Yearling doe or mature doe
 

In another forum, I read a post where a guy said they should stop shooting fawn does and only mature ones. He did not support his statement. I have always been told it better to taken the fawn DOE for several reasons.
1. Leave the matures for bucks to run in the Rut.
2. Mature does when bred pass better genes to fawns making for better bucks.
3.When a fawn breeds she has only one versus two or more with mature.
4. In winter kill states, the fawn is the first to perish.
I have several more reasons but you get the gist. What do you all think and how do you support your opinion?

RE: Yearling doe or mature doe
 

Good thread. Not sure how to answer it though. I don't know much about genetics, but some yearlings are bread late in the season (not all), so if it isn't because of genetics, then I personally don't think it makes a difference. I would harvest a mature doe over a yearling just because if less doe are in estrus, then the bucks may rut harder?!?!? Good topic.

RE: Yearling doe or mature doe
 

You kill more deer when you kill a fawn doe than when you kill a mature doe.

RE: Yearling doe or mature doe
 

Most things you read out there say to shoot the mature doe.

I don't see how an older doe can have better genes than a younger one.

You get more meat from a big doe.

Personally I shoot whichever I get a shot at, unless they are in together, I'll pick a big one.

RE: Yearling doe or mature doe
 

I feel the same way as Rybo! As long as they don't have spots, I putting it in the freezer!:)

RE: Yearling doe or mature doe
 

ive pretty much always taken an older doe..

RE: Yearling doe or mature doe
 

Shoot both of them.

RE: Yearling doe or mature doe
 

There was a great article concerning this subject in Deer and Deer Hunting Magazine, it's actually the current issue, check it out.

RE: Yearling doe or mature doe
 

I feel if you are going to shoot a young deer it should be a doe. The mature doe has more knowledge an know how of raising a fawn so I would think thesuccess rate would be higher. The young doe does not have the mother instincts down pat yet.

RE: Yearling doe or mature doe
 

If it has spots, you can cover those up with shoe polish!

I had that option this year, mature doe and 2 fawns came in. I took mama for a number of reasons main reason being more meat in the freezer and I only had 1 tag!

RE: Yearling doe or mature doe
 

I shoot the mature doe for the same reasons as most of the other guys and also because she's the one who will run off her yearling son who just could be my next trophy in a few years. There's also the chance of shooting a very immature buck when one shoots a real young doe instead. Not much chance of confusing a mature doe for a "this year's" buck fawn. I guess everyone has their own reasons and logic. Either way, it's good to get rid of some of the does and help balance the herd for many reasons.

RE: Yearling doe or mature doe
 

im pretty sure genetics dont change throughout the life of a deer, so thats not really an applicable reason to shoot a yearling doe vs a mature doe, but i agree a mature doe has a better chance of having twins and triplets than a yearling doe. however, i'm a meat hunter, so if a yearling doe and a mature doe come in together, im shootin for the mature doe every time.

RE: Yearling doe or mature doe
 

Here in MN are population is way to high and buck to doe ratio is terrible, I would say that in states that want more deer kill the fawn and let the doe breed and have more your oblivously not going to kill all the fawns and the mothers are the ones to get bred the majority of the time, but here in MN any antlerless.

RE: Yearling doe or mature doe
 

the littler ones are easyer to drag.. and they eat a whole lot better.... aw baby backstraps....[8D]

RE: Yearling doe or mature doe
 

I used to kill a mature doe, now I will wait and kill a doe fawn. The reason is they will be the first to go in the winter months. Winter of 2003 I found 39 dead deer 99% were fawns. In 2005 I found 17 and all were fawns. These were two bad winters and it didnt take me long to figure out why I should be shooting doe fawns instead of mature does.