Shooting Fawns??
 

I was reading D&DH and there was an article that said you should shoot fawns instead of adult does. What do y'all think??

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

i think the exact opposite

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

It said that the fawns have a 50% chance of making it through the winter.

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

And an equally good chance of being a buck someday.

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

then if we shoot them instead it will lower than chance of them surviving through the winter, and like djshuett said some of them will be bucks

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

Leave the fawns alone

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

It depends on the situation where you hunt. Where I hunt, South central Iowa, there is a surplus of deer and excellent habitat. The deer are considered to be over populated. Roughly half of the deer in the fall are fawns. I expect them to be shot and I do not hesitate. If it looks like a button I would let it go but I don't worry about it too much.

For every buck you shoot, you are removing one deer from next year's herd.

For every doe fawn you shoot, you are removing two deer from next year's herd and the maximum number from future years.

For every adult doe, you are removing three deer from next year's herd and ending her productivity early, affecting future years.


If your goal is to reduce the herd population, then you need to shoot fawns and does, fawns affecting future years the most and adult does affecting the next season the most.


Fawns taste good too.

Bob

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

I have no problem shooting fawn does. And yes I can tell the difference between fawn doe and button buck. And I've never felt bad aboutshooting fawn doesbecause I am capable of preying on older deer if I choose. Its a matter of convenient transportation of game out of woods and boy are they tender.

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

I always shoot a fawn once a year, they taste good. But now with our slight deer shortage, I might hold back.

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

Duh!!Every deer has a 50% chance of making it through the winter,either they do,or they don't..

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

LMAO :D ^ I don't shoot fawns, never will unless the mother was shot and there is no way the fawn will survive without the mother. Even then i'm not even sure if it's legal in ohio.

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

:D:DVery funny but very true..

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

50% of the fawns could be mature bucks some day.
I say leave the veal alone, unless it's the last hour of hunting and you want some meat!
But the last 1/2 hour is the best, so you could screw up your chance for the big one???!!!
So many choices

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

For me shooting or not shooting immature deer is more about how much venison I get for the effort. $ per lb. it's more expensive to take a little oneand I prefer to take a very large farm doe if possible... but then again the little ones are so tender!

I've taken a couple really little ones in my years, but it was my last day to hunt and the only good shot I'd been presented with for the time period I'd been out....sure was tender and light colored flesh. Very mild. And a pleasure to drag! (actually just folded it twice and put it in my day-bag)

JK ;)

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

Those little ones are the best eating ones. I try to always shoot a bambi for the freezer. My family loves deer meat.

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

Actually, a deer will make it, or not make it, 100% of the time. (% live + % dead = 100%)

In Southern Iowa, where I hunt, winter weather related mortality is not a significant factor. Way more than 90% probably survive the average winter. Fawns without spots do not have much trouble. Fawns with spot have more trouble but may survive.

I'll say it again, I shoot fawns. I expect those hunting with me to shoot antlerless deer also. The state, and the land owner (my cousin) both want numbers reduced. Doe tags are cheap, and party hunting is legal, so this does not keep anyone in my party from shooting a trophy if given the chance. I am the one in my party who is responsible to my cousin. I do prefer that small bucks and buttons be given a pass but I do not worry too much about buttons.

I have a bit of a problem with those who will not shoot a fawn IF THEY HUNT IN AN AREA THAT HAS A SURPLUS OF DEER. Who can explain this Bambi loving attitude to me. Is a fawn not a deer? If you can only get one tag, that is one thing, but c'mon, meat is meat, and fawn meat is the best.

I was buying some snacks to carry in the field and had a Qwik Trip clerk ask me, "You wouldn't shoot Bambi would you?" I answered, "I would shoot Bambi AND Bambi's mother and little sister too."

I would really like to know why some of you will not shoot fawns. There are some good reasons but "I would never shoot a fawn." makes you sound like a card carrying PETA lurker who is sand bagging us.

Just think, if you shoot a fawn, there is a 100% chance that it will not be winter kill.


Bob

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

Whack em' and Stack em'!

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

I have no problem tagging one when given the shot opportunity

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

Not if its a doe fawn.

No.

Where I hunt, the herd needs thinning. Any doe from 6 months to ......... that gives me an opportunity is going to be taken.

Steve

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

shoot them they taste good . nice and tender

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

so how do you know if youre shooting a fawn doe or a fawn buck when you shoot a fawn ? for me, it's too risky.....so no i wouldn't shoot one, we don't hae a surplus of them where i hunt anyway....Give me a old nanny to shoot anyday.....

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

2 fawns together, the bigger one will almost always be a BB.

Squarer blocky head.

Single, smaller deer will often be a BB.

NUBS on the head!! If any doubt, let them walk.

1st few years, I shot several - dumbest deer in the woods. Learning to be patient and observe, it's been 3 years since shooting one.
I personally think that requiring the use of your buck tag on one would protect far more bucks then any kind of mandatory AR.

Steve

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

Been there, done that.

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

I have no problem shooting a fawn with the bow or shooting one at the end of the season. First day of rifle season would be a different story. The way I see it a fawn eats better and is going to have a harder time making it through the winter and raising fawns of her own in the spring. Where a big old momma doe has already done it and it probably better equiped to do it again. the only downside of shooting a fawn is that although the meat is good you don't get nearly as much of it

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

By the time you can hunt them, they don't need mom to survive anyways.

To answer the question, yes I have shot fawns.

RE: Shooting Fawns??
 

i will usaully shoot a little doe fawn for a BBQ deer, put it on a pig roaster tastes great.