming all are bred, and none are shot, you have the potential to produce 20 fawns next year. 10x2=20

Ok let's say in September you take 3 does, the rest are bred and survive until next year and produce fawns 10-3=7does 7x2= 14 fawns next year

Ok let's say you wait until Dec or January to take the 3 does (all 10 are pregnant), the rest survive and give birth, so we have 10 does carrying 20 fawns we take 3 does, leaving 7 does, carrying 2 fawns each, still leaving us with 14 fawns next year.

Hope that made sense. Thats as simple as I could make it.

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

Not at all. GMMAT pretty much said it all.;)

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

I think the warm fuzzy feel good about pregnant women crosses over to deer in late season with some people. They think more along the lines of "Omg Im killing a mom carrying babies"

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

With crop damage permits, I'll shoot them up until about Mid march just as quickly as I'll shoot them on 15 September. Crop damage is crop damage. I won't shoot them for about 8 weeks after they give birth, but then I go right back at it since the fawns can/will survive on their own after that.

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

Yes, It's ethical if you area needs management. Like my area, I need to thin out some does in my neck if the woods.

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Is it ETHICAL(ha) to shoot does this late?
 

Funny but oh so wrong.;)

LOL.:D