I need to get a doe before I can arrow my buck. The first opportunity I was presented was a large doe standing over her bedded fawn. I let down after drawing on an easy shot because I didn't want to be responsible for the fawn starving to death. Then on the drive home I thought about the practical side of hunting. Hunting is done for the purpose of thinning the herd so the strong have a better chance of surviving the winter. Hunters are really substitutes for the natural preditors that are no longer around to keep the population in check. Maybe I should have taken the shot.

Have you guys/girls ever been in this situation? What would you have done?

yes, i will take the mother. unless there other adult doe's to take.

jeff greene

Nope!!! I'll wait for the next doe to come along!

"Nocked,cocked & ready to rock"

I've heard various accounts that truly orphaned fawns will be adopted by another doe. I think I'd consider it. On the other hand, by time season opens here I believe the does are starting to ween their fawns, so the fawn would already pretty well know what it needs to know. Nevertheless, if conscience bids otherwise, don't shoot it.

God bless,
Brandan

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fbf,

Absolutely no way!
It would bother my conscious too much.
I don't need any deer that bad.
Besides, I'm hunting a Boone & Crockett Buck.
Not concerned with taking a doe, anyway.


Sag.

My season starts this mid Sept. With 3.5 months to bowhunt, I'll wait til Oct.

On some hunts I have shot the doe, and others I have shot the fawn...and still others, I've shot both. So my answer is...I guess it would depend on the situation, and how I felt that day. I agree that by the time most hunting seasons come in (Oct) the fawns can fend for themselves. I will say that even though I usually run into this exact situation every year, whatever decision I make, I still feel a little sad(maybe it's called humanness).... but does need to be taken, that's for sure.
I guess its all a part of hunting, and only you can decide what you want to do. Either way...don't feel bad about your choice.

Great, another moral situation to consider. In my preseason scouting I saw a Doe and a fawn so I have been thinking about this. That is a tough one. It is good to know that most fawns can support themselves though.

No way I could shoot a doe with a fawn. Sounds to me like
you did the right thing letting down...since you're still
thinking about it.