Any shame in taking a doe?

[ICEMAN]

Polarbear, maybe I need to ask you to grow me some steak!

I see your point on too many tags....I too want to see herd numbers increase and shooting the does or cows doesn't seem to help this desire.  But, I have done it, and hope my kids score on some white tailed does this year in one of the youth areas... 

Personally, I think that hunters are a bit more in touch with the primal urge to hunt, and just getting an animal helps soothe that urge. The hunt is what is important, not the cost effectiveness of putting meat in the locker. We just use that as an excuse....

[ICEMAN]

Forgot to add; the pleasure and memories that are renewed when we open a pack of deer or elk steak for dinner. Good food and good memories.....

[PolarBear]

Ice, I get that.  Like I said, it is fine for others but it is just not my thing.  I guess that I look at it from a livestock point of view that you need more mommas to make more babies.  Some areas in this state do not need to have mommas taken out of the pool some do.  I don't care if a guy wants to go out and provide for his family, thats great, I just get tired of hearing that they "have to get meat" while wasting thousands to do it.  Just admit that you want to be out hunting for as long as you can  or shoot the first legal critter and go home.  It costs me a bunch of cash to hunt every year as well but I do it for the thrill and the feeling of being in the woods and I don't whine about it the whole time.  

[ecnclan]

I have no problem shooting a doe and would encourage my kids to do so.  Just another spin on the meat excuse to pursue game.  With all the hormones, antibiotics and whatever else is used to raise the majority of beef, our family (Wife and I) enjoy venison even more.  In the end it is never cost effective but with all the benefits, putting meat in the freezer is still a noble reason.  

[konrad]

As Tom Bodett once said,” All motels look the same with your yes shut”.

Konrad says, the freezer won’t know if it had horns or not.

I believe Fred Bear said something about taking game, no matter what sex, is good experience and will make a better hunter.

[mossback91]

Ice, I get that.  Like I said, it is fine for others but it is just not my thing.  I guess that I look at it from a livestock point of view that you need more mommas to make more babies.  Some areas in this state do not need to have mommas taken out of the pool some do.  I don't care if a guy wants to go out and provide for his family, thats great, I just get tired of hearing that they "have to get meat" while wasting thousands to do it.  Just admit that you want to be out hunting for as long as you can  or shoot the first legal critter and go home.  It costs me a bunch of cash to hunt every year as well but I do it for the thrill and the feeling of being in the woods and I don't whine about it the whole time.  

What happens when you get too many Cows for your bull?!?! and you keep butchering eveyrone of your bull calves???Half your cows are not gonna get bred and your still gonna be feeding them for no reason. At one point your gonna have to get rid of some cows or not butcher a bull........

Sort of a same sense with does and bucks...........keep adding does but killing the bucks..........not all the does will even get bred and have a baby but will still be eating all the feed.........

[PolarBear]

Apparently you neglected to read where I stated that in some areas it is necessary and some areas it is just a revenue thing. 

[mossback91]

I saw it I was just taking a livestock point of view at it

[Dmanmastertracker]

 Pbear -You know 667 better than anyone, I would agree there are too many doe tags in that unit, the population trends have been decreasing for many years in that unit. Having also raised cattle, to me it's not about the money, I know exactly what I'm getting with venison or home grown beef, minus steroids, preservatives and other crap that makes it into store bought meat. I would spend a little extra knowing that .

[PolarBear]

D- that's why I got into raising beef and got rid of my horses.  I know for 100% certain what goes in them and it is never hormones, roids or overly processed feed.
In some timber units you don't know what you get in your game.  Pelletized fertilizers used on tree farms (Simpson, Weyerhaeuser, Port Blakely etc) wind up in all of the critters in that area. I've actually been hunting on Simpson land above Wynoochie and had a helicopter drop pelletized fertilizer on me like hail.   Most folks who hunt those areas have no idea when or what has been used  for fertilizer, pesticide or herbicide.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 Boy isn't that the truth, the State keeps saying they are "highly concerned" about pesticide use in our timberlands, but what have they done about it and why are they concerned exactly, could they tell us at least? Probably not because it would open them up for lawsuits.

[coachcw]

I think doe hunts are good in certin areas with high deer numbers , also it's a great oppourtunity for younger hunters, but I think that taking a doe in an area that has low numbers is selfish and just adds to the problem with low numbers , some times the memorie made with your buddies should outway the pride of eating your tag.

[ctwiggs1]

dude, if you're into some does that you dont want... let me know?  lol I cant seem to close the distance on anything this season.

[saylean]

No shame in it here.

I took a white tail doe last year (special draw tag, and yes I used my points on it) with my bow opening day of modern firearm and it was THE BEST deer meat I have ever had. She fed us for quite a while.

I drew again this year and am going to try and get one shortly. It was absolutely a kick in the pants. That deer was under 5 yards, tons of other deer around it (bucks) and was thrilling as it gets for me. Although the hike was easy, the actual deed of getting that close to those animals and having them stick around for a shot was tough.

I will apply for that tag as long as I can and sleep well on my bear rug and bunny fur slippers.

[h2ofowlr]

No, they are usually better eating.  Many of the units you can put in for an extra deer tag.  Usually a doe tag.  Allows you two deer if drawn.  Good eats.  I would pick a doe over a buck any day for table fare.