What would you do?

[dirty24d]

So last night I was setting up my treestand and 3 does and a fawn come sniffing along  and decide I'm not a threat and just graze within about 30 yards of me as I finished putting my stand up. So my question is would you shoot one of the 3 does not knowing which one is mama as the fawn nor the does made any contact or grouping that would indicate which was the mother.

for me it's just too dicey to shoot one not knowing if I would be shooting mama or not. But I'm curious what you all would do and or if this has happened to you. it was weird they all hung out for like an hour before I left and none of them so much as even sniffed at the fawn and the fawn just rotated around not clinging to any of them.

[h20hunter]

No meat in the freezer....last day of the season.....I'd think long and hard about taking the biggest legal one. Currently.....meat is in the freezer, plenty of season left, I'd just chill and enjoy watching them.

[DOUBLELUNG]

There is no wrong answer to that one, it is up to the individual hunter's choice.  Sounds like you made the right choice for you.

If you absolutely want to take that shot and absolutely don't want to orphan a fawn, take the fawn.

[bobcat]

If I was after a doe, I would have taken the biggest one, and/or the one that provided the best shot opportunity. It's late enough in the year that a fawn should be old enough to survive on its own. That it was already with two other does would help as well. Now if the fawn was an obvious late born fawn, which you could tell if it still had white spots, then I'd pass on the shot because the fawn may still be dependent on its mother for milk.

[crschralping]

I agree with H2O all the way.

[FLIZZ]

Good choice, I wouldn't do it. You will see PLENTY of doe's in the remainder of the season without babes. If orphaned, yotes will do work on the babes without a mom.

[mrmoskillz]

If I was after a doe, I would have taken the biggest one, and/or the one that provided the best shot opportunity. It's late enough in the year that a fawn should be old enough to survive on its own. That it was already with two other does would help as well. Now if the fawn was an obvious late born fawn, which you could tell if it still had white spots, then I'd pass on the shot because the fawn may still be dependent on its mother for milk.

Quick question for you Bobcat...I had a doe and two big fawns with no spots in my yard the 1st day and past because I want a buck but thought I might shoot her towards end of the season if no buck.  My question is do you think the fawns need her to protect them from yotes and such or should they be ok on their own?

[dirty24d]

Great feedback all around from everyone thanks! For the record the fawn was pretty large and healthy looking, definitely no spots. The fawn was the only one that was acting vigilant to my presence and kind of sleeking around, the other 3 does were like ehhh the guy is wearing a polo, has a cell phone holster, and smells like old spice he aint a threat! lol.

But being that i dont know much about how long they depend on their mother etc it was definitely the right decision for me and it is super early in the season as well.
I agree with you double lung when you said there is no wrong answer, and bobcat good call on the dependancy info.

There are some big blacktail bucks in the area and i'm 2 for 2 in this identical spot so i'm definitely not feeling pressured or like if i have to take the first available shot i see.

Happy Hunting All!

[mrmoskillz]

Oh I see flizz answered before I finished typing my question.  I just wasnt sure if they have a chance without their momma or not.

[DoubleJ]

Great feedback all around from everyone thanks! For the record the fawn was pretty large and healthy looking, definitely no spots. The fawn was the only one that was acting vigilant to my presence and kind of sleeking around, the other 3 does were like ehhh the guy is wearing a polo, has a cell phone holster, and smells like old spice he aint a threat! lol.

But being that i dont know much about how long they depend on their mother etc it was definitely the right decision for me and it is super early in the season as well.
I agree with you double lung when you said there is no wrong answer, and bobcat good call on the dependancy info.

There are some big blacktail bucks in the area and i'm 2 for 2 in this identical spot so i'm definitely not feeling pressured or like if i have to take the first available shot i see.

Happy Hunting All!

If the fawn was that big, how possible would it be that it was a yearling and momma is actually only a few weeks from kicking the kid to the curb so she can get bred again?

[Kola16]

Great feedback all around from everyone thanks! For the record the fawn was pretty large and healthy looking, definitely no spots. The fawn was the only one that was acting vigilant to my presence and kind of sleeking around, the other 3 does were like ehhh the guy is wearing a polo, has a cell phone holster, and smells like old spice he aint a threat! lol.

But being that i dont know much about how long they depend on their mother etc it was definitely the right decision for me and it is super early in the season as well.
I agree with you double lung when you said there is no wrong answer, and bobcat good call on the dependancy info.

There are some big blacktail bucks in the area and i'm 2 for 2 in this identical spot so i'm definitely not feeling pressured or like if i have to take the first available shot i see.

Happy Hunting All!

If the fawn was that big, how possible would it be that it was a yearling and momma is actually only a few weeks from kicking the kid to the curb so she can get bred again?

  If it is pretty hard to tell, then all of them will survive on their own, unless of course an arrow gets stuck in them 

[jackmaster]

If I was after a doe, I would have taken the biggest one, and/or the one that provided the best shot opportunity. It's late enough in the year that a fawn should be old enough to survive on its own. That it was already with two other does would help as well. Now if the fawn was an obvious late born fawn, which you could tell if it still had white spots, then I'd pass on the shot because the fawn may still be dependent on its mother for milk.

i am in a spot to where i will never shoot a doe again, i have killed to many bucks in my life to go after a doe, but if your a meat hunter that is the way to go...you got alot of huntn left to be shootn a doe, well unless your short on time..good luck to ya sir

[MatthewHunter98]

all archery people just shoot the first deer they see, why cant you guys just post poen the does uuntill it is coming down the the last day. your killing the baby makers. i would shoot does right off the star of the season

[grizzlyadams]

Hate to ever orphan any youngster. I wouldn't take the shot myself. You think you're taking one but in all probability it could be two. As hunters, we are all wildlife managers and making sure the next generation has a fair shot at maturing is part of the gig...

[grundy53]

At this point in the year the fawns will make it without mom. They are going to be "orphaned" in less then 2 months anyways when mom kicks them to the curb so she can get bred again.

[DoubleJ]

At this point in the year the fawns will make it without mom. They are going to be "orphaned" in less then 2 months anyways when mom kicks them to the curb so she can get bred again.

Only if they're yearlings.  Fawns born spring of 2012 will not be kicked to the curb and most likely not survive the winter without a mother.

[DoubleJ]

all archery people just shoot the first deer they see, why cant you guys just post poen the does uuntill it is coming down the the last day. your killing the baby makers. i would shoot does right off the star of the season

Um, no.  Not all archery people shoot the first deer they see

[mrmoskillz]

all archery people just shoot the first deer they see, why cant you guys just post poen the does uuntill it is coming down the the last day. your killing the baby makers. i would shoot does right off the star of the season

Um, no.  Not all archery people shoot the first deer they see

I past on another doe this morning...hoping she baits in a big buck later this season.  She had no fawns and looked tasty but I want a big buck.

[bagmNtagm]

This just happend to me the other day..  2 does and a fawn come running in front of mt Step dad and I about 130 yards away in a clear cut we had had some luck the day before. I clearly saw which doe was the mama and the fawn was right at her side the whole time. So we made a stock to try and see if i coud get a shot at the other doe . i knew where they were but had lost sight of them in the thick brush when all of a sudden i found my self 30 yards away from a doe so I drew back put the pin on her and looked as much as I could for the fawn Hoping it wasnt mama and i just glanced too long and the deer hopped away...wasnt the mama either But had i just shot that doe carelessly and it was the mama my uncle and dad would have seen it and they even said DONT SHOT THE MAMA OR THE FAWN ...So instead of dwelling on the fact i didnt shoot the deer actually felt more like i made the mature decision of not being sure and waiting a few seconds to see if it was the right doe to shoot

[Stick em]

...So instead of dwelling on the fact i didnt shoot the deer actually felt more like i made the mature decision of not being sure and waiting a few seconds to see if it was the right doe to shoot

I would have let it walk too. Lots of good advice on this board but I think as long as you made a mature decision to be ethical and not just shoot because it was there, you made the right choice. When in doubt, let it walk. There's plenty of deer to pick from. I'm a meat hunter and love to fill my freezer early. But I still pass on deer because of my ethics. The conditions have to be just right to kill an animal with the respect it deserves. I always go home feeling good about the hunt that way.

[Eli346]

 It's been said that another doe will pick up an orphaned fawn but I really don't know for sure. Seems likely to me as the mother instinct is pretty strong.

[DoubleJ]

It's been said that another doe will pick up an orphaned fawn but I really don't know for sure. Seems likely to me as the mother instinct is pretty strong.

Elk cows will pick up an orphaned calf.  They are herd animals.  A doe will more than likely not pick up an orphaned fawn.  It may happen but not as a general rule.

[Kioti]

Its better to have meat in the freezer then no meat.  First legal deer I can put a tag on is in my freezer and the grill.

[snowshoes22]

Too many wet does in september i don't shoot them till the late season in November. This is just my choice. Also i don't like cutting my season short by shooting does.