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mommy doe.

Early in bow season, I will shoot every nanny that I have a clear shot at, fawn or not. I have witnessed it first hand, you kill a doe with fawns in tow, those fawns will be grouped up with more deer in less than 12 hours.

Don't think about it to hard, it's a female whitetail, which is going to have offspring following her.

And cooter, I think this is the first time I agree with you. I was raised on a livestock farm, and those "babies" is what made the payment, so it really doesn't bother me to bad.

Only time I find it tough is, if you are on a depredation hunt in July, and a doe with fawns come in, and the fawns are 18 lbs. Likely they won't survive, but its part of the deal I guess.
 
Well it doesnt matter every doe will eventually have a fawn so if u feel that way jyst shoot bucks

indiana boy
 
beararchery said:
I'm just 17 years old and I let my feelings get to me a little bit when I watch the does fawn run around and play with its ma or twin brother/sister. Maybe because I'm young or maybe just how I am raised it just makes me feel real bad taking a fawn from her mom no matter of she joins another group. When I get older maybe I will realize that is not a big deal or maybe il still pass the doe with fawns, I don't know yet.
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I don't think its your age that makes you that way, it was probably the way you were raised, which I can appreciate. I didn't shoot a doe until I was 19 years old I think. For a few years I really got into killing them but have kind of out grown that. Anytime I am screwing around trying to kill a doe I figure it is time lost I could be buck hunting. I don't plan on killing any on my place this year, I want to see the numbers a little higher. I remember when I killed a buck when I was 13 and it wasn't the cleanest of kills, I told my grandpa I felt bad about doing it. He told me if you don't feel a little remorse than there is probably something wrong, alot of truth in that I think. I don't care if others whack and stack them, I get the itch every once in awhile, especially latter in the year. However, I certainly wouldn't feel bad about it, if it doesn't feel right it probably isn't.
 
I've had the chance to shoot a few Does with a fawns and a lot of fawns. I've passed all of them because I don't have the heart to do it. I had a fawn come up and smell me Sept. 17th (opening day of Youth season). My Dad asked me why I didn't shoot it, I said I don't have the heart to shoot a fawn (it still had spots) plus it was to small and doesn't have enough meat.
 
SMMMMMAAACCCKKKK!!!! Let the hoyt eat.

T$ I think that you are on the money. They are deer, they will be fine. But feeling guilt is part of it sometimes, ask anyone who has spined a deer.
 
If I didn't shoot does with fawns, there would be 600 deer in the city of Muscatine. Shot 5 does with fawns already this year in the city hunt. I agree with THA4. The mature does will ruin your chances for a big buck. If you get a shot and need the meat or want to donate it, take the shot.
 
I shoot does with fawns frequently...have for years, and even taught my kids to do the same. That said, I think we're missing the point of this post. There have been some great knee-slapping one liners in this post that have brought me to tears laughing. Here are my top 3...thanks for the good belly laugh guys :D

multiple tags are fantastic. if you shoot a mature doe, and the fawn lingers in range, it can go to the freezer as well. (teeroy)


IT'S WEANING TIME!!!!!
Is my quote when I take out a doe with a fawn. (Cooter)

One thing I have learned though if you shoot the fawn, mom never comes back. (Liv4Rut)

NWBuck
 
Sometimes the milk that is left on the fawns chin can be quite refreshing after a long hard drag back to the truck..........................
 
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ha, i don't have any problem shooting them. to me it isn't really any different from mowing in the spring and chopping off Bambie's head with the mower. That first cutting gets them every time
 
I won't shoot a doe if the fawns have spots. After that fair game. I'm more about the meat and antlers than population control. I want to have plenty of does on my land when the rut hits. Pretty simple where the does are the bucks are chasin.

I've explained to my kids that animals don't have the ability to "know" what death is. Sure they have a fear or fleet instinct but they do not grasp the idea of death whether its the deer you just shot or a fawn hanging around because the doe just fell over. If they don't have the ability to know what death or loss is then they surely don't know sadness.
 
In all seriousness, check out the 12th episode of Heartland Bowhunter on Muddy.com and about 7-8 minutes in Dr. Grant Woods talks about managing your doe herd. Pretty simple strategy really, but pretty informational to those of you that are interested. Check it out. Just click on the Muddy logo on this site and go to Muddy TV at the bottom of the homepage and click on episode 4:12. :way:
 
Sometimes the milk that is left on the fawns chin can be quite refreshing after a long hard drag back to the truck..........................
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i use that to soak the meat, to take out the "gamey" taste
LOL
 
in all seriousness, it's funny how this post has turned into "MY opinion, is better than yours"...

I'm not saying we have to all agree on our approaches, but to take the step to insist from some fictitious management perspective that your ethics trump someone else's is completely BOGUS. Pretty sure we all hunt WILD animals, so the kill vs pass to control genetics is just a moot point (self-passifier) to promote your stance.

Quote your experiences, Grant Woods, and anyone else you want. If a hunter, on their own convictions, decides they don't have the heart to Kill it's their choice, therefore they can't be wrong. If they feel remorseful after a kill, THEY HAVE THAT RIGHT!

Some of you guys with the "loaded" replies in this thread are the same ones always saying "we need more youth to take up our sport"...pretty friggin ironic considering a 17yr old kid makes a post and you're the same ones telling him he shouldn't feel that way.

There's nothing more distasteful and isolating for the sport, than being overly MACHO MAN about it all. I watch that machoman thing play out on tv almost nightly.

Maybe it's based on the way I was brought up, maybe it's due to my beliefs or just the way I live. Regardless, I've never been a "take that you mofo" "i'll kill you all" kind of hunter. I have respect, I feel remorse, and sometimes I don't have the heart to kill. Those are my feelings and I will never tell anyone that it's the way they need to think too.

There is always more to hunting, than Killing!
 
Ok some people need to lighten up a little bit.

Most people are joking on here so don't take the posts so seriously.

I think we all feel a little when we kill an animal. When I was younger I used to kill everything that came close to my stand (coons, squirrels, porkies, birds anything in range and laugh about it). Now that I am older I would much rather watch these animals then kill them. I find myself thinking about it a little more each time before I release my arrow. It is a special thing to kill an animal and it is something that is praised but honor is also given to your prey. I mean isn't that why we hang them on the wall or take pictures??

But as far as feeling bad for shooting a doe with a fawn.....I don't feel bad. Does need to be killed to control the population so it doesn't matter to me if they have fawns or if they are fawns it needs to be done. Same goes for coyotes.....they need to be controlled so I do my part. I could care less if it is a pup or an adult they get a lead or steel/carbon last meal.
 
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