If you have a Doe Tag, are you going to use it opening day or wait?

[burmjohn]

If you have a Doe Tag, are you going to use it opening day or wait?

 

I know some guys like to take the first available shot doe or buck (if you have the tags).  Some like to hold off a few days before taking a doe.   What do will you do?

 

[bushnell]

I will shoot a doe at 715 the first morning if the opportunity presents itself.  I go for meat and that is meat in the freezer.

 

[Pygmy]

It has been many, many years since I filled a NY doe tag opening day.  I feel my chances at a buck are HIGHEST on opening day and I don't  want to risk  spooking a buck by shooting a doe.

 

HOWEVER, I have eaten a couple of doe tags in that unit (8X)  in recent years after passing up does early and then not getting another chance at a good ( adult) one.. So I may just decide to pop a big doe Saturday or Sunday, as long as I am reasonably sure there is not a buck with her.

[BizCT]

I haven't used my DMP tag in over 10 years, but I would use it on a piebald or albino doe.

[landtracdeerhunter]

I have 4.

[cdmckane]

I'll take any deer that I have a tag for at any time during the season.  Buck or doe, doesn't matte to me, as long as I get some meat in the freezer.

[Hoss315er]

Hell yeah, I will. She can lay there for a few if it is nice and cool. I'll keep sitting in my spot and wait for another.

 

 

 

[blackradio]

I'm kinda torn on it. I would like to wait to see if a buck will be tailing. It really depends. I would have not shot the buck in my avatar pic if I shot one of the 6 does that ran by my stand 5 minutes before he appeared (I wanted to take a doe but didn't have a shot as they were running)

 

My best friend will be out with me hopefully, for his first ever hunt. If a doe is heading his way I'd rather let him have a chance at it (we will sit about 80 yards apart).

[ATbuckhunter]

I don't think I will because from what i am seeing the rut is really kicking in now. 

[Lever action]

I won't shoot a doe opening day.Saving the opener for bucks only.I am fairly confident I will be able to fill the doe tag later.

[genesee_mohican]

Does draw bucks, so I hope a few bed right in front of me on the opening weekend. I usually wait for late gun or black powder season to take does.

[growalot]

Waiting until cold temps again..but should a buck stroll by...8 or better...he's getting ventilated .....

[Geno C]

i have shot so many mature doe opening morning in my hunting time. i dont hesitate but we shall see this year, i just may...

[First-light]

I'll wait to mid-day to use it. 

[cynthiafu]

i hunt in heavy hunting area so i may have no choice but to shoot a doe . i am hoping that i see a group of does  so i can pick a big doe . my husband doesnt hunt but he like the young does .he says they taste better . always tells me to get him a young one ( always wonder if he is talking about deer ) i will go for  my doe first then ill think of getting him a young one

 

[TeeBugg]

I cant hunt saturday due to work...but sunday if a decent doe presents a shot im taking it.

[Grizz1219]

I will be shooting the first legal good sized deer that presents a good shot...

[Meat Manager]

QDMA suggests killing does early and often for the following reasons:

 

1. Deer management means killing does to balance the heard or more often to just reduce numbers.  No matter what your goals are unless you need more deer (which is not the case most places in New York) shoot does.

2. Mature does kick yearling bucks to a new range...if the lead does are already dead, young bucks stick around

3. The fewer does the greater the competition for the remaining does during rutt, thus more mature buck activity.

4. Easier to determine buttons from mature does early on, as the season moves on the buttons get to be about the same size as the does meaning more mistaken buttons...though harvesting buttons is also part of the state's deer management plan.

5. Live Practice is the Best Practice for when the big boy shows up.

6. It is harder to harvest ANY deer as the season progresses.  

Edited November 13, 2013 by Meat Manager

[Deerthug]

We have an unwritten rule where we hunt. If you take a doe, then the buck must be 6 pts or better.

 

I will be taking the first doe I see to put meat in my freezer. Then I will be waiting for her boyfriend to show up hopefully he will be an 8 or 10 that's been roaming around our area. 

[CuseHunter]

I've been trying to shoot a doe since day 1. I prefer eating meat, those laminated tags don't taste too good, and the rate I'm going with my bow, I might as well just give away my tags

[Lexingtonlegend]

I only shoot does on the last possible day that I can hunt. I would absolutely hate to harvest a doe in heat (best bait ever! ) during the rut.  I see them all the time by the time Muzzy comes along. Its always that damn heavy rack, thick necked, wall hanger that always has stage freight after his 30+ days of rutting.

[joe12]

I always pass up 10s of does in the first week of the season waiting for a big buck with the mentality that I can always take a doe. Towards the end of the season, I usually have a hard time even finding a doe and regret not taking one earlier in the season. Will probably use the same stupid logic again this year

[Meat Manager]

I've been trying to shoot a doe since day 1. I prefer eating meat, those laminated tags don't taste too good, and the rate I'm going with my bow, I might as well just give away my tags

3 Days left in Early...you can still do it!

[Meat Manager]

Filled 3 antlerless tags already and filled my archery buck tag last...still have my wife's 2 dmps and my reg tag which can be used for does in MZ.

 

Here is a link to QDMA's five reason to shoot does early and often:

http://www.qdma.com/articles/5-reasons-to-take-does-early

 

From the article concerning spooking bucks:

What About Spooking Bucks?

The number one reason that many hunters delay harvesting does is because we fear that if we shoot a doe with our bow or gun, the imaginary buck that might be following will vanish. Many hunters can tell stories of seeing or harvesting mature bucks while a doe is already down near their stand, but the more important consideration is the long-term effect on your buck-harvest opportunities. Over the long haul, balancing the population with the habitat will increase resources for the young bucks that you pass, including food and cover, allowing them to better express their body and antler potential. Also, balancing the sex ratio will intensify breeding competition, making these healthier bucks more visible during the rut. These long-term benefits far outweight any short-term disadvantage like spooking bucks, even if it really happens.

 

I shot a doe last year 13 days after I had already harvest my Reg Season buck on the opener from the same stand. She had a buck on her and he didn't leave for a few minutes, could have doulbed if I had the tag.

 

Edited November 13, 2013 by Meat Manager

[NYbuck50]

the question for me this year is, would you shoot a doe right smack in the middle of the rut, which is what the opener is shaping up to look like and the answer is no this year. (Easy choice considering i got 3 bow deer but still) you can always pop a doe after thanksgiving when things cool down if you need one