I couldn' t pull the trigger...
 

Allright guys,here goes...I' m gonna share my shame w/ the board. Last night I had a perfect 10 yard shot on a fat, mature doe and I couldn' t take her. She was practically begging to be put in the freezer but I let her walk....Here' s why: she had twin fawns w/ her. They were standing 10 or so yards behind her just watching and I couldn' t do it. Sure, they were big enough I guess, they had no spots..but I' ve heard horror stories about people having to shoo fawns away from their fallen mama' s and I couldn' t do it.

I' m sure the deer in my lease will vote me Hunter of the Year and make me a nice persimmon pie for my kindheartedness. There were a million good reasons to take her, extra meat, population control,etc. and only two little brown reasons not to.

My wife thinks I' m the sweetest thing, but my bow won' t speak to me. Is there anybody else out there that would have let her walk?

I' m not some tree huggin' peta member either, I' ve already got one doe in the freezer this season and hope to get another...just not one that' s a single mom.

RE: I couldn' t pull the trigger...
 

I hear where you are comin from Dorr. I did that same thing quite a bit early season, because every single doe that I saw had twins and two doe and triplets. I just couldn' t bring myself to shoot mom at that point. Although at this time of the year, the fawns are plenty big enough to take care of themselves. Mom won' t even let them suckle for a second. I saw a fawn come up to mom and Sat and try to suckle. Mom was havin nothing to do with it. In fact, she kicked the fawn in the side to get her away. Thought it was pretty dang funny and almost laughed out loud. You' ll get a whack at another doe this year I' m sure.

RE: I couldn' t pull the trigger...
 

One year during gun season, I dropped a doe with two " littler" does, and they ran off about 30 yards and just stood there after I got down from the tree. When I started dragging her out towards them, they finally took off. It didn' t really bother me too much, but since then I' ve done this several times. I figure why hurry, lots of does around, and sooner or later a loner will come through.

You know it' s all those Walt Disney subliminal messages... :)

RE: I couldn' t pull the trigger...
 

I havn' t had the desire to pull the trigger on a doe since I started - 20 yrs ago

So I hear ya man:D

RE: I couldn' t pull the trigger...
 

I would have done the same thing. A couple years back I shot a doe in rifle season and did realize she had 2 fawns with her. When I got up to the mom the faws were standing next to her and would not leave I had to chase them away. I have no problem killing deer and usually never feel bad about it but that experience made me feel terrible. Since then I let em walk if they got fawns, if they dont though........whack em.

RE: I couldn' t pull the trigger...
 

I smell what you' re cookin' . A few years back I shot a doe during gun season and the button buck that was with her ran straight out into an open field and stopped to look back. I think I know what Vietnam was like after that. Guns started blasting from every direction. I took cover and that poor little buck bought the farm. If I had let the deer pass in the little thicket I was in then neither one would' ve been noticed by the other hunters. I haven' t shot a " mom" since then.

In my opinion you deserve credit for your decision. And I agree with your wife - you' re the sweetest thing! Your bow will get over it.

RE: I couldn' t pull the trigger...
 

i would never shoot a doe if there was fawns with her[&o]

RE: I couldn' t pull the trigger...
 

I' ve done it several times, once taking out the fawn as it came back to see where mom was (taking a dirt nap). There' s no shame in letting her walk. If you think about it, it can really get to you. The other bad memory I have is of cutting the throat of a wounded deer. I about had tears in my eyes and had to look the other way, apologizing the whole time.

RE: I couldn' t pull the trigger...
 

I with you!!!!!

I did this about three weeks ago. I actually had my girlfriend out there with me. I let her use my climber to just watch. They were about 8 yards away...broadside. I though the same exact thing. I may have taken her if my girlfriend was' nt there. I' ve heard the same thing about shooing away fawns.


J

RE: I couldn' t pull the trigger...
 

I' ve passed in that situation too. The one time I didn' t pass was when I didn' t see the little ones until after I shot. By then it was too late. I did feel a little weird about it but the following spring I saw the two in the same area. They were doing well and growing up.