popgun Posted January 26, 2006 Report Share Posted January 26, 2006 Our archery season is still on until Feb. 15. We cannot shoot doe in this zone with modern guns or muzzleloaders unless we have a quota doe permit. There are a limited number of permits issued every year. I got one of those permits, and have taken one doe with my handgun. I have been saving one of my tags for late season, and all we can hunt with now is with archery equipment. I could still take a doe with my remaining tag. There are 11 deer in this picture. If all these doe are pregnant that means there could be as many as 33 deer represented in this one picture. Do you guys and gals think I should continue holding out for the big bucks or just take out a doe? There are no more acorns on the ground, and most of the browse is already eaten. They have now started to hit the orchard pretty hard as well as the feeders. This was taken with my Leaf River on a fairly foggy night. ....popgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 26, 2006 Report Share Posted January 26, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: Yep, time to thin the does Jeff. All the QDM stuff I've read says you have to get the ratio down or you're stressing the bucks and your odds of seeing trophies goes down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyman Posted January 26, 2006 Report Share Posted January 26, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: [ QUOTE ] Yep, time to thin the does Jeff. All the QDM stuff I've read says you have to get the ratio down or you're stressing the bucks and your odds of seeing trophies goes down. [/ QUOTE ] AMEN, Tominator! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master_Chief Posted January 26, 2006 Report Share Posted January 26, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: Thin the does. Better for the herd, better on the table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MonsterBuckMatt Posted January 26, 2006 Report Share Posted January 26, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: being you live in arkansas and i live in arkansas , you could invite me donw there to use one of my tags. please, lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthehunter Posted January 26, 2006 Report Share Posted January 26, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: definitly get them does out of there, the less does the better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted January 26, 2006 Report Share Posted January 26, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: Id take one of them does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockefeller66 Posted January 26, 2006 Report Share Posted January 26, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: I never hesitate to take a big doe, NEVER, I have learned my lesson and never hold out for a doe now, once I get my shot at one, she is down! I would take one, get great meat and help out the heard looks like you need to take more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popgun Posted January 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: Matt, I'm sending you a pm. ....popgun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted January 26, 2006 Report Share Posted January 26, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: yeah i would take doe, nothing wrong with thinning out that heard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lilcrackshot Posted January 27, 2006 Report Share Posted January 27, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: Take the doe. Wow that's a lot of does! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted January 27, 2006 Report Share Posted January 27, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: Burn up a doe tag....next year you will be swimming in does!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhunter91 Posted January 27, 2006 Report Share Posted January 27, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: Yep.. time to fill a doe tag... By taking one doe out, in reality you're really taking 4 deer, not to mention the fawns she will produce in the future, not just the ones she is pregnant with now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doughboy1956 Posted January 27, 2006 Report Share Posted January 27, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: Take a doe popgun. The deer you save could be the big buck you get down the line. All the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surreybigbuckhunter Posted January 27, 2006 Report Share Posted January 27, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: i would shoot a doe or two so the following seasons would be better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG_BUCK_1 Posted January 27, 2006 Report Share Posted January 27, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: go get a doe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okbowman Posted January 27, 2006 Report Share Posted January 27, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: Take one! A mature doe can really mess you up hunting too, they are smart and will pick you off sometimes when a buck won't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slughunter Posted January 27, 2006 Report Share Posted January 27, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: wow, you have a lot of work to do, id rather have to many does than to few. but thats just me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PAWhitetailhunter19 Posted January 27, 2006 Report Share Posted January 27, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: yeah...the way things look you need to shoot about 5 doe....lets just hope they all got trophy fawns inside... that one doe in the foreground looking right looks real big. I cant believe they let you hunt that late into the year, im surprised you dont have individuals complaining about the ethics of shooting pregnant deer at the stage in which they must be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longislandhunter Posted January 29, 2006 Report Share Posted January 29, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: I'd take one of those does in a second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted January 29, 2006 Report Share Posted January 29, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: Are you sure they are all does? How many might be button bucks or spikes or some other small racked deer that has it's head hidden. Also, up here in the north, many of our bucks have begun dropping their antlers. I'm not saying that you don't have a doe over-population problem, but I am just saying that I can't really tell from that picture. You have been hunting all season. You must have a pretty good idea (independant of this picture) of what the situation is, but that picture doesn't necessarily prove your point. I see the 11 deer, but there are only one and maybe two that I would swear have/had no antlers whatsoever. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atthewall Posted January 29, 2006 Report Share Posted January 29, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: Each doe eats roughly 2lbs of browse everyday. Thin the does and give that extra browse to the bucks. Each deer out there (buck, doe) eats the same amount. It appears that the doe numbers in your neck of the woods are now getting to a critical stage? I would try to shoot as many does as possible each year, laying off the bucks and go as far as inviting close friends to shoot does as well. The more does down the better overall. Let the bucks walk a few years and concentrate on the does. Manangement is a yearly system and sometimes you have to bite the bullet and just focus on slickheads. After a few years...you will see the return on your buck herd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest buddy ahart Posted January 29, 2006 Report Share Posted January 29, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: idk in arkansas if the deer herd up any but here in pa they do ive seen a herd of 14 deer already. 2 were small bucks maybe just a few does from your area decided to have a ladies night out together lol But dont be afraid to shoot one!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: Doc...just so you'll know, it's very rare for bucks down here to start casting antlers until early to mid March. It's common to see bucks still carrying their antlers in late March a couple of weeks after our spring turkey season opens. I've never found any sheds prior to the last week of February and I've only found a shed in late February once. I understand antler casting starts as early as late December up north but it's a lot later down south. Popgun, it sounds like Arkansas is pretty stingy with their doe tags. I agree with most of the other people about going ahead and wacking a doe if you get the chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 Re: Still too many doe: [ QUOTE ] Doc...just so you'll know, it's very rare for bucks down here to start casting antlers until early to mid March. [/ QUOTE ] Yeah, I wasn't sure whether that was something that changed as you get further south. Deer are almost like a different species in some respects as you travel around the nation. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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