Morals/ ethics question: Does with fawns

[turkeyfeathers]

Not trying to stir the pot btw

 

I personally let does with fawns walk. Don't want to be "that guy" to orphan the fawns. Have eaten a lot of tag soup over the years because of it. More often that not they have fawns in tow. Daughter (now 12) asked me when she was about 4 not to shoot mommy deer. Never did before anyway but still granting her her wish, 2 years ago I heard a goofy sound coming closer, cresting over the ridge was a solo fawn crying for it's mom. It bedded down right below my stand for a good while crying and looking around. . I've heard another doe may adopt them but never got solid word on this. Just curious on your peoples thoughts 

[Marion]

I'm not THAT hard up for food...I like to let them pass or take the doe there are clearly no fawns relying on

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[mac]

yah , this comes up every year in a few threads. I let them go. I would be more apt to shoot if I saw 2 adult does with a fawn (s) because I do believe they will continue to herd up and survive 

[Sudzy8]

The fawns of an adult doe that gets killed survive just fine. They don't need their mom to find food or survive. Most fawns get booted away from their moms during the rut anyway.

[Fletch]

I have read that there are very very few truly dry does. So even if you see a adult doe without fawns they are most likely somewhere around. During breeding season especially does will leave the fawns for a bit.

 

I have also read in numerous articles that fawns can survive fine without mama once the spots are gone.

 

That said I will have no problem taking a doe with fawns as long as they seem like they are healthy and doing well, not late born ones. If possible a medium sized doe out of a group would be my pick. I took the matriarch doe once and it actually changed deer patterns in my area completely and never changed back. Won't do that again!

[cdmckane]

I have read that there are very very few truly dry does. So even if you see a adult doe without fawns they are most likely somewhere around. During breeding season especially does will leave the fawns for a bit.

 

I have also read in numerous articles that fawns can survive fine without mama once the spots are gone.

 

That said I will have no problem taking a doe with fawns as long as they seem like they are healthy and doing well, not late born ones. If possible a medium sized doe out of a group would be my pick. I took the matriarch doe once and it actually changed deer patterns in my area completely and never changed back. Won't do that again!

 

I've personally taken many does that were without fawns near, but were still very much nursing, as evident by the milk spilled while I field dressed them. 

[stoneam2006]

Depends on the time of season....early off I will let them walk...as season progresses I may take one....and fletch is spot on. The doe I took last night didn't have any fawns around just other big deer. She did have milk so apparently there was fawns somewhere I'm sure they will be ok as the coyote population around here isn't as bad as other spots of the state.

[Cabin Fever]

These 2 were still getting some milk from momma just a week ago! No, they don't "need" her milk to survive at this point. But, I also think they could benefit from having her around another month or two, to learn more survival skills (avoiding hunters, fatten up for winter, etc...). BTW, that one fawn looks really friggin' small!

 

 

[Culvercreek hunt club]

When I am ready to fill doe tags I don't even think twice about it. They will survive fine. My daughter was  a bit older than your when she asked me a similar thing. I had to sit down and explain the concept of population control and how that doesn't occur by shooting bucks. She seemed to have gotten it after that.

[Fletch]

Cabin that one sure is smaller than the other, quite a bit! Probably be a 180" deer someday though!!

[Doc]

By the time hunting season rolls around, fawns may still be nursing, but should not be dependent on milk. I will say that every time they keep shoving hunting seasons ahead, I have to wonder if they aren't getting into a timeframe where late fawns might begin to get into jeopardy when you take out the mother. But, you may not always have a choice. The fawns are not always with the doe. You may take a doe that you thought was barren, only to find that she was nursing. The only way to avoid that scenario is to not take any does. That's not a choice that I would be making.

[Bigreed]

Like some stated the later the season goes on for me the more likely that I will be inclined to shoot a doe with fawns

[Gun Jammed]

I've seen a lot of fawns these last few days

[Water Rat]

Does with fawns get a free pass from me , but to each their own.

[ATbuckhunter]

I let them walk because i feel bad to do it but I know it doesn't do anything if you were to shoot the mom or the fawn. 

[PREDATE]

I shoot fawns 365 days/year. I didn't plant that grass for them to eat.

[Jeremy K]

I never shot a doe with a fawn , I have heard from people who have that said it's horrible when the fawn stands next to momma wailing away and won't leave.

[JALA RUT]

I never shot a doe with a fawn , I have heard from people who have that said it's horrible when the fawn stands next to momma wailing away and won't leave.

 Yes, been there, done that...Not fun.  Didn't leave until I climbed out of the stand and walked towards it.  Then, slowly walked back when I was standing at the doe and I had to walk at the fawn again to make it leave.  This was an average size fawn with no spots and was late in the season, I think the end of November, just after Thanksgiving.  I believe the fawn could survive OK but emotionally it just bothered me, so if only 1 adult doe present with fawns, she gets a pass from me too now. 

[SteveB]

Like said above, there are few truly dry does. If you shoot a doe, excellent chance you just shot one with fawns whether you saw them or not.

I shoot them without Bambifiing an animal to human emotions.

Shooting or not has nothing to do with morals/ethics.

[WNYBuckHunter]

Just because they are trying to suckle still, doesnt mean they are getting any milk or need the doe at all. I have video of a fawn trying to suckle last week and the doe kicked it right in its head for its efforts.

I have zero issues killing a doe thats in a group with fawns. Heck, i might even zap the fawn if its female and we need to fill DMAPs.

At least Im honest.

[Dinsdale]

If its brown its down.

[pewlodar]

I never shot a doe with a fawn , I have heard from people who have that said it's horrible when the fawn stands next to momma wailing away and won't leave.

This.

[nyantler]

Passing any deer for any reason except to help out age structure makes no sense... if you would shoot a young buck, then you should have no problem shooting a fawn... or a doe that has a fawn... saving one deer for another for any reason other than to stretch out the age classes serves no purpose... especially if the goal is population control... having said that.. if it bothers you emotionally to shoot a certain deer then you shouldn't shoot... there is no ethical or moral question here... none of your DMP tags say "no fawns" or "does with fawns"... because in the scheme of things it makes no difference in achieving the conservation goal in NY. A doe with a fawn doesn't get a pass here if and when I'm hunting to fill my DMP's.

[fasteddie]

And ...... what makes a person think that because they don't see a fawn with a doe that it's okay to shoot the doe . The fawn could be several yards off . Shoot'em !

[Pygmy]

I don't shoot does with fawns prior to deer season.

I don't shoot fawns because adult does have much more meat on them.

So what was the question ?

I think it's time for my NAP....