Shooting Does

[Strut10]

I (and the rest of the family) will take as many mature does as we can get tags for. It always ends up still not being enough removed.

[Doc]

It all depends on my assessment of the size of the deer population where I hunt. I have seen a few years where I have let does walk because I felt that the DEC had over-acheived in terms of herd control. There is no point to whining about shortages in the herd if you're shooting every doe that walks by.

However, such conditions are really quite rare and in all the decades of hunting, I have only seen a couple of years where I felt that I had to exercise a bit more restraint above and beyond what the DEC was trying to mandate.

Doc

[hungry hunter]

Ya can't eat horns!!!, No problem on taking a doe.

[jokostel]

Truth be told... I've only pulled 2 buck tags in 8 years of hunting... Always seem to pull doe tags.. I also pickup extras. To me, it's not the horn. It's the time spent with family and the outdoors. I love the sound of crisp grass and snow at my feet... I love the crack of the rifle and the THWOCK that follows.

I was denied a buck tag this year-- lack of preference points. No big deal, I should be able to pull one next year.:shifty:

[HunterBlake]

One farm that i hunt has about a 3:2 or 4:2 doe buck ratio, so if i get the chance i will probably take a doe out, but i dont think it really needs it.

[RangerClay]

I usually take 2-3 every year.

[VaTechHunter]

I usually kill at least one or two a year. Where I live there are a lot more does than bucks. I practice QDM somewhat, so I pass up the smaller bucks and shoot does. I shot one with my bow and one with my rifle last year, thats all I killed. Hopefully this year I'll get a deer with a little bone on its head.

[deerslayer06]

doe hunting is so under-rated. Love it!

[Schpanky]

I'll usually shoot 2 - 4 every year. My son will shoot 2 or 3 as well. As there's no way we can eat that much meat, we'll either give the deer away or let someone else sign for it and have it processed for themselves. That way, we are able to take our does every year without it costing us a fortune in processing.

[joeaveragehunter]

We always try to take at least one doe for every buck we take. Most years we take average of 3-4 bucks and 5-6 does.

[Nut]

I get as much of a rush hunting does as I do bucks.....I just enjoy hunting deer.

[ODH]

they make good target practice, and its good meat in the freezer too

[csualumni21000]

I shoot the first non fawn I see. Then I get picky.