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Would you shoot a doe that has a fawn with her?

Posted on 10/8/24 at 3:27 pm
Posted by AFtigerFan
Louisiana
Member since Feb 2008
3551 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 3:27 pm
Just curious about how you feel about this. I had a doe walk in right at 7am and she stopped 15 yards away from my tree. She was very slightly quartered away… perfect shot opportunity.

I drew back my bow, and then her fawn came strolling in. I just didn’t do it. I started to think after they left that maybe I should have taken her. I’m sure the fawns are old enough to survive on their own.

Come 9:30, another doe comes in with 2 fawns. Now I know I wasn’t taking that shot. But then another doe came in with them (I assume each was a momma), but none of them offered a shot opportunity after I saw the 2nd doe. Am I wrong for not wanting to take a doe with a fawn?

In either case, I watched where they went and scouted after I got down. They apparently were at the only persimmon tree that is currently dropping fruit that I can find. All the other trees I have marked aren’t quite ready. I’ll be back there on Thursday.
Posted by Success
Member since Sep 2015
1874 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 3:28 pm to
I don’t. But I don’t hate you if you did. I think a couple more months and that fawn has better survival odds without a mom.
Posted by NorthEnd
Member since Oct 2007
2190 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 3:33 pm to
I don't. Can't stand to watch a fawn paw and kick at it's mom. I'm soft, I know
Posted by 257WBY
Member since Feb 2014
6725 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 3:34 pm to
Does are legal to kill because the fawns are generally old enough to survive. I don’t shoot does who have fawns with bright spots. I shoot the rest of them. The best time to kill does is early in the season.
Posted by AFtigerFan
Louisiana
Member since Feb 2008
3551 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 3:37 pm to
quote:

I don't. Can't stand to watch a fawn paw and kick at its mom. I'm soft, I know
Yeah, I’d hate to see that. Just thinking about that will keep me from doing it.
Posted by DownSouthDave
Member since Jan 2013
7476 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 3:38 pm to
I will, a little later in the season.

I remember looking into it and thr research showed their chance of survival doesn't change.
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
26909 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 3:41 pm to
Absolutely not
Posted by SCwTiger
armpit of 'merica
Member since Aug 2014
6598 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 3:43 pm to
I just can't bring myself to do it, even when I intend on shooting a doe.

I guess that's why I end up waiting until after the season's almost over to shoot one. They're a little fatter on the corn by then anyway.
Posted by WillFerrellisking
Member since Jun 2019
1942 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 3:44 pm to
All our does have fawns with spots still. I’ll give it another couple weeks then unleash my kids to take a few does out. We have too many does around and I rather take them out sooner than later.
Posted by RetiredSaintsLsuFan
NW Arkansas
Member since Jun 2020
1976 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 3:54 pm to
NO!!
Posted by Rize
Spring Texas
Member since Sep 2011
17316 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 4:01 pm to
I just shoot the fawns. They taste better anyway.
This post was edited on 10/8/24 at 4:02 pm
Posted by mcpotiger
Missouri
Member since Mar 2005
8204 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 4:03 pm to
I don't. ITs legal to do. I have before but stopped when I had to run off 2 fawns to drag mom out of the woods. Never again.
Posted by bluemoons
the marsh
Member since Oct 2012
5772 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 4:06 pm to
It's a personal choice IMO. Fawns will probably survive, but I personally wouldn't shoot one.

Years ago, I was sitting in a box on a lane in Alabama. A doe came out in the lane and fed towards me for about 10 minutes. I needed the meat, so I shot her with a rifle. She fell where she stood. I sat for about 5 minutes before getting down. Right as I was about to get out of the stand, a spotted fawn came out of the woods and walked circles around her bleating the whole time. It ruined my week.

I don't hunt animals to lay waste to everything in the woods. I hunt animals to be in the woods and enjoy everything that comes along with that. For me, a huge part of that is watching deer be deer in their natural habitat, and I've seen enough fawns romping around with each other and their moms to make me have a bit of a soft spot there. I'm also fully aware that once the time comes, the doe will kick its fawn and leave it to fend for itself.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
69057 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 4:10 pm to
Spots = no
No spots = maybe

Posted by REB BEER
Laffy Yet
Member since Dec 2010
17063 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 4:16 pm to
quote:

I’m sure the fawns are old enough to survive on their own.


I was told by a wildlife professor at LSU that once a fawn takes its first bite of grass/browse it no longer needs it's mother to survive. That being said, I won't shoot a doe with a spotted fawn.
Posted by LPgolfer
Member since Jul 2015
1006 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 4:17 pm to
I don’t like it. But we used to belong to a club that had such strict rules on nub bucks/small bucks that it would ruin your season if you shot one. One of the only sure fire ways to know it was a doe was to shoot one with a fawn. Have had to run them off too. Heartbreaking stuff.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
69057 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 4:24 pm to
That's not even sure-fire. I shot a pencil horn spike who was hanging out with a yearling once. Damn pedophile buck.

Now I prefer to not shoot them unless I see them piss, or it's VERY clear that it's a doe.
Posted by AFtigerFan
Louisiana
Member since Feb 2008
3551 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 4:25 pm to
I appreciate the answers. I was wondering if I was a little weird for not wanting to take a doe when she has a fawn. Maybe that just makes me soft, but I’m ok with that. I do enjoy watching them.

My spot is great, and I had buck poop 10 yards from my tree on a game trail leading to that dropping persimmon tree. I’m hopeful he’ll slip up, and I’ve seen big bucks around there when I was scouting.
Posted by Stexas
SWLA
Member since May 2013
6545 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 4:55 pm to
We typically hammer them all season. We rarely reach what the biologists recommend so we hit them hard before they’re bred hopefully. The goal is to reach the numbers prior to the heavy rut.

It used to give me pause but now honestly it’s a good way to differentiate the does from the button bucks especially for the younger inexperienced hunters.

Completely understand the reluctance just not an option where we are.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
69057 posts
Posted on 10/8/24 at 5:00 pm to
quote:

rarely reach what the biologists recommend


The biologists are nuts. We never come anywhere close. It's damned hard to shoot that many.
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