I looked outside today while on baby duty, and saw two decent mature does feasting on apples that had fallen from my tree. I gave the baby to grandma, and out the door I went, anxious to try my bow out in the company of real deer. You see, Im hoping this will be the year I get my first traditional deer, and I have yet to even shoot at one.
Around here, there is a general consensus that you dont shoot does. Period, end of discussion. Although I dont believe in this, I abide by the rules of the landowners, who surround my four acres.    
Back to the story.
Now I had already positioned my bow and arrows outside after I waxed the string and applied some camo to the shiny-new limbs. The deer, oblivious, munched away on apples.
I selected my arrow. Drew, anchored. WHAP! Nailed it. I selected another arrow. Drew, anchored...THUD.
Now mind you, I was pretty excited. I drew another arrow, a judo. THWACK. Smakced the brace board of my target frame hitting about an inch left of the balloon remnant I was aiming at.
All in all, three shots, and neither doe did much more that twitch at the sound of the impacts.
Ya didnt think I would shoot a deer in my yard did ya?    No way. I wanted to see how they reacted to the noise of my bow. Nada. Zilch. I have been told I have a VERY quiet bow by quite a few outstanding hunters. Deer think so too.


After the shots, I got my son and my camera. The little white square is a 4" X4" Muzzy type block, my first intended target. I was shooting about 18 yards, and the deer were about 15 yards directly left of the  target.
Yes, I do think about deer hunting too much. Even when I get to spend a day with my boy. He seems to like it too, he cried when I shut off the hunting video, and then again when we got too close and the deer ran away.
I love this stuff.

Looka the gut on that gal!
Hmm.

Not mine!!!
Now...would I what?
Killdeer   :confused:

Can I babysit a while?  

That's one good looking doe.

I think your apples make does fat.  :-D

I'm 50/50 on this one......if my boy wanted the deer I might have to be 100% in favor of it! I, however, have two daughters and no boys. They are totally embarrassed that their dad hunts, not widely accepted up here. Awful lot of meat on that particular doe.........

-Charlie

Yup, your bow is one of the quietest I have shot. I also would shoot one of the doe's from the porch if ya did not have the rules, but they are on your neighbors property, those deer are on yours and If ya invite me down I will tajke care of them for ya! Shawn

Well, if the doe was on my property I would have took it. I like antlers as well as the next guy or gal but I hope to feed my family with what I harvest. Why don't folks shoot does?? I have never understood that. Like there is something wrong with it. Now if I come across a doe with a young one she gets s afree walk.......... no doubt about it.

THAT would be a short drag!     Gary

twack. That deer looks like a prime canidate for the pan. I would have shot it.

Shoot then ask for forgivness oh well Iwould of shot and  hoped it did not run far I once shot a Jack rabbit in my yard it ran 2 doors down I was lucky no witness sure was tasty  

Nice looking doe and a great shot on the muzzy target Jamie. Tough call on shoot or no shoot. At least you know you have a quiet bow.  

The tradition of not shooting does began when the populations were low or nonexistent. Deer were reintroduced to many areas, and in order for the population to increase, does were forbidden fruit. I suppose it helped that the image of a hunter taking a buck became a manly American icon. Things changed, deer numbers increased, and now in many areas there is a screaming need to pare the flourishing deer herds into a size that won't damage the environment.

Whether the deer herd in your area is at that stage, I don't know, Jamie. I thought there were a lot when I was up there in February, but didn't notice browse lines, which are a glaring sign that there are more deer than eats in the neighborhood. That is why I am glad to buy licenses and pay the biologists to study deer and environment, and determine the best way to balance both. If there are too many deer...shoot does. I find it more acceptable to responsibly manage a population than to let emotion or ego decide which sex I will kill.

Killdeer  

Shooting nothing but bucks is poor deer management.  If your neighbors like to shoot big bucks, then they should be shooting does to keep the herd balanced.  Shoot some does and enjoy the venison!

If that was down here in MY yard in central Texas I'da nailed that one to the door!We have way too many deer gettin hit by cars and trucks in our county and folks gettin hurt too.Between the deer and hogs the attrition rate is awful. and insurance aint cheap

That whole buck only thing is not my world, more power to those that practice that philosophy. If I had a tag and the population of deer was healthy I'd shoot it, freeze it and have a great story to tell when I served venison at the local trad club.

Those deer were in your yard not your neighbors why let them impose their ideals on you.  I would have taken that nice pot bellied doe!!  I have always been of the mind that does need to be harvested to maintain a good buck to doe ratio.  If you have too many does running around the bucks don't have to go far to find a hot one.

Would definitely have shot; your property, nothing immoral about it.
Tim

Do you have laws there about shooting deer to close to a residence?

On private property I always follow the landowners rules whether I agree or not.  On public or personal property I will take any deer that is legal and falls within my own personal restrictions (which may vary based on circumstances)

Shoot 'em. They're on your land.

I do believe does around here should be thinned. I once pushed 40+ past my brother on a late season boomstick drive.
Since living here, it has been no does. It is my property, but I want my first traditional kill to be in the woods, not off my deck. Otherwise, I think I would have shot just for the damage done t my yard so far!
So far, this year I have seen numerous mature, pot-bellied does. All with no fawns. I have yet to see a buck while in the woods, yet I have a scrape line in my back yard.
Just to be clear, I didnt post this to start a debate or to advocate the "no doe" policy. I believe in QDM, and part of that is doe harvest. My choice here is simple. I shoot one, I loose about 900 acres of hunting land. I will save my doe tag for state land or another parcel without that restriction.
But man....my bow is silent!  :D