Doe with a Fawn question

[Guest clutepc]

I'm curious about the different views on this.

Being new to Deer hunting and still learning about them I wasn't sure how everyone normally handles this one.

I keep having some nice does come to my stand but they usually end up having a fawn with them, twice now in a week.

They have lost their spots but you can tell it's a fawn.

I have been letting them pass,

Again, being new to all this I wasn't sure if the fawns are old enough to survive on their own at that age or not.

I had one at 10 yards from my stand this morning and was just about to shoot when the fawn came running to her, so I held off.. I'm sure I'll hear your nuts somewhere out of this question..lol

There was another doe this morning without a fawn this morning at 30 yards but my inexperience bit me and I hesitated and lost a shot opportunity.

Feel like I'm going to Deer/Hunting school every time I hunt, having a lot of fun so it's all good.

[Guest Jcochran88]

There will be different thoughts on this: that being said here is mine, most fawns are old enough to survive on their own now. By the end of the month most does will run them off so they can start the breeding process over again.

[Guest Muttling]

What he said, but I'd still pass on it. The closest I've come is a 4 pointer I took that was still hanging with momma a few years ago. (That or the old doe was really cougar and had her a young hunk of buck.)

[Jasongar8]

If they have a little one with them I let her walk. Its not that important for me to get a doe.

[Guest JustMyLuck]

Maybe it's just me but I typically let Does with fawns walk.

Theres plenty of other does around to harvest.

JML

[Guest clutepc]

thanks everyone, glad to know I'm thinking along the same line as everyone else.

[DaveS]

We all usually let them walk this time of year. Come muzzleloader or gun season, I feel the fawns are well prepared to fend for themselves and we'll start harvesting a few of the does. Hope this helps you.

[memphismason]

Guys, yall make look down on me, but I would shoot the mammy, and hope the younger one would hang around so I could drop it too.

I am a meat hunter, not a trophy hunter this early in the season. The way I roll is, when the freezer is full, I start getting picking and only hunt for the big boys......but with my luck, that never happens, so "if it's brown, it's down."

They can fend for themselves, I believe, so I run with that thought. But if I could harvest both I would.

[ShaunM]

It's all up to you whether you shoot or don't shoot. Depends on what is in the freezer I may try to harvest one or both.

[whiskey]

I don't have a problem shooting either, so long as the fawn is not a button buck. If I am doe hunting, I do not want to accidentally take a buck thinking it's a doe. By bow season the does are within weeks of chasing fawns off. I have seen early fawns that are already by themselves. I guess there are some late fawns that it would be risky for. Truth is that on my private hunting areas I would not take either right now. Public land I shoot everything that walks.

[Guest clutepc]

lol.. it's public land, I'm just going to give her and the others a little longer to boot the fawns, she is a regular in this one area I hunt along with a big mature doe. so I'm sure I'll see them again.

[MCSCOTT]

Guys, yall make look down on me, but I would shoot the mammy, and hope the younger one would hang around so I could drop it too.

This is always how I try to think for the most part, especially since the younger ones are usually better to eat. I just never was able to do it though, and nowadays I would let one walk with a fawn. Years ago during bow season I ended up hunting on the ground one evening because I got to the woods late. Hadn't been there long at all, and wasn't really paying attention good to the area just yet, when a doe walked up about 20 yards away. Woulda been an easy bow shot, but right before I got ready to draw her fawn walked right up to me and was just staring at me. Darn thing had that whole "please don't shoot my momma" look on his face and I just couldn't do it. Kinda ruined me on my old kill em all mentality.

[memphismason]

This is always how I try to think for the most part, especially since the younger ones are usually better to eat. I just never was able to do it though, and nowadays I would let one walk with a fawn. Years ago during bow season I ended up hunting on the ground one evening because I got to the woods late. Hadn't been there long at all, and wasn't really paying attention good to the area just yet, when a doe walked up about 20 yards away. Woulda been an easy bow shot, but right before I got ready to draw her fawn walked right up to me and was just staring at me. Darn thing had that whole "please don't shoot my momma" look on his face and I just couldn't do it. Kinda ruined me on my old kill em all mentality.

I know what you mean. Late November, during rifle season, I shot a doe on a ridge about 140 yards in front of me. She bolted over the ridge and out of sight. Within a minute a smaller doe (yearling) came in on the same trail bleating very loudly. I raised the rifle up to shoot it too, but didn't have the heart. It followed the same tail the larger doe ran until I didn't see it anymore.

My dad got on to me for not shooting the second one. I told him "it was little", and he schooled me on how good eating the younger ones are, and boy was he right. I was maybe 15 or 16 years old, and was still learning quite a bit. Thinking back, If I felt sorry for the young one, I should have just shot it. That way I wouldn't have worried about it.

He made me promise not to tell my mother, because he said that kind of thing would "just ruffle her panties".

I am sure that young one did just find. It was after Thanksgiving but still in November.

[DaveS]

I hate it when they give ya that "don't shoot me look". Almost like they're saying; "what did I ever do to you"?

[Farman]

We put out corn, apples and just planted a food plot. We've had does, bucks and does with fawns and wouldn't take any of them. If we hunted we'd leave the does with fawns. They may go up to be big healthy bucks.

[Guest Muttling]

I hate it when they give ya that "don't shoot me look". Almost like they're saying; "what did I ever do to you"?

Nothing.....But you're getting ready to put some steaks on my grill.

[Guest sharpshooter01]

Me and the wife like to eat venison and my freezer is almost empty, so no deer gets a free pass from me anymore. Those fawns will be alright if you take the big doe, but everyone has an opinion on this subject so I say to each there own. If you shoot fine if you don't fine. Good luck!

[Guest clutepc]

I've started seeing a few does without the fawns now, now if I can just get a shot..lol

walked up on one the other day she was 10ft away.. I had a arrow ready but when I tried to draw my bow she decided she wasn't having any part of that and jumped.

I've never harvested any animal hunting so I hope to be able get a shot sometime this season.

[Guest Jcochran88]

I've started seeing a few does without the fawns now, now if I can just get a shot..lol

walked up on one the other day she was 10ft away.. I had a arrow ready but when I tried to draw my bow she decided she wasn't having any part of that and jumped.

I've never harvested any animal hunting so I hope to be able get a shot sometime this season.

Keep at it you will get one soon enough.

[Guest KarlS]

I usually don't shoot too many does but they eat good! Had one BAD experience shooting a doe one time. I was a mile or so in and hunting was slow. A doe walked out in front of me so I waited to see if she was by herself. Seemed she was so I took her. Damned if her yearling fawn wasn't standing over the hill! That yearling stood 20 ft away the whole time I field dressed the mother. I kept trying to shoo it off but it wouldn't leave. That fawn followed me the whole way back to the truck and just stood there while I took off. That Sucked! It should have survived but maybe died of a broken heart.

[Guest clutepc]

I usually don't shoot too many does but they eat good! Had one BAD experience shooting a doe one time. I was a mile or so in and hunting was slow. A doe walked out in front of me so I waited to see if she was by herself. Seemed she was so I took her. Damned if her yearling fawn wasn't standing over the hill! That yearling stood 20 ft away the whole time I field dressed the mother. I kept trying to shoo it off but it wouldn't leave. That fawn followed me the whole way back to the truck and just stood there while I took off. That Sucked! It should have survived but maybe died of a broken heart.

After that I can see why you don't shoot many..

I looking forward to harvesting my first deer or first anything really..but I've held off releasing a arrow 3 times now because of the fawns..lol

Haven't seen any bucks but I know they are around from the rubs I've seen.

That would make the choice a lot easier.

[Guest KarlS]

Another nasty fawn story....I have been known to take road kill. You bet! If it's not all mangled and fresh why not. I had just been called to pick up a doe a few miles away so I went and got her. Got home and hung her up to field dress her and don't you know when I opened her up out flies two fawns!! Came close to losing it on that one. I KNOW somebody is going to ask if I ate the fawns. No I did not.

Stay with it. It's just a matter of time before a buck walks out in front of you. If you are seeing active scrapes try setting up near by with a good shooting lane. I would think right now it's all pre rut stuff but should be getting close.

[Guest H0TSH0T]

if its on your land let it go unless you need the meat, on public land bust it, esp if it is on a drawled hunt. but it is early in the season, and plenty of opportunity to bust the monster buck later and enjoy some jerky now, lol

[GLOCKMEISTER]

I'd let them both walk, theres a buck around probably. Then again if you hungry, shoot the fawn, the meats better.

[lil*pup]

Last season I was presented with this same dilemma. This was on the last day of rifle season and the only chance I had to hunt for the year. I took the mother at about 150 yards and the young one took off.... stopped, looked back and took off again. She stopped again to look back at momma and I didn't have the heart to let it live its life with those horrible memories. With a clean shot, I took her to. I spent the rest of the day filling the freezer. Karl's story is very tough. I don't think I could have cleaned the mother and let the little one watch.

It is normally a difficult decision, but easy if you are hungry.

Aaron