It just depends where you hunt. On my place, I could shoot a doe just about any time of day so if I'm looking for bucks, I don't shoot. Since I'm pretty picky about my bucks, I do as much as I can to maximize my potential for seeing a buck.

We get 5 tags in Texas of which 3 can be used for does. I take does based on what kind of season I'm having. I hunt three counties, so I may take up to 3 bucks (one in each county). However, the last weekend of the season, I go to whichever place I think needs some management and use whatever tags I have left to shoot does and spikes.

If you want to see more bucks, thin the does, so he will go cruising....

Here in Oklahoma they revamped the regulations again this year to 6 deer total with only 2 bucks and 4 doe total. This is due to the fact that to many people are shooting bucks only and they are trying to get a better management plan in place. Besides that -- a Doe taste just as good or better at times than a Buck does -- Especially if you haven't seen any Bucks yet!!

I am a meat hunter first, does`nt matter to me.

Ron

Horns mean nothing to me. Yes, if I have a shot at a full-grown doe at 7:30 AM of opening day I'm taking the shot. Does eat a lot better than bucks. I am not a trophy hunter. I enjoy the many aspects of hunting, butthe basic function is to take an animal home to eat. I may regret that my hunt might be over so early, but I've also gone through a whole season without a shooting opportunity.

It used to be that deer populations were low and only bucks were allowed to be taken, on the understanding that -- within reason -- taking bucks did not affect populations (the surviving bucks would just have to do double duty servicing the does to keep the birthing train rolling, a burden which the surviving bucks are only too happy to accept). Today when constraining deer populations to target levels is important, very often shooting does is not only permitted but encouraged, witness the "earn a buck" program the second respondent cited.

I intend to harvest quite a few does. I'll worry about the buck when I see the Buck and until then it's all about the freezer.

Meat is meat and the freezer needs to b e filled.