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Kill a doe before a buck ?

fearthebeard

By fearthebeard,
in Deer Hunting

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PREDATE Newbie

PREDATE

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Ultimately, that is a call you need to make for yourself.

 

I once shot a coyote at first light on opening morning, 45 minutes later I shot a 7pt. The point I'm trying to make and the one I believe G-man was eluding to is that if you shoot a doe that doesn't mean a big buck won't come through too.

 

Personally, nothing tastes better than a nice plump doe!

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nyslowhand Enthusiast

nyslowhand

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Answer is, it depends....on your preference, size of the area you hunt, how many deer (does) are in that area, blah, blah. There are several does where I hunt, so one will not be missed from the breeding stock. I prefer to take one in October, strictly because it's warmer and I'm not freezing my hands field dressing it. I then take it to a processor, but if you DIY - hanging one in the October temps can be an issue.

 

Every deer hunter has stories of seeing other deer approach a kill or coming back to retrieve one and there are others around. I'm not a big fan of shooting multiples, stacking em' up and retrieving them later. When I shoot one, I give it the respect it deserves and immediately take care of it! This all depends on the logistics of where you hunt.

 

Again, just my personal preference...does are for the freezer and bucks get donated to the food bank.

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jjb4900 Newbie

jjb4900

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if you kill a doe, your first priority should be taking care of it as soon as possible............not letting it lay there as bait. But, to answer your first question, I would guess that all depends on what your goal is, if you want to put meat in the freezer, kill the doe and hope it doesn't affect the rest of your hunt......if it's more important for you to kill a buck, then pass on the doe and hope for the best.

Edited by jjb4900
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Daveboone Proficient

Daveboone

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If I know there is a big buck active in the area, I may pass, so as not to be distracted from the chance at him. Liikewise, I usually wont shoot a doe until I have a good idea of the does in the area, to make sure I tag a nice mature one.

Your priority after shooting the deer (buck or doe) should always be gutting and cooling the meat as soon as possible  for the best possible meat.In my book, that means getting it out of the woods and hanging immediately.

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Four Season Whitetail's Newbie

Four Season Whitetail's

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if you kill a doe, your first priority should be taking care of it as soon as possible............not letting it lay there as bait. But, to answer your first question, I would guess that all depends on what your goal is, if you want to put meat in the freezer, kill the doe and hope it doesn't affect the rest of your hunt......if it's more important for you to kill a buck, then pass on the doe and hope for the best.

X2  

 

Most times if a doe is in season the mature buck of the area will be following her so close that if she stops quick he will get stink nose.

I have had bucks come thru 5-10-15 minutes after other deer have but i believe that was just natural movement.  Unless your doe to buck ratio is totally skewed to favor does. a doe in season will most likely have a buck on her heels.

 

If you want meat and the doe- Pick a hair!

Edited by Four Season Whitetails
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grampy Veteran

grampy

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A few years back, I shot a doe early in the morning. Gutted and dragged her out. Went back to the same spot later that day to look for a knife I had left there. After getting almost to the spot, I see a deer coming down the same way the doe did earlier. Turned out to be a nice 8 point that I shot about 20 yards from where I shot the doe. My hunting partner went to the same stand a few days later and he too shot a buck.

So if you see a deer you want, take it. The old saying, don't let a deer go on the first day that you would shoot on the last day, holds true. Depending on the area, you may not get another chance.

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wooly Newbie

wooly

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Don't forget to IMMEDIATELY fill out your antlerless carcass tag even if you're going to let her lay as bait for half a day.

I could see an ECO strolling by, finding your doe stiffer than a 2x4, 30 yds from your stand with one of your arrows sticking out of her and you don't even have a pen with ya but you're still hunting.

That could lead to some misinterpretation of what was really going on- "failure to properly tag game".

That would suck!

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wooly Newbie

wooly

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I thought you only had to tag once you confirmed the deer was dead? I only do that once I get down from my stand and go poke it.

 

From DEC site:

 

 

 

Here's what you must do immediately upon killing a deer or bear:

  1. Fill in all information on the carcass tag and report tag with ink that won't erase.
  2. Detach the carcass tag from the report tag. Once filled in, the tag may not be altered.
  3. Keep the report tag, you will need it when you report your deer or bear.
  4. The month and date must also be cut or marked in ink on the margin of the carcass tag.
  5. You do not need to attach the tag to the carcass while it is being dragged or physically carried from the place of kill to a camp or point where transportation is available.
  6. Once you get to the camp or vehicle, attach the tag to the deer or bear immediately.
  7. Keep the tag attached to the carcass until it is cut up and prepared for consumption.
Edited by wooly
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growalot Newbie

growalot

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I never worry about whether I shoot a doe or not...Though I always check to see if there are other deer coming in around her...I have shot doe out of a group of deer with a shot gun ...had the deer run under my stand to look around. Then a buck leave the group go to the dead deer and try to mount it....That kinda unnerved me so I shot into the hill side to scare them all off...

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BKhunter Newbie

BKhunter

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I have heard that if you shoot does early in the season, they're less of them around and bucks do more traveling during the rut to find mates. Not sure how much water that holds, but just thought I would throw that out as a topic of conversation to get opinions on.

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jjb4900 Newbie

jjb4900

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I have heard that if you shoot does early in the season, they're less of them around and bucks do more traveling during the rut to find mates. Not sure how much water that holds, but just thought I would throw that out as a topic of conversation to get opinions on.

I would think that's fairly accurate and makes sense.........but I think the question is whether or not shooting a doe first will have an immediate affect on you killing a buck that may be in the area.

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NFA-ADK Rookie

NFA-ADK

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I would think that's fairly accurate and makes sense.........but I think the question is whether or not shooting a doe first will have an immediate affect on you killing a buck that may be in the area.

I believe most are saying no and I agree as long as the buck does not spot you shooting the doe. 

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wolc123 Grand Master

wolc123

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If you are in one of the zones that has too many deer, then take the doe at the first opportunity.  I live in one of them zones but my doe sightings are typically few as they wise up much faster than bucks.  As soon as they detect a little hunting pressure they become fully nocturnal.   Rarely do I ever see any doe now after opening day of gun season.   A few years ago, a group of about 6 antlerless deer came by my stand about 1/2 hour after sunrise on opening day of gun season.   I shot the largest one with my ML.  The rest dispersed, but before I got down to gut her, or even got the ML reloaded, another group of 2 antlered deer came along on their trail.  Fortunately, I also had a shotgun up in the stand and I used that to put the larger of the two bucks (an 8-point) down right next to the dead doe.

 

If I ever killed another doe early on opening day and there was still a lot of time until lunch, I would get the guts out of her asap and prop her up to cool in the shade near my stand.  The meat is always my biggest priority and taking care of that comes first, but I see no reason not to capitalize on a "free" decoy.  During gun season, a dead doe shot in the shoulder blade is usually sufficient to hold accompanying fawns in place so you can send them to "deer heaven" with their momma if you have adequate DMP's.  That is usually not a problem here as anyone can get (4) DMP's plus (2) more "transfers" the last several years.  

 

That said though, I don't agree with the fact that does are better to eat.  They all taste the same, but I will take a buck over a doe because I butcher all my own and I can do a buck much faster with less fat to trim.

The fawns are in a class by themselves when it comes to table fare and I always hope for at least one every season.   Their momma always gets the first shot however as I will take the quantity over the quality every time and killing the mommas does way more to control the out of hand deer population. 

Edited by wolc123
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G-Man Veteran

G-Man

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So if a doe walks by harvest her and just let her lay there until afternoon or until a buck comes by ? Or can I field dress her after and then wait

If it's cold out (snow teps in 30s a deer won't spoil in half a day with gut in it,if you soot one and its 30 min into opening day waiting an hour or two or 4 won't hurt it, guys wait or should wait a lot longer tracking deer in archery season Esp a gut shot deer. Temps are the key if it's 70 you might want to get it out of the woods and to a processor quick. 20 well laying 8 hours isn't going to hurt it ,might be a little stiffer to gut but I'd wait Esp if you think deer are around, I've shot a deer with bow and saw it go down and left it went to track a buck my buddy shot and another hunter at camp went to retrieve it go close saw a bug buck hanging around went back to cabin got his bow, shot bug buck and had my doe and his buck back at camp by the time we found my friends 2 hrs later.. you never know.. I know guys that have shot a deer and climb down out of tree and when they are halfway down the biggest buck of their life is standing there them halfway down tree and gun on eND of ropen on ground... point is if you can wait and temps permit let it lay, curb your excitement and you may really have a reason to celebrate!
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