Trad Gang

Opening day today and I had a shot on a nice young doe. But she had two smallish twins with her...could you have done it? I sure couldn't, not even close.  

A couple seconds later she caught my scent, and they were all off.

Oh well.

It would depend on the deer population in the area.  If it was out of control I'd have taken her.  

If the population is pretty balanced, well let's just say the little ones sure are tasty as long as they're legal.

Sparce population I'd let them all walk.

Nope, would just have enjoyed watching them.
There is far more to being out deer hunting than killing.

I would shoot the little ones they eat real good

Good decision IMO. :thumbsup:   Those old does are how the young ones learn to survive. I've orphaned enough fawns.   :(    Anymore, I'd rather pass the old doe and take the fawn. A yearling doe (1+ yrs) is in trouble, tho. If she has a fawn, they will likely be with an older doe and that one will keep the family group going.    :)

I'd have shot which ever of the three gave me the first opportunity.  We've got plenty of deer around here and shooting does is needed for management.  I let the young bucks walk anymore but its pretty rare that I pass up a doe.

Yeah those little twins sure seemed like they'd be lost without her. They had no idea I was there.  

The population around here is a bit sparce these days.

I would have passed too. Central Texas has a very good deer population, probably the best in Texas, BUT it doesn't compare to some places like Ohio.

That is a real issue when you have earn a buck rules.   You HAVE to shoot an antlerless deer before you can buck hunt.  If you have had 3-5 sits in the woods and these are the first and only antlerless deer that have come by. .  would you have shot ?

Youth (gun) hunt is coming up, followed by an early antlerless (gun) hunt.  Does that change your mind ?

The state has put a lot of pressure on us to take shots we may not normally want to take by imposing earn a buck again.
ChuckC

It's entirely up to you. If that's the decision you made at the moment then it was the right one for you. Doesn't matter what anyone else would have done, It's all how you feel at that moment.
Can't even say what I would have done until I'm confronted with the choice. There's been times when I've been content just watching them, and others when I've decided to shoot. All depends on how I feel at that given time.

No way I'd shoot.

I'd do exactly what you did  :thumbsup: .

NOT ME

Since it would have bothered you, you did the right thing passing her.  However, from a biological point of view, this time of the year, unless those fawns were born very late (and completely covered with spots now) they would have survived just fine without the doe. They would have likely taken up moving with other does in their area.

I could have done it, but would I have?  Just depends.

Don't try and second guess yourself. The shot did not pass your own personal ethics paper test.
Standing by your own principles is what makes you the individual you are.

Congrats!!!!!!

this season I had a doe come by at 10 yards for 5 or 6 minutes with a spotted fawn.  Could not do it either.  Joe

I don't shoot does with fawns...not on purpose anyway. However, many are killed when they hide the fawn and go feed alone.

Nope.  Let the mommas with young live and shoot the barren does or bucks.  Just my way of doing things.

I would have shot them in a heart beat.However I understand why you didnt.I will take any clean shot at any deer.we all hunt for differnt reasons an differnt things drive us.I hunt for food an its harvest time.I respect you for doing what sets right with you. that is more important then anything.

You did what I would have done, except that I might have taken a fawn. Only you know what size they really were, and what the "family dynamic" was. One fawn less will not matter a hill of beans to the whole scheme of things. The fawn is the most likely to die over the winter, and has the least invested in it. The doe might still be necessary to the remaining fawn, for guidance if nothing else, and if you have too few deer, she will produce more come spring.

Killdeer

Could I have done it, you ask?  It depends on where I am hunting.  Locally, no.  Our deer population here is pretty small.  There are other areas where I sometimes hunt where the herd needs to be thinned, so I would have taken the first good shot that was presented.

I also had a doe and two young ones in front of me. I also passed the shot. I was on the ground against a large oak, I did draw twice, just to see if I could get away with the movement. No problem, just did not release. Felt good to let them live.

If I waited for a single, true barren doe, I would never shoot a doe as they are rare in most herds.

i guess I have taken them with their fawns but the fawns were spotless older just still hangin w/mom. will not shoot if fawn still has a spot.J

J

....a nice fat spotless fawn is just yummy! If it looks like it would go 50 lbs or more dressed I would take it. Anything less is more of a pain to dress, cut and wrap for the amount of meat I put in the freezer. Otherwise I would let them grow a little and save my tag for something bigger...  The doe gets the pass if the fawns are too small to shoot also.

Personally, I'd have been looking for a shot at one of the twins...   :dunno:

QuoteI would shoot the little ones they eat real good  

:thumbsup:

I agree with Bowwild, and even though I know that the little ones would have taken up with others in the area, I would not have taken the shot.

I took a small young deer once for the owner of the property, but told him from now on if he wants meat he would have to settle for a grown deer. He understood and I hunted that land until he passed.

if the fawns have spots still, i pass. if not (usually later on into (November or December), well...

I don't shoot does with fawns this early in the season.

I would have done the same thing, BUT, your decision is YOUR decision, don't let anyone influence you. I'm going through a spell right now where I'm having a hard time shooting anything, not sure whats happening but I'm content to watch more than shoot. I hope I get out of this  soon because I need some meat in the freezer and in my belly! Good luck with the rest of your season.

Rodney

I had a doe and two fawns at 5 yards this morning; had a great time screwing with them. I was in a ghillie, and they knew something was wrong, but just couldn't figure it out. After about 20 minutes of blowing, foot stomping, running 50 yards or so, and then coming back, I finally stood up and waved my arms at them. That was more fun than shooting them, and I didn't have to pack her out.

I would never be tempted to shoot a doe with fawns except in a real survival situation. I think you made the right decision. God bless you and good hunting . Steve

That mature doe would club those same fawns overthe head with her hoofs come winter when food is at a premium. I've watched does do that countless times. With the rut approaching, she'd be weaning the young ones here soon anyway. "Orphaned" yearlings will get along just fine, and run with other deer inthe area. Now if they are super young late born fawns, they are in trouble come winter anyway. Low on the pecking order, they are the last to eat when food gets scarce.

All  that being said, while biologically there is nothing wrong with shooting that doe, everyone has to be comfortable with the shots we choose. In my mind, nothing rong with shooting, and nothing wrong with passing. Its a personal choice.

On a couple of farms I've hunted in years past, pass up shooting any doe would get you run off the place. Farmer wants deer removed, regardless of size. They're eating his livlihood. It all really depends on circumstance.

I am guessing that doe is no longer hiding her fawns by October.  I really don't think that is a concern.

The choice is yours only.

I have always stated that shooting a fawn is tough because, well they say to pick a spot and I can never decide which "spot" to aim for.

 :bigsmyl:  

ChuckC

I think you did the right thing  :)
I don't think I'd have shot either, unless absolutely necessary!

I had a large doe, with twins that I just couldn't do it either.  Her ribs were showing from feeding hard on the twins, and I know where she is at if she gets fattened up.  She also has some pie balled on the bridge of her nose.

I have but one A Tag that can be used either sex whitetial, and I have seen bigger does.  So I'm trying to spend my tag wisely.

(http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac22/TraditionalBowhunter/Hunting%20Areas/DSCF1630-1.jpg)

I'd shoot the fawn because its the best eating.

Nope. I couldn't w/youngsters. Capable yearlings-mom's green light.

I passed on 5 does with 4 fawns this morning. I have no problem taking the does but our zones rules are one deer only for the season no matter if you use a gun or a bow. The fawns are fine without the does.
So far I have passed on over 12 does looking for a buck.
Our DNR is really out of touch with the deer populations. I wish they would allow one buck and one doe for a harvest. Our area was an intensive harvest area last year [up to 5]. and now a doe lottery [0ne]. Sorry.... just venting.

as much as i want to shoot one,i would have passed the chance too.there are other deer out there.i think it was the ethical thing to do.good luck this season,steve

I'm getting soft in my middle age. When I was a kid sure, but now, I would rather let them go. If I see a large group of does I will try to take the biggest one but when it is just mommy and the kids I don't have the heart anymore. I will never shoot the little ones intentionally even though they taste better. That's just me. Anyone else wants to by all means have at it.

What Hoser1268 said ...I'm with you brother.I let 10 times more deer walk under me than I ever shoot at,,,,but to each his own...

If they didnt have spots and were good sized I would have shot her.

Wow thanks everyone for all your thoughts, I really appreciate it. It seems more and more I find a reason to pass these days.

I really do think I enjoy the time in the field about as much as anything. Before the doe and her fawns came in, a huge owl flew passed me about a foot in front of my face.  I mean I felt the swoosh!

That kind of stuff just doesn't happen when you don't get out there.

You did the right thing. I had two small does around me for a half hour yesterday. I didn't shoot but got some great photos and memories.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/1966kodiak/Closedoe-1.jpg)

well said hoser1268  i too am getting soft-hearted in my old days!

I was in a similar situation and could not do it either.

QuoteOriginally posted by Rank Bull:
Opening day today and I had a shot on a nice young doe. But she had two smallish twins with her...could you have done it? I sure couldn't, not even close.  

A couple seconds later she caught my scent, and they were all off.

Oh well.

And you're saying what? I'd not have shot a doe with two twins/fawns/even teenagers....

I don't begrudge you leaving her the opportunity to learn what's wrong with life... you know.. hunters, wolves, cat's, bears and stuff.... winter....   :clapper:  

Aloha...   :cool:

I would have let em go.

These two little one's appreciated my passing on the shot by bedding down under my tree for   three hours. I hate to startle any deer from around my stand and I was ready to go eat lunch. It got to be really annoying when they just flopped over and started snoozing.   :banghead:  
Mom was a little more crafty. She never got within 50 yards of my tree.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/LostArrow/Button%20bucks/buttonbucks006.jpg)

Neat pictures!

It would be very rare to see a fawn with spots by hunting season up here.  Our deer all change over to their winter coats in September and the spots are gone.  The fawns are still fawns, tho.  Most of them are pretty small still but later in the season have put on some more size and weight.

Yearling does (1+yrs) are high on my hit list.    :archer2:

I did the same the other night.  A nice doe and a fawn with remnants of spots were under my tree stand for thirty minutes.  Eight yards away!!!  Momma spotted me and was trying to get me to move by lowering her head and then looking at me real quickley to see if I would move.  You got to do what feels right to you.  It's your call.

Rank Bull, I have been hunting for alot of years. This early season in Jersey we have to kill a Doe before we can kill a Buck. The first and second Saturday afternoons I had a Yearling 60/70 lbs with 2 spotted fawns under my tree stand for an hour each sit . Just couldn't bring myself to shoot any of them.    

I had the same thing happen only I did not shoot at all?

I'm with you guys that wouldn't shoot. I don't think it is wrong to shoot but I don't think I would.