Guest finsnfur Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 Here is my situation. I am a first year bow hunter. I do shotgun hunt here in Ill and I know the land pretty well; 85 acres woods on a 500 acre farm. I have a morning trail that at least 13 doe go down to get to their beds every morning, no bucks. My question is; Do I dare take a doe and disturb the routine or do I sit and wait until rut and and hope for a trailing buck? Or will me taking one not disturb them too much, I have no idea. I still have not killed anything with my bow but a squirrel and would like to get my jitters out of the way before I come up on a big buck. I have not found any other does on the property yet to go after. i have seen a big 10pt on the other side of the woods that I have left alone. He was bedded under one of my stands. the wind has not been right yet to get into that stand. Any past experiences from any of you would help me out - not sure what to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaTrophyHunter Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? as long as you don't just shoot at all of them it be allright like maybe get 1-3 that wouldn't bother nothin where i hunt but when it gets close to the rut 2 or 3 weeks i stop shootin does Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bowhuntinbucksinkansas Posted October 7, 2006 Report Share Posted October 7, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? i have been bowhunting for 25 yrs now and i can tell you that it is not going to hurt at all to harvest a doe or two. As for your big buck situation, your on the right track as far as waiting for the right wind to try to harvest him. just keep in mind that your dominate bucks will generally lock down with their does during rut. take all the time you need and make your shot count. good luck and i hope you get him!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? ONLY 1..????? fill ac ouple tags..when the rut kicks in, and the does get hot..the bucks will be there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? Take a couple of them out. Thats what im planning on doing here this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? Would take a few of them if I were you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? I agree and would shoot a couple of the does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyman Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? Gotta agree with the others! Whack em' and stack em'! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyt03 Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? I would not disturb their patterns and wait for the rut and a buck will show up for those does. I'd wait and take a doe later in the year if you need meat for the freezer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heathcoerracin Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? [ QUOTE ] ONLY 1..????? fill ac ouple tags..when the rut kicks in, and the does get hot..the bucks will be there [/ QUOTE ] thats what im sayin...just 1?? how about 3 or 4!!! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HitRmisS Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? I don't think it will be a problem. I watched 8 does yeterday evening 4 of which came withing 25 yrds. The only reason i didn't take the shot is because neiter of the two old does that kept trying to wind and bust me didn't get close enough. I would really like to get them out of there before they bust me when a buck is in the area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? I think I understand just what you are getting at. You have done your homework and have the does patterned. You understand that the best way to get the buck is to pattern the does. You also understand that if you take one of the does, daylight use of that trail (pattern) is likely to be busted and you are back to square one with your scouting. If that is indeed the situation, I can see where you might want to hold off for a bit. It seems like there is an adequate length of time to get all the does you are legally entitled to. It would be a shame to mess up a good situation by harvesting the does too soon. Of course the other side of the coin is that the buck may bust up the pattern for you, and the does may start moving in a different part of the farm. In the beginning of the rut, the does avoid the bucks and can have their normal routines messed up by a persistant buck. At any rate it is a darn good question and the answer may not be as obvious as a lot of people would think at first. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest finsnfur Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? [ QUOTE ] Of course the other side of the coin is that the buck may bust up the pattern for you, and the does may start moving in a different part of the farm. In the beginning of the rut, the does avoid the bucks and can have their normal routines messed up by a persistant buck. [/ QUOTE ] This is some extra information/experience that I was looking for. I did not know that persistant bucks will chase does off their routes. It makes perfect sense and understand it, but I never thought of it. Shotgun season here in IL is so short that you never see any of these events if you only go out during shotgun. This coming Thursday they are calling for snow/rain mix. I am planning on hitting it Thurs & then Friday morning hard. I am thinking that the snow/freezing rain will bust them up anyways for a day or 2 and make them alter their patterns to get caught up on food. Is this a logical thought?? Let me know if this makes good sense or not? I think I will take a doe after the snow/freezing rain storm and then look for my buck. thanks for the 'words' and if any one has anythign else to add, plese do. thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest deadeye270 Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? shoot the oldest lead doe. She'll spot you everytime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lostiniowa Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? i would take one or two as well. this might actually help you in the rut.. if there are does everywhere the bucks won't have to travel as far.. Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest finsnfur Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? Deadeye and lostin iowa - thanks for the added points. More information that is very useful. It appears to be common sense knowledge, but if the reason never arrises to think about it, then I never would. thanks for adding. i appreciate you sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lostiniowa Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? deadeye is correct as well the old does are often the smartest of them all.. She could cause you problems in the future.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? Its always wise to take a few doe to help even out the buck to doe ratio. In my area our doe population is crazy thus causing buck to have to breed more then they can handle and wearing themselve down to nothing or worse, dying from it once real cold weather sets in. Plus if there are a lot of doe around they dont have to travel as far or seek them out and its harder to find them when they should be running around everywhere. It will not effect your hunting situation at all to take a few out of the herd. Nor make any left over spooked. JMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mo_hunter Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? take a few out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? If you have a late season and are aware of a late season preferred food source, then you can take a doe now, to put some meat in the freezer but not disturb things too much. (I always figured the tracking, gutting and dragging was much more of an issue that the actual shooting of the deer.) Then hunt for your buck during the rest of early bow and gun. Then in late season, the does will even be heavier from packing it on and you can take a couple 3 more (if legal) without really hurting your herd or worrying about messing up your buck hunt. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowtech Posted October 12, 2006 Report Share Posted October 12, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? i would take one or two .never hurts ..but when rut comes around i would not mess with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom2008 Posted October 12, 2006 Report Share Posted October 12, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? Most definatley take one, because its good management! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetailkiller Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? one shot one kill...... no problem the deer will be back!!!! put some meat in the freezer will ya!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njbowhntr Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 Re: 12 does - do i take one??? I would shoot one now. Then the next time I had a shot I would shoot another. 12 does in a herd alone is too many. I would look for the older does that are not producing offspring or a young doe that is just going into her first esterus cycle. If you keep that many does around they will actually be competing for food that the buck needs to get his protein to grow bigger. I am not saying shoot all of them, but a couple would not hurt at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.