Hi everyone, I was just wondering what your opinions are on shooting does that still have fawns with them. I realize that unless the fawns are very small they can survive on their own but do you think that their survival is hindered in the long run? My son (his first season) and I have multiple tags so we'd like to put one in the freezer as venison is our favorite meat. I've seen a lot of fawns this year, more than any in my thirty years of hunting so maybe we should take a fawn as David Peterson suggested in one of his previous articles in TBM. Just wondering what you all thought on this subject. Thanks

If without spots (most will be) they will be fine and simply join another doe group. My prime area has way too many does - I'm targeting the more mature does with 2 or 3 fawns this year. Want to take out the best breeders.

Steve

Go for it.  They'll be fine.

ch

You just take extra arrows for the little ones.  

If you don't take them they will starve otherwise from your post. Too many is a bad thing for the whole herd and the surrounding environment. .

We are targeting does this year on the ranch we hunt.  In fact, the survey shows way too many does so the state has issued management permits to take them without using a tag.

We will be headed down that way on the 17th.

Take a doe and/or a fawn before you get to shoot a buck and your herd will be healthier.

Mike

The little ones a very tasty.

The young ones are "vealison..."
 

I'll shoot the doe.
No matter if the
fawns have spots
or not.

Five members of our family applied for doe tags in Arkansas this year and we all got one.  I don't know if that was just luck of the draw or if they are granting them to everyone who applied, but I do know we have seen lots of does/fawns this year.  I don't know if it is the most we've ever seen, but it is at least as many.  Buck numbers, so far, are about the same as prior years.

We have been targeting the mature does for about 3 years now.  We definitely plan to thin them out this year - hopefully one of them by my longbow...  

If its a dilemma shoot the fawn, or go for both.  Most of the time when you shoot one you can get the other back in w/ a grunt or bleat call.

Shoot 'em if you want.  I have passed when they are real early but shot both later in the year.

Thanks everyone, I think we're going try and put some prime venison in the freezer. Good luck to all and be safe. Rob and Dylan Dedrick.

I prefer to shoot the fawns, our herd is rebounding and I figure if I shoot a big doe I most likely kill 3 deer, not this years fawns but the ones she would of had in the spring. I say it is up to you, if ya shoot the big doe her fawns will most likely survive. Shawn

I will kill a fawn in a heartbeat, and have a shopping list of reasons why.

Killdeer    need a little smiling stomach-rubbing gremlin here!

Hey Shawn and Killdeer, I was at the bunny hunt this year. I came up with Lee Miller. What a blast that was.

   

Over the past few years my outlook on this decision has changed.  Anymore, I let the old doe with fawn(s) walk, because I want her around to teach the kids.  If she only has buck fawns with her I may well take her, as the boys are going sent packing soon anyway.  My preferred doe target is the yearling (1.5 yrs) and will also take a doe fawn if I need to kill something.  There is nothing better on the table.

There is a good article on this subject in a recent Deer and Deer Hunting mag.  I'll see if I can find it.  Here's a link:  http://fw_deerhunter.permissiontv.com/index.html?showid=730731

I'm with Killdeer, I'll take a fawn first. In a bad winter up here they are the first to suffer from no food or coyotes, plus I like veal!!!!

I got a fawn hanging in the garage now. No spots but it woulda been easier to pick one if she had em. After I shot and trailed this fawn I called my son "Guess what I found in the woods? - What? - STEAKS!" I'm with Killy.