ranger56528

Iam asuming you mean yr and a half being young...

bigbulls

From a heard management standpoint it is better to shoot yearling does than older does in their prime. Remember that does, just like bucks, will be in their prime at 4.5 - 7.5 yearsold. This is the age when they will be better prepared and equiped to raise healthier and stronger fawns.

They don't taste as good though.

salukipv1

older does tend to have 2 or 3 fawns around here, ie after 1.5 they can.....so by taking them out I feel like youre taking out 2 more, vs just 1.....

I prefer to shoot a mature doe, but really I'm not too picky, but from a management perspective I'd want to take 2.5+ to thin the heard of does.

Hurricanespg

Depends on where I am hunting. If I am on public land pretty much any doe is going down, but I have a friend who allows me to hunt his land every once and a while, and he only allows shooting the younger does.

PYbuckhunter

The tender ones......I shoot does not only to balance the herd but also to feed the family.I'll shoot an old doe if she's the only one that gives me the opportunity..........when the freezer starts to look empty.
There's nothing better than midwest cornfed whitetail doe backstrap!

Kid

Older Does yield more meat! Whack em' and stack em'!

Nimrodder

Ditto on both.

refross

All this talk about management is great, but what are you managing for? While you are busy managing those old grizzled does, I’m taking the tender young does (7 months old). The fawns are less likely to survive the winter. If they do survive they are less likely to be successful at raising a fawn in the spring, and the old girls have more fawns.

So what exactly is your goal when you manage? My system has a positive impact on the herd size, and I get the best tasting meat. Swallow your mucho B.S. and take the best meat available.