fly Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 I just finished watching a Drury video and a doe was harvested that had two 1/2 year olds with her. I've always wondered about this... Will the 1/2 year olds survive the winter if their mother is harvested in October? Does it depend when the 1/2 year olds were born or the month the mother is harvested? Do you feel it is ethical to shoot a doe in early October that has 1/2 year olds? Thanks Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 Think whether the fawns will survive would depend on some factors. If they were late born, the odds obviously go down. Personally, if a doe comes around with fawns and the fawns have spots, she gets to walk by me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 Same here.From what I understand by the time a fawn looses it's spots it can live on its own.If it has spots then momma gets a pass,otherwise I'll take the shot.Around here I've seen very few fawns with spots in October when bow season starts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom2008 Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 Fawns can survive just fine on their own without the doe in the fall. I actually had a buck fawn that lost his mom in July and lived. Usually the fawns will group up with other deer so they really are not alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig mack Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 Think whether the fawns will survive would depend on some factors. If they were late born, the odds obviously go down. Personally, if a doe comes around with fawns and the fawns have spots, she gets to walk by me. Same here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 I think the fawns will survive.....but usually pass does with fawns. I have no problems with anyone shooting them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randyman Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 Fawns can survive just fine on their own without the doe in the fall. I actually had a buck fawn that lost his mom in July and lived. Usually the fawns will group up with other deer so they really are not alone. I agree! Once a fawn is weaned, it will do just fine without it's Mother. I would hesitate to shoot a Doe with spotted fawns, but cannot recall ever seeing this once bow season rolls around. Otherwise, i wouldn't hesitate to harvest a Doe with yearlings. In a healthy herd, it is rare for a doe not to have yearlings, anyway. Plus, just because you don't see yearlings with a doe, doesn't mean she doesn't have any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SRAII Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 i love to orphan fawns.......you're fawn recruitment rate goes up.....and i'm all about having more button bucks running around..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 With our herd expanding and mild winters, I never give it a second thought. If it's in range and the landowers want dead deer, an arrow is getting flung. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 With our herd expanding and mild winters, I never give it a second thought. If it's in range and the landowers want dead deer, an arrow is getting flung. Tominator passes on the broadside momma for a crack at the fawn, trust me, I've got pictures! :D I got no problem what-so-ever shooting a doe with fawns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 Tominator passes on the broadside momma for a crack at the fawn, trust me, I've got pictures! :D I got no problem what-so-ever shooting a doe with fawns. There was a branch in my way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 If there are no spots, mamma's burger meat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nywhitetail9339 Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 Deer in an area can be like a family. if the fawns mother dies it will find another doe to live with. i rarely see less than 2 does together they move and live together anyways that fawn will just stay with the other doe untill it is time for that fawn to be pushed away. Shoot does its the first step to growing and finding big bucks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 Oh yeah!! I will pop big momma if she wonders within range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 As long as the fawn doesn't have spots, the doe gets shot at. IMO, if the don't have spots, they are eating solid foods and will be able to survive without momma there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njbowhntr Posted April 7, 2008 Report Share Posted April 7, 2008 I have and will again shoot does with young. I have watched many young get absorbed with the herd if the mother is killed, by me or a car. From what I have read, whitetails are like families in that aspect. Another doe will tend to young if they have no mother due to hunting, natural predators, or automobile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogg6 Posted April 8, 2008 Report Share Posted April 8, 2008 No problem taking a doe with fawns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOYTnMUZZYboy Posted April 8, 2008 Report Share Posted April 8, 2008 Like others have said, if theres no spots I will harvest momma. Did it this year could of shot one of the yearlings too, she didnt know what happend stood there right where mama was when I played string music on her, but just couldnt bring myself to shoot the baby. Be good eatin this year tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted April 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2008 Thanks guys, I'll be harvesting a doe with 1/2 year olds this fall as long as the spots are gone. I think it's important to make the decision exactly what to shoot prior to entering the woods. A second of hesitation can be costly. Now there will be no hesitation when that doe walks within range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c_lou Posted April 8, 2008 Report Share Posted April 8, 2008 Don't hesitate a bit. If momma walks by with a small one, momma goes down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted April 8, 2008 Report Share Posted April 8, 2008 Another thing to factor in is that if one of the fawns is a buck, then he will be more likely to stay in the core area if the doe is harvested. Once the fawn reaches a certain age, the doe will basically run them off. Read a study back in the 90's on this subject and it really seemed to make sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted April 8, 2008 Report Share Posted April 8, 2008 I won't do it anymore. Three years ago, I shot a doe that had a fawn (that had no spots) with her. The arrow passed through her vitals and she didn't even flinch. I thought I missed so I nocked another arrow. She was behind some think brush, so I decided to wait for a clear shot. She started walking and her head started wobbling, then she stumbled over, her head still wobbling like something you don't want to see. After seeing that, I realized I made a good shot. I guess because she wasn't running, she was bleeding out very slowly and this was delaying the process ten fold. She was still behind the thicket, so I didn't want to shoot at her again. She started bleating strangly and her fawn came over and started licking her face. This was going on for several minutes until I realized if I climbed down a few feet in my climber I could probably squeeze an arrow through and hit her. So I climbed down about 5 feet, saw an opening and loosed another arrow that went through her brisket and into her vitals and did the job. When I came up to her, I saw that my first shot was a nice double-lunger, but like I said, because she didn't run she bled out really slowly. I started dressing her out and I heard a twig snag behind me- it was her fawn, looking confused, bleating the whole time. I could have legally shot it, but I didn't want to so I ran it off. It came back two minutes later, ran it off again, only to have it come back. So I just dressed momma in front of her. When I started dragging the doe out, the fawn followed, keeping about 30 yards distance. It followed me to just about the treeline and then left. I'll never do that again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted April 8, 2008 Report Share Posted April 8, 2008 I won't do it anymore. Three years ago, I shot a doe that had a fawn (that had no spots) with her. The arrow passed through her vitals and she didn't even flinch. I thought I missed so I nocked another arrow. She was behind some think brush, so I decided to wait for a clear shot. She started walking and her head started wobbling, then she stumbled over, her head still wobbling like something you don't want to see. After seeing that, I realized I made a good shot. I guess because she wasn't running, she was bleeding out very slowly and this was delaying the process ten fold. She was still behind the thicket, so I didn't want to shoot at her again. She started bleating strangly and her fawn came over and started licking her face. This was going on for several minutes until I realized if I climbed down a few feet in my climber I could probably squeeze an arrow through and hit her. So I climbed down about 5 feet, saw an opening and loosed another arrow that went through her brisket and into her vitals and did the job. When I came up to her, I saw that my first shot was a nice double-lunger, but like I said, because she didn't run she bled out really slowly. I started dressing her out and I heard a twig snag behind me- it was her fawn, looking confused, bleating the whole time. I could have legally shot it, but I didn't want to so I ran it off. It came back two minutes later, ran it off again, only to have it come back. So I just dressed momma in front of her. When I started dragging the doe out, the fawn followed, keeping about 30 yards distance. It followed me to just about the treeline and then left. I'll never do that again. That is why i'm very careful about shooting a doe. I've only shot 5 in 9 years of hunting, and I wouldnt shoot one up until i was 16. My dad tried to get me to when i was 10 on several occasions for my first deer and i wouldn't. Guess I'm a softy I havent ever shot at a doe with fawns in October or November. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kid Posted April 8, 2008 Report Share Posted April 8, 2008 I don't shoot does, I leave that up to my neighbor, you shoots anything that has brown on it, But if i did shoot does i would personally pass with a momma and some fawns by her side.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardwood_HD Posted April 9, 2008 Report Share Posted April 9, 2008 that doesnt hold me back, ill fling something at her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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