Any shame in taking a doe?

[CoryTDF]

My first deer was a doe. You have to start somewhere! Shot it and that first steak will take away any and all regret you may or may not have.

[ing]

Go for it.  The best tasting deer I've shot was a doe.

[wastickslinger]

No shame at all. Everyone hunts for different reasons. I'll be honest though, I'm kind of a horn hunter, just not a very good horn hunter. 

[Gutpile]

Not for me. I love getting doe tags. I slow things down and like to use different guns. Pistols/open sights/ etc etc. The only thing I don't like about shooting does is that they're so small. People like Rasbo like does because there's no taxidermy charges. He just mounts them in the field.  


Oops just noticed this was bowhunting. Sorry. Answer still applies, no shame.

[BLKBEARKLR]

I just wanted to get some opinions on this.  I'm still looking to tag my first deer, and not sjust my first bow kill.  First deer...ever.  I've hunted my butt off again this year, and while I have had some success as in seeing more deer, getting better at stalking, and getting a shot at a very unique muley buck, with the season kind of winding down I'm not opposed to taking a doe now that muley does are legal.  This is my 4th season deer hunting and my 2nd season bow hunting.  I guess I'm just getting frustrated.  All this time and money, and nothing to show for it.  What are your guys take?

It is meat on the table, NO SHAME what so ever, I have a multi season deer tag, if towards the end it is not filled then the does better duck!!!!!!!

[shoot-em-dead]

Not for me. I love getting doe tags. I slow things down and like to use different guns. Pistols/open sights/ etc etc. The only thing I don't like about shooting does is that they're so small. People like Rasbo like does because there's no taxidermy charges. He just mounts them in the field. 

Doesn't he know it just aint right to mount a doe.

[Gutpile]

Not for me. I love getting doe tags. I slow things down and like to use different guns. Pistols/open sights/ etc etc. The only thing I don't like about shooting does is that they're so small. People like Rasbo like does because there's no taxidermy charges. He just mounts them in the field. 

Doesn't he know it just aint right to mount a doe.

Well, it is Rasbo we're talking about.

[NWBREW]

No shame at all.


SHOOT THE DOE....SHOOT THE DOE THIN THE HERD AND PUT SOME ON THE BARBE..You can always try to improve next year if it means that much. myself I would have no problem shooting a doe.

[ICEMAN]

It would be a shame not taking a doe. Your freezer is going to thank you!

[Tom Tamer]

Never a shame in it, all depends on what YOU consider a trophy. First deer and with a bow on top....go for it.....if you feel the need. Last year myself I had the multi deer tag and the Sept 3rd I had a doe at 40 yds. I loosed an arrow at her and had the whole season left. I had never shot at anything bigger than a turkey with my bow so I thought I'd love to tag that doe......instead I double lunged a tansy bush at 38 yards. Deflected the arrow right over the top of the doe.


 No shame in having your own personal standards in hunting.

[BLKBEARKLR]

well did you whack one yet?

PICTURES!!!!!!!!

[Dmanmastertracker]

 As long as your in it for the meat, you shouldn't even think twice, I've thought of going to MT just to fill a couple doe tags for the freezer, but haven't needed to.. yet.

[PolarBear]

I guess I'll be the dick of this thread.  I have never and will never, nor will my kids, shoot a doe.  It is fine for other folks if that is what you are in to but just not for me.  I do wish they would reduce the number of doe tags.

[Dmanmastertracker]

I guess I'll be the dick of this thread.  I have never and will never, nor will my kids, shoot a doe.  It is fine for other folks if that is what you are in to but just not for me.  I do wish they would reduce the number of doe tags.

 Why? Taking less does will equal either unhealthy deer and/ or less bucks in the herd due to lower fawning rates from reduced forage. The number one killer of deer in high density populations is not man, it's diseases like CWD, blue tongue and louse that are ONLY transmitted from animal to animal directly or indirectly and can wipe out whole herds. I've never shot a doe, but do understand the need to balance the herd, some units in the State have buck to doe ratio's under 10 bucks per 100 does, that's beyond terrible and reducing doe tags in those units could be devastating. You'd initially see an increase in deer, followed by a huge crash from disease, and/ or big winterkills. Someone mentioned the LT Murray area, this is exactly what has happened in that area leading to a big reduction in tags. Winterkill and louse decimated that herd that was already mostly comprised of does.

[PolarBear]

D-  
I realize that it is important in certain situations to balance the population by eliminating a certain number of does.  I have no problem with that when it is actually needed.  I do, however feel that the WDFW issues far too many doe permits in certain units just for the sake of revenue, 667 is one of them.  I personally won't shoot a doe or any animal just to fill a tag or, as is repeated over and over, "to fill the freezer".  As I have said time and again, I raise my own beef so I don't have the "need" to shoot any critter for meat, especially a doe.  I also see 0 challenge in shooting does and the challenge and thrill is why I hunt, not to fill a tag or freezer.  Most of my friends who are the "I need the meat" hunters spend many times more in fuel, time off from work, lodging, grub, equipment etc, out hunting for less than 100 pounds of meat than I can raise 700 pounds of prime beef for.  For instance, my cousin is always bitching about needing to get a deer and elk for meat for the year.  He hunts Washington, Idaho and Montana every year for "meat".  Each year he spends thousands of dollars in tags, fuel etc and usually gets one deer a year, usually within 1/2 mile from his house during late season, usually a tiny doe and about every third year he gets an elk.  I offer to raise beef for him for only what it costs me for feed (not the cost of the steer) and he still will not do it.  For what he spends to go hunting every year he could have 3,000+ pounds of beef or better.  Maybe I'm too practical but I don't see the logic in that.  The majority of the "meat hunting" folks that I know are exactly the same way.  This leads me to believe that it is ego and not need that drives them and not necessity.  Bottom line, I don't care if someone likes to shoot does.  If that is what turns you on more power to ya but I think that for most that it really isn't about the meat.