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Would you shoot the first doe?

enkriss said:
I will let does with fawns walk but the first doe by itself walks past I will take it. With that said… first 3 weeks of the season here is earn a buck. If you aren’t going to shoot a doe you might as well sit home.
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One year, hunting pretty thick brush, I shot a doe and did not see the fawn with her. She ran off and died ((later recovered), but her fawn ran up and down the trail they were on bleating for its mother for 20 minutes. I will NEVER do that again. EVER!
 
CZMark said:
One year, hunting pretty thick brush, I shot a doe and did not see the fawn with her. She ran off and died ((later recovered), but her fawn ran up and down the trail they were on bleating for its mother for 20 minutes. I will NEVER do that again. EVER!
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I walked up on a doe I'd shot once and its fawn was laying against it's side. Wasn't nice.

I think it is more humane to take the fawn than the doe, if you had to for some reason (really hungry?).
 
I’m on public land so I’m going in with a brown it’s down attitude and that means yes, I stick her……maybe she’ll pee a bunch and bring in a buck too! I’d rather shoot a spike than any breeding does, but I’m looking for my first bow deer so she’s getting it!
 
bfriendly said:
I’m on public land so I’m going in with a brown it’s down attitude and that means yes, I stick her……maybe she’ll pee a bunch and bring in a buck too! I’d rather shoot a spike than any breeding does, but I’m looking for my first bow deer so she’s getting it!
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You don't have to stick her to make her pee. If it's pre-rut or rut, all you need to do is spook her. I learned this last year from two instances. My uncle watched a doe pee and 5 min later a 2 1/2 yo 8pt came running to the spot. The second instance was when I spooked a couple of does walking in. I immediately sat down thinking if that bedding area was in a travel corridor bucks would be cruising it. No later than 10 min a spike walked right past me to their spot and sniffed hard.

If you spook a doe during this time and it pees a little, sit right there for about a half hour. That's my suggestion.
 
Loopwing said:
Why would you not shoot a doe early season before she might be pregnant (pre-rut), but you would shoot a doe late season that probably is pregnant (post rut)? I have never understood this logic.
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If you take that doe out of the herd, it makes no difference whether she has been bred or not. The net result to the herd is the same.
 
I've seen personally and also utubes shows it pretty consistent....a fallen deer makes others curious and they go check it out. Maybe not mature bucks? I watched 4 separate does come and investigate their unlucky buddy. I shot her at 20 and she ran only 15ft but behind brush to were I couldn't shoot at the others
 
Yeah I am shooting the first mature doe that walks by. I 'try' not to shoot smaller sized deer for no other reason than more meat on the larger deer. I have shot plenty of doe with small ones. Yeah it kind of breaks my heart to see the little one standing there, etc. However, I know they can survive just fine without her. I have also shot the smaller one after shooting the larger one if they stuck around long enough. Everyone has different views and opinions which is why I love reading on SH everyday. Neat to see different views on subjects like this. Makes me reconsider or view things differently. However, I am still shooting momma. Sorry, not sorry.
 
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