Shooting Doe

[Deernut3]

It's late in the season and the time I usually turn my focus toward herd thinning, I have two pieces of land that need a few deer removed. I am ridiculously picky about shooting does. I usually look for a yearling that did not get bred last year to shoot. This year I don't see that so I'd like to hear what you think about which does to shoot. I use to always target the biggest does but am not sure if this is for the best. I'm not above shooting does less than a year old for the good of the herd.

 

[UGATurkey]

I used to not be terribly choosy, but now I target the older does. Now that the kids are grown I don't need as much meat as before.

 

[Milkman]

We have an old big framed ribs showing doe that will be the sacrificial doe if one of us sees her.

 

[bigchiefchoctaw]

I’m a out with the old in with the new kinda guy. The old does had there hay day and they will eat goods the only down side is older does generally throw twins where as younger does usually throws singles.. I’m not sure if there is any science behind that just something I always heard and could be ole wives tale

 

[Deernut3]

I use to shoot the older 125 Lbs plus does but when coyotes came around I figured these older doe would be able to raise there young to evade the coyotes. I guess at the end of the day I'm over thinking it and there better in my freezer than a coyotes belly or roadside ditch.

 

[sleepr71]

IF you just have to…I’d shoot the younger ones. The older ones are likely better “Mamas” and know where to raise their young to avoid Coyotes,etc. I think they can still reproduce at 9-10 yds old..just fyi

 

[Long Cut]

I’m a fan of “Mix n Match”

Take out some old, some new… always the “blowers” though
My .02

 

[kmckinnie]

My wife said our hunters shot 2 little doe deer yesterday and they looked tender. I would think of it as quality verses quantity. I cut steaks off of the younger deer like round steaks out of the hams. I have done the front shoulders also. They seem to be great grill meat.

 

[bfriendly]

I let a few walk last time I was up here cause they were small. I won’t be so picky this time. I just like to see Fat animals…..same with pigs. Nice round rumps, not boney lookin. For thinning purposes the breeders would have to go?

 

[specialk]

I dont put that much thought into it, i try and wait for 2 to come out and take the biggest...usually that results in a doe and not a button....

 

[Gator89]

I prefer to shoot does that score 100 plus





pounds.

 

[MOTS]

Unless you have them in a big fenced area, you might want to take advantage of the opportunity. Here today, gone tomorrow.

 

[Hunter922]

OP- I'm sure science will say it really doesn't matter a whole lot on wild herds. For me I think the older does are better carriers and providers. So they walk for us. We are carrying capacity thinkers not what the freezer needs thinkers.Now days gone today likely means gone tomorrow. IMO our numbers are not what they use to be.

 

[NCHillbilly]

That one that walks around looking up in the trees and blowing and stomping all the time. I hate that one, and revenge tastes sweet fried and covered with gravy.

I don't shoot any on my place, because I would like to see more deer than I have at the moment.

 

[GregoryB.]

I usually try to shoot a lone doe or two early in the season before they get bred. Shot one several years ago at the end of December and found an embryo, vowed never again. Just my personal preference.

 

[flatwoods]

I'm in the @kmckinnie camp.
I usually try to pick a young fat one that looks tasty.
A 1 1/2 yr old doe is perfect but yearlings eat good too

 

[Jim Thompson]

Smaller drag easier and the older I get the more I think about that. Course I havent been able to get one in bow range in the last handful of sits when I was planning to shoot one

 

[fireman32]

I try to shoot lone doe’s, but you should stagger the thinning.

 

[Liberty]

I’ve got a mama doe that throws doubles every year. She is the only member of my no kill list.

 

[tcward]

I dont put that much thought into it, i try and wait for 2 to come out and take the biggest...usually that results in a doe and not a button....

Right K! Also, deer by themselves are hard to judge sometimes.