Taking a doe (w/fawn) or cow (w/calf)?

[Charlie]

+1 Softy here too.

[haugenna]

Cow yes, doe no.  The deer are not herding animal and the fawn would probably die of predation.  The calf could join the herd and be fine. 

[mjbskwim]

My doe from this year had a yearling in tow.Actually it ran farther than she did.I never saw it again but she stood still,kinda waiting for me.
Anyway,up here I have 2 sets of twins that go thru my yard,and another neighborhood down, the road, had 3 sets of twins in 1 yard.
Not too worried about the 1 I saw with my deer.
A week later I saw a set in the same area.1 bolted as the other one stood there and looked at me.I had to honk to get it to move.
So even if mom is around,some will survive and some won't.I don't believe we make a big difference if they aren't still spotted

[mjbskwim]

Could be,but up here they all seem to have at least one so not sure who's they are adopting.
Plus they are eating very healthy.
Alfalfa,roses,pansies,hedges,pretty much all the gardens

[BIGMIKE]

I'd pass....just to maximize my time outdoors, after all hunting is an annual tradition spent with family and friends. To me more time means more memories and experience.

[MAVsled]

i'd pass every time, doe w/fawn or cow elk w/calf.

40 years ago, me, my dad and one of his camp friends are in the field on day one of cow elk season. His friend has a cow tag.
well he puts down a cow, seconds after the shot the calf appears. 3 days later the calf was still in the area and this with a snow migration of several hundred elk moving through the general vicinity. that calf never hooked up with small bands of elk that from tracks in the snow, were pushing through daily in the kill vicinity.
Last day of the season, dad & I were tagged out earlier. But we took a walk in woods and passed close to the where the cow had been taken in Grouse Haven. Jumped the calf out of it's bed near a group of firs...less than 50 yards from the now snow covered gut pile.
My preference became antlered game from that day on.

so if I had a cow or doe tag (& for 2010 drawn a 2nd deer tag Gardner-whitetail antlerless-mf), I'd eat the tag rather than orphan a fawn or calf.

[longknife]

Ya, i was wondering what you guys say about the calf, or fawn.
The deer gestation is 2x a year, and an elk once. This can equal to 4 deer fawns, and 2 elk calfs. The fawn, or calf would be the best bet, because the cow, or doe will produce more for its age. And a yearling elk is tasty!

The only bad part, would be ending up with a bull calf!!!

[blackveltbowhunter]

I just don't take cows or does.   I want a herd thats multiplying, so you leave the females alone.  I'm not hungry though.   I'm not passing any judgements by the way, just saying I never take them.   Lots of talk about buck to doe ratios and things.  I'll worry about that when the population has peeked, which I don't see happening in the near future. 

   I agree. My exception is when I have permission on private ground, ( generally in a residential area ) that truly is overpopulated. Then I am hunting mature bucks first, but will take a doe late in the season if I have had the opportunity to observe her.

[Gutpile]

Ya, i was wondering what you guys say about the calf, or fawn.
The deer gestation is 2x a year, and an elk once. This can equal to 4 deer fawns, and 2 elk calfs. The fawn, or calf would be the best bet, because the cow, or doe will produce more for its age. And a yearling elk is tasty!

The only bad part, would be ending up with a bull calf!!!

Huh?? Are you saying that a doe has two "litters" a year?

[longknife]

Deer can produce up to 4 offspring a year. If they dont get pragnant in November, in 28 days, they will have their second estrus. They have 2 chances to get nailed by a buck. Sorry if i meant 2 offsprings

http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/june/papr/wtdeer.html

[Gutpile]

Incorrect. They can double there numbers in a year. They do not reproduce twice a year. They breed once a year and have 1-3 fawns once a year.

[Humptulips]

If the Department of Wildlife says it it must be true.

Maybe twins but only once a year.

[longknife]

OMG, look at the post

[Gutpile]

OMG, look at the post

OMG. Like, you changed yer post. LOL.

The way you worded it before the edit was incorrect. You said that deer reproduce twice a year. That is incorrect no matter where it's posted. Like OMG.

[PolarBear]

I just don't take cows or does.   I want a herd thats multiplying, so you leave the females alone.  I'm not hungry though.   I'm not passing any judgements by the way, just saying I never take them.   Lots of talk about buck to doe ratios and things.  I'll worry about that when the population has peeked, which I don't see happening in the near future.  

I've arrowed cows in the past but never a doe.  Won't ever do it again.  We need the ladies to make more babies!