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Key:
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 27,999 Likes: 85
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 27,999 Likes: 85 |
How long before the Rut is it safe to shoot doe deer, ensuring the the fawns will make it?
Say peak rut is Jan 1 - When is it safe to shoot does?
Seems like (gestation = 200 days + fawns to wean 12 weeks (84 days)) it would be mid Oct. That sound right?
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 24,103 Likes: 296
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 24,103 Likes: 296 |
If the little ones dont have spots it's fine to shoot mama...
And a tender little one!
Dying ain't much of a living boy...Josey Wales
Molon Labe
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 29,071 Likes: 83
Dances With Weeds
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Dances With Weeds
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 29,071 Likes: 83 |
I wonder how much potential is lost when a buck fawn has its mama shot??.....What seems to happen when you orphan a fawn is that is stays in the same place for weeks or even months……During that time period I suppose it gets by on eating whatever is available in that immediate area…..On the flip side though if it had its mama still there with it she would have likely led it around to better food sources…..Maybe??....Just a thought
Last edited by CNC; 09/23/25 10:30 AM.
Folks that know don't shoot old does........ 
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 2,840 Likes: 45
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 2,840 Likes: 45 |
If you see them eating hard food, they're probably gonna make it. Me, depending on where I'm hunting, I may shoot the doe and then get the youngin' when it comes back to look. I've never shot one with spots, but I've been accused of wiping milk off their mouth. Some people claim to not care because they can't eat enough does and young males leave out for elsewhere anyhow. "Some people you just can't reach."
I got a couple spotted fawns hoovering up corn on the back forty. One is twice the size of the other. I've watched them at very close range for a good bit. Never see a doe with either since bow season started. They'll hit the corn a minute, then wander off catching a leaf here and there. Some things they'll sniff and lick, but not eat. I assume they're hitting the clover hard. One was when it still had a doe.
A thing about a deer is so much of the behavior is coded in. That eating a bit here and there avoids getting sick by feeding heavily on any one thing. A doe doesn't have to teach that. These fawns exhibit all the common behaviors of browsing, listening, looking, feigning and faking. The thing they don't get is how large their bubble should be. They have spent so much time within five yards of me, I know they've smelled me. The smaller one turned inside out like it should have the first time. But the other one never has. And they're getting less and less reactive each time to the point they pretty much don't react other than to notice.
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,472 Likes: 17
12 point
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12 point
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,472 Likes: 17 |
If they sucking, they better be ducking is my motto!
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,971 Likes: 25
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,971 Likes: 25 |
If they sucking, they better be ducking is my motto! Dibs on this New signature line quote here. since Coosa has the market cornered on "turkey gynecologist/SOA proctologist" I am getting "Sucking and Ducking Doe Milks"
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Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,379 Likes: 72
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,379 Likes: 72 |
I don't shoot a doe with a fawn.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,947 Likes: 90
Skinny's Property
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Skinny's Property
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,947 Likes: 90 |
I don't shoot a doe with a fawn. Me neither. Just can’t do it.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,039 Likes: 5
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,039 Likes: 5 |
I don't shoot a doe with a fawn. Me neither. Just can’t do it. X3
If you always do what you've always done you always get what you've always got
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 10,972 Likes: 190
Fancy
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Fancy
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 10,972 Likes: 190 |
Shoot several every year with fawns. They’ve all lived. They’ll be fine. Don’t bring emotions into biological management decisions.
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 516 Likes: 1
4 point
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4 point
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 516 Likes: 1 |
One of the best ways to keep from shooting a nubbin
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 24,103 Likes: 296
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 24,103 Likes: 296 |
Shoot several every year with fawns. They’ve all lived. They’ll be fine. Don’t bring emotions into biological management decisions. I actually shot a mama one time while one of her little ones suckling on her. Landowner wanted does shot so...
Dying ain't much of a living boy...Josey Wales
Molon Labe
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 19,233 Likes: 27
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 19,233 Likes: 27 |
I have shot both . Problem solved.
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,103 Likes: 10
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,103 Likes: 10 |
ive always shot the smaller ones. a very good biologist and friend of mine said that old one will produce deer and take care of them where younger ones are likely to not produce or care for them??
Turkey’s tell you when they want to die not lawmakers.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,947 Likes: 90
Skinny's Property
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Skinny's Property
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,947 Likes: 90 |
Shoot several every year with fawns. They’ve all lived. They’ll be fine. Don’t bring emotions into biological management decisions. I shot a doe in a green field once. She had a fawn in the woods I didn’t know about. It came out while I was dragging her making bawling sounds. I had to chase it off. Emotional decision or not, that was it for me.
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Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 983 Likes: 52
6 point
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6 point
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 983 Likes: 52 |
Don’t bring emotions into biological management decisions. I can’t seem to help it with baby critters
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 15,167 Likes: 7
Old Mossy Horns
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Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 15,167 Likes: 7 |
ive always shot the smaller ones. a very good biologist and friend of mine said that old one will produce deer and take care of them where younger ones are likely to not produce or care for them?? I prefer to shoot does without fawns. I like to have good mommas hanging around.
Would walk over a naked woman to get to a gobblin turkey!
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 2,840 Likes: 45
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 2,840 Likes: 45 |
ive always shot the smaller ones. a very good biologist and friend of mine said that old one will produce deer and take care of them where younger ones are likely to not produce or care for them?? I prefer to shoot does without fawns. I like to have good mommas hanging around. Old does do tell the young where to find everything. On a small property it's probably a good idea to leave the old ones so the patterns aren't disrupted. Of course, those old does also figure out your stands, etc. and tell on that, too.
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Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 810 Likes: 52
6 point
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6 point
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 810 Likes: 52 |
Shoot several every year with fawns. They’ve all lived. They’ll be fine. Don’t bring emotions into biological management decisions. I shot a doe in a green field once. She had a fawn in the woods I didn’t know about. It came out while I was dragging her making bawling sounds. I had to chase it off. Emotional decision or not, that was it for me. I had a similar experience and that was the last time for me. I’m not that desperate for meat and I can delay my management until later in the season.
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In a world of game takers, be a gamekeeper.
"Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?"
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 317 Likes: 1
4 point
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4 point
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 317 Likes: 1 |
We are bow only. When it comes to doe management, those smaller ones sure are easier to drag.
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