First of all, it's only a fawn until it loses it's spots and then it's a yearling. Most have lost there spots by the time hunting season rolls around here in KY. Later in the fall, you can see if they have buttons usually if they are close enough. Yes, some fawns disperse from the area by next season but you still are taking a chance of taking a young buck out that may come back when he's older or that may never leave to begin with. Heck, even if I knew he was not coming back, I don't want to take a young buck out of the system. I would take a yearling late in the season if I had struck out so far and I could determine it was not a button buck. Just my .02. I don't judge anyone if they feel differently!

well, if you make the distinction of fawn and yearling by its spots, then no i wouldnt shoot a fawn with spots, like say, early in the season

after that the spots are about gone

I wouldn'y shoot a fawn. I am primarily a meat hunter. Don't get me wrong, if bullwinkle walks by my stand, he ain't leaving. But it just seems in my opinion that it's the same amount of effort put forth to harvrst less venison. And having a brother who shoot's anything, I can personally tell you that fawns and yearlings are no more tender than a mature deer. Unlike veal, deer from early on in life are not seditary creatures(locked in a crate) and develope muscle very rapidly, so much for the babay veal theory.

Not really, but it is better to shoot a bigger dear such a doe or a buck.

I might be a bit backwards but I take a little one early if I can & leave the big does to attract bucks later on. It can be tough tho as they seem to travel in bunches in the early season. Ethically I see no issue. Nature would take the weakest first so IMO there is no issue with shooting fawns or yearlings or whatever.

Not unethical at all - in fact I when I grew up hunting - if a youngster shot a Button or even a female fawn, he/she got a pat on the back. Any deer is a trophy when you are first hunting.

As I grow older, I don't choose to shoot a fawn, but I'll be the first to pat a new hunter on the back if they take a young animal -

These leases that fine for taking fawns have no idea what they are doing. In most areas - the lease manager should require a doe be taken before a buck - ar at least before a second buck (if the population is high enough). If deer are really that scarce on the lease - then WAY too many members are hunting it.

Just my 2 cents.

if its coming down to the wire and i havent gotten a deer a yearling is fair game cause my family loves deer meat and if daddy dont bring any home then hes in trouble.