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Author Topic: Worth shooting as a back up plan?  (Read 12957 times)

Offline HunterofWA

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Worth shooting as a back up plan?
« on: August 17, 2016, 04:43:13 PM »
Let me know what you think. She still has a fawn with her but she's coming really consistently during shooting light. I want to know what your thoughts are so that if I don't get an opportunity at a buck...
...suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope...

YT | @pnw_offgrid

Offline jackelope

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Re: Worth shooting as a back up plan?
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2016, 04:45:03 PM »
I wouldn't shoot.
:fire.:

" In today's instant gratification society, more and more pressure revolves around success and the measurement of one's prowess as a hunter by inches on a score chart or field photos produced on social media. Don't fall into the trap. Hunting is-and always will be- about the hunt, the adventure, the views, and time spent with close friends and family. " Ryan Hatfield

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Offline Timberstalker

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Re: Worth shooting as a back up plan?
« Reply #2 on: August 17, 2016, 04:55:20 PM »
Would this be your first deer?
If you aint hunting, you aint livin'

Offline HunterofWA

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Re: Worth shooting as a back up plan?
« Reply #3 on: August 17, 2016, 04:59:26 PM »
k
...suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope...

YT | @pnw_offgrid

Offline HunterofWA

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Re: Worth shooting as a back up plan?
« Reply #4 on: August 17, 2016, 04:59:53 PM »
Would this be your first deer?

First with a bow. 2nd total
...suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope...

YT | @pnw_offgrid

Offline Tbob

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Re: Worth shooting as a back up plan?
« Reply #5 on: August 17, 2016, 05:06:03 PM »
I'm not against shooting does (as I haven't taken many deer either), but for me if it has a fawn with it, I'm probably not gonna shoot. But honestly, that's just me so if it's legal, just do what you think is good man. And for me, she looks kinda skinny.. I might look for an obese one, you know the ones, holding a 150oz Big Gulp full of Mt. Dew?!

Offline HunterofWA

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Re: Worth shooting as a back up plan?
« Reply #6 on: August 17, 2016, 05:11:51 PM »
Ok I think I wait a bit then. See if any bucks decide to show up. The deer do congregate into little "herds" around here soon as fall comes so I think I'll wait so that I have some more options.
...suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope...

YT | @pnw_offgrid

Offline Bullkllr

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Re: Worth shooting as a back up plan?
« Reply #7 on: August 17, 2016, 05:15:05 PM »
She looks a little skinny and has a fawn. You have until sometime in December to think about it or find a different deer. :twocents:
"Making good people helpless will not make bad people harmless"

Offline badnewskruse

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Re: Worth shooting as a back up plan?
« Reply #8 on: August 17, 2016, 05:47:38 PM »
if you shoot the good ones, you'll never get the great ones. You have a lot of time as an archery hunter to hunt. If it came down to it you should be able to find a doe the last week of late season.  :twocents:

Online elkinrutdrivemenuts

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Re: Worth shooting as a back up plan?
« Reply #9 on: August 17, 2016, 05:52:20 PM »
Leave the females for the children to learn on.   

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Offline jackelope

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Re: Worth shooting as a back up plan?
« Reply #10 on: August 17, 2016, 06:05:12 PM »
Leave the females for the children to learn on.   

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Especially with all the great late season blacktail opportunities.
:fire.:

" In today's instant gratification society, more and more pressure revolves around success and the measurement of one's prowess as a hunter by inches on a score chart or field photos produced on social media. Don't fall into the trap. Hunting is-and always will be- about the hunt, the adventure, the views, and time spent with close friends and family. " Ryan Hatfield

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Offline pd

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Re: Worth shooting as a back up plan?
« Reply #11 on: August 17, 2016, 06:43:43 PM »
Continued great work on that feedlot of yours!  Great pictures.

It is not my place to advise others, but here is another thing to think about.  Elk are very much herd animals, and females (cows, both nursing and dry) spend their whole lives with other females, and immature males (bulls).  Where you live the herds can be anywhere from 5 to 25 in size.  The thing about cows with calves is this: If the mother cow dies, another cow will adopt the calf.  For this reason, I don't feel that bad about targeting cows.  Blacktail are another story, they don't live in large herds like elk, and I am not so certain that an orphaned fawn (especially one born this year) would be adopted by another doe if the fawn's mother died.

I do agree with the point that your doe in question is very skinny and small.  It is great that she regularly appears in your special spot, especially during the daylight.

Life is full of choices, and the decisions you make both reflect your character, and reinforce that character. 
Si vis pacem, para bellum

Offline Bob33

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Re: Worth shooting as a back up plan?
« Reply #12 on: August 17, 2016, 07:36:03 PM »
The thing about cows with calves is this: If the mother cow dies, another cow will adopt the calf.  For this reason, I don't feel that bad about targeting cows.  Blacktail are another story, they don't live in large herds like elk, and I am not so certain that an orphaned fawn (especially one born this year) would be adopted by another doe if the fawn's mother died.
There is some evidence indicating that deer do this as well.
Nature. It's cheaper than therapy.

Offline fishnfur

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Re: Worth shooting as a back up plan?
« Reply #13 on: August 17, 2016, 07:59:09 PM »
From Google: 

Fawns can be completely weaned and survive without milk by 10 weeks of age (2½ months), but does often wean them at 12 to 16 weeks (3 to 4 months). It's not uncommon for hunters to see a May or June born fawn still nursing, or attempting to, in October (20-plus weeks).

That doe will leave her fawn while she's in estrous.  If you can find her then, hold out for Mr. Big whom will be coming by shortly.  Don't feel bad for the fawn if you choose to harvest the doe though.  It will be ready to join the other locals for the winter survival test.  Heck, you could harvest the fawn too and have the venison equivalent of veal!

“When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car.”  - Will Rogers

Offline csaaphill

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Re: Worth shooting as a back up plan?
« Reply #14 on: August 17, 2016, 08:57:16 PM »
yeah thinking I'd have to feel sorry for her and not shoot at least not this season, maybe next.
"When my bow falls, so shall the world. When me heart ceases to pump blood to my body, it will all come crashing down. As a hunter, we are bound by duty, nay, bound by our very soul to this world. When a hunter dies we feel it, we sense it, and the world trembles with sorrow. When I die, so shall the world, from the shock of loosing such a great part of ones soul." Ezekiel, Okeanos Hunter

 


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