Deer dropping fawns

[hunter399]

Shoot a doe that has fawns and the fawns most likely will not survive their first winter. So, you are killing three deer with one shot---most likely.

that is only true up until about August a deer is fully capable of surviving on its own after that

If the doe gets shot in sept. the fawn has no one to follow- no teacher to know where to migrate, what food to change to after everything dies off- ( browse-grazing plants). If they are lucky enough to join a group of other deer the orphan ALWAYS eats last. The orphans are chased by the other deer away from the food source. By themselves they have no other deer to watch or alert them to predators and only three months experience surviving...and that is with a doe watching over them. The orphans have very slim chances of surviving on their own...some do...most don't. I say these thing from experience. I live with deer 24/7 365. I watch them every day. I have two orphan mule deer fawns here right now..Luckily one of the other does with a single fawn has adopted them. They were only 8 days old when they lost their mother...older fawns have little chance being accepted. Nature can be cruel. It's hard to see an orphan wither away to almost nothing in the winter and then disappear altogether. I've seen it many times. Kill a doe with a fawn..Most Likely kill the fawn too.
My observation from living with them for 17 years.

I Agree with buckcanyon 100%
I would also add after reading all replys that there is a big difference between a fawn and a yearling.
Yes they can survive,but a hard winter rolls in they will die.

[nwwanderer]

Huge variation with species, location and age.  Whitetail in easy habitat, not a big deal.  Mule deer in the middle of a move, migration, a very big deal.  Late born fawns of all species at a much higher risk every day.  Many whitetail yearling will cycle and breed late, those fawns are at a much higher risk.  Are you in wolf country or out in the middle of a few thousand acres of garbs and wheat?  Too many variables to make a valid yes or no.   
If she has triplets in a deer poor area let her walk, she is to big of an asset to take.

[buckcanyonlodge]