Well with 14 days left in the season my taste buds are acting like a little devil on my shoulder. The night before last I had a small doe come in and hang all night and wouldn't leave,and almost every time out I have had small does in and did not shoot them.But as the season draws to an end I find myself thinking about taken one(got no deer this season).I haven't been hunting as much as I wish,so the temptation is strong.So what is your opinion on taking smaller does this close to the end of the season.Do I do a brown and down hunt? or do I let them live to hunt them another day. What would you do?    

Meat is meat, and the small ones are the most tender.  It i a decision only you can make, but if season is winding down and your freezer is empty I would be trying for the small ones who were offering themselves.  Besides, don't you get to take more than one deer in Jersey?

Michael, In my area we have endless doe's I am aware it is my choice but I like to get opinions to make me feel better.  

If the deer herd in your area is overpopulated (which unlimited doe tags certainly suggests) you would actually be doing your part in helping to manage a heathly herd by taking some of them out.  We can't claim to be good stewards of the land if we shoot bucks only in areas that are over run with deer.  
Shoot away, and enjoy the feast!

I agree with the others, Take a DOE

I always have high hopes for big bodies and antlers, but I am at heart a meat hunter, so I don't pass good shots up.  I think Whip made an important point as well.

I don't understand...Your a bowhunter who's out there to kill something, you want meat, haven't killed a deer yet this season...why would you not shoot one??

I can never understand when "we" have to justifiy something for "you" type threads      

The answer lies within....

My opinion?  I would take one or two of the little ones if my freezer was empty.  And if the population numbers warrant it.  Up here in my area, the herd numbers seems to be lower than, say, 10 years ago, so I would be hesitant.  A lot of our smaller deer don't make it through our harsh winters.

A young doe always tastes better than an unused tag....

I would give all of my teeth for an opportunity to gum a doe-fawn backstrap. Now stop diddlin' around and HUNT.

Killdeer

Everyone before me pretty much said it all......

What Killie so eloquently said.  

I agree with Whip on this one, if your deer numbers are out of balance and there's too many does in the area you hunt.....hence the unlimited doe permits.......What are you waiting for?
A sign from God himself?    :rolleyes:  

He's already given you plenty of signs by sending all those deer to you within shooting range and each time you don't let an arrow fly!    

*note*
I would also like to add that shooting a big bodied deer this time of year would not be a good idea anyway.
#1) It could be a buck that lost his head gear
#2) It's probably a mature doe with twins in her belly.

But if you got small does coming in and offering themselves for your freezer, I'd swap places with you in a heartbeat!!
Wouldn't take me long to make up my mind, first one gets close enough is gonna catch an arrow!  

IMHO an old doe is one of the smartest creatures in the woods and she will be "on" all year long, whereas bucks lose alot of their edge when the rut kicks in.  I'll take a doe every chance I get.

Ever seen that cartoon with 2 buzzards that says "Patience hell I am gonna kill something!"...apply here, kill something and celebrate the flesh!

I'm don't know your preferences but when I order a steak at dinner I'll take a 8oz. bone in Porterhouse before a 16 oz. chuck steak every time! I'd rather let a doe  walk and take her fawn or yearling because I know the doe is a breeder who knows how to rear young. That fawn has a tough winter ahead and is the last one to get at a prefered food source, let alone reach above the  browse line in a wintering yard. Pick a spot Brother!

Late season early season they all eat for me as long as the population is good.  Time to put food on the table.

No problem shooting a late season doe.  My only coment here is make sure you look it over good and it is not a button buck, which are offen small lone deer late season.  I have made that mistake before and it disapoints me that i wont get a chance to see what he could develope into.  But in the end meat is meat. I passed a lot of doe this year and by the end I was hopeing for one and it didnt pan out the last couple of days.  I got one early but there is still room in the freezer.  Take one!

I have no problem taking a late season doe.  I don't want the old ones but the young ones are great.

a little deer in the freezer is more filling than tag soup. no matter how small the deer is.