Shooting does early - 2 schools of thought

[vincy]

Assuming Pre Rut

 

1. Dont shoot the does because they bring in the big boys during the rut.

 

2. Shooting a doe or two will increase the competetive nature between Bucks by reducing the availability of females.

 

no looking for a right answer, just starting a discussion.

 

I've been told both. whats your advice?

[gfdeputy2]

A doe in the freezer is better than a tag in the wallet

[vincy]

dang it, thats probably the best answer...should have thought of that.

[MACHINIST]

We have a abundance of does where I hunt so I shoot early most years unless I or other friends and family do not have a need for the meat

[Caveman]

We are seeing fewer and fewer deer where I hunt--especially the last 5 years or so. If someone draws a DMP, which is unlikely, we ask that it be filled somewhere else.

The short answer to your question for me is "c. None of the above"

[gfdeputy2]

My honest answer is it all depends on the population

where I live in NH if you pass on a deer you may not see one for the rest of the season. for archery we can two tags one must be a buck the other one is either sex. If I have a shot on a doe I take it. it doesn't matter whether it is the first day or last day of the season

If I lived where we hunt in western NY I probably would pass cause I know I will see more

Edited October 8, 2015 by gfdeputy2

[Hock3y24]

Over 25 doe sightings my first 5 days of hunting, yeah I'm shooting them if there in range.

[landtracdeerhunter]

140" antlers, then a doe in the freezer.

[Chris B]

I always went with #1 and passed the does early season. I figured if I had does comfortably around me often, when they went in heat they would bring a buck with them.

 

But now, I'm starting to look at it from perspective #2. Maybe a doe or two less in the area may make things a little more competitive when the rut comes around.

 

We will see if I actually bring myself to take a doe if the opportunity arises this time of year though.... Would probably have to be a "gimmee"

[phade]

I think people make way too much out of this question. There are biological and hunter satisfaction merits to both ends of the spectrum.

 

In the end, do what makes you happy - I don't think either method is wrong as long as the end tally at the end of the year is the same because the difference is likely so minute that we'll never be able to "tell" with hard data on the ground we hunt.

[BKhunter]

I usually shoot a doe as I believe in #2. The question to add on that is would you shoot a doe this time of year with fawns still trailing. I believe they are done nursing now but still a tough spot.

[PeltHunter]

My logic on shooting a doe earlier in the season is really none of the above. However I see it almost as if you shoot a good sized doe or two first you don't have to shoot a small buck to get your meat. Wish more people saw it that way.

[vincy]

I might be wrong, but I believe that QDMA says that its best to take a mature doe early. It has nothing to do with the rut, but instead for competing with food source as it gets later in the year.

 

I know it really depends on your hunting location/deer population and hunting goals. that being said I also agree with Phade that in the end the difference is probably minute.

[YFKI1983]

Depends on weather for me too. I live in the city so I usually go upstate for 3-4 days at a time. If it's warm out, which means I would have to butcher right away i would probably let them walk for now. <~~ which will probably happen to me this weekend

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I might be wrong, but I believe that QDMA says that its best to take a mature doe early. It has nothing to do with the rut, but instead for competing with food source as it gets later in the year.

 

I know it really depends on your hunting location/deer population and hunting goals. that being said I also agree with Phade that in the end the difference is probably minute.

Those does don't live in a vacuum either. They get wised up with the more pressure from hunters and bucks. They get skittish and I believe if you get the opportunity early, take it.

[G-Man]

I always shoot a doe with twin button bucks before she goes into heat and chases them off, it serves 2 purposes,

1. The only home range those buttons know is moms, so they stick around and you get to see them as yearling bucks who tend to hang around as they don't get chased out by mom the following year, so even if I don't want a yearling it keeps the stand lively seeing little bucks.

2. It puts good tasty meat in the freezer!!

[Doc]

We're probably over-thinking this way too much ... lol. My take on it is always, if I have an antlerless permit in my pocket, and a mature doe walks by, I'm likely going to shoot it. My shooting that one doe is not really going to mean that all bucks will be vacating the area. It also will not cause any significant amount of increase in buck completion unless I just shot the last doe in the woods.

 

Seriously, those one or two does that I might actually be able to shoot early in the season are not really going to have all that much impact on buck behavior, and that is probably the least thing that I really have to worry about.

[2012_taco]

Gman I heard the same thing about shooting an adult doe with a button buck in tow. The buck will stay in the same general area as that is all they have ever known. Don't know how true it is but it's worth a try! Besides having some meat in the freezer takes the pressure of, no need to shoot a young buck just to fill the freezer. 

[G-Man]

Gman I heard the same thing about shooting an adult doe with a button buck in tow. The buck will stay in the same general area as that is all they have ever known. Don't know how true it is but it's worth a try! Besides having some meat in the freezer takes the pressure of, no need to shoot a young buck just to fill the freezer.

Been doing that for over 20 years and have 23 different buck on cam, many I know by.markings as fawns from last year (we have a piebald gene here and it gives deer stocking feet or a spot. Granted most are little guys 4 and 5s, but they are still fun to see and passing little ones become easier when you see bucks every day. One guy in camp has passed 5 buck and 8 doe so far in 5 days hunting, (thise that were in bow range) not including deer he's seen to far away. It works, anyone that thinks a buck rules the woods is wrong a big mature doe will stomp a big buck as soon as it looses it's horns, big bucks keep bucks on the fringe it's the does that chase the little bucks out that were their own fawns to stop inter breeding...

[turkeyfeathers]

I hunt for the freezer so if opportunity knocks, I'm pulling the trigger on one. Shot one opening morning last year. Without hesitation. Don't think a doe or two is really going to change 'search" by the bucks.

Big doe or big bodied buck with small rack, big buck with large rack all eat the same IMO.

Interesting comment about buttons hanging around. Anytime I see a button he's all by himself and gets a pass anyhow. Blockheads are pretty easy to define.

[dbHunterNY]

I haven't been out yet this year as I was out of the country on vacation.  this weekend i'll be out and I won't be focusing on bucks.  I intend to shoot doe.  I do it in easily accessible areas not where I've patterned a buck.  way more doe than bucks around here.  if I wait to take a doe that's been chased or even worse bred it's wasting effort and energy from bucks.  also later one when the action does get heavy I can hone in on the first signs of a hot doe in an area that I know is holding a nice buck.  I can then sit back, watch, and hunt low impact rather than trampling throughout the area to recover a doe.  also fewer doe mean as you said more concentrated buck activity.  as the season carries on I can focus all my attention to buck harvest and not stress as I've gotten meat for the freezer all ready.  another good thing is the processor I go to doesn't do venison until January as he does livestock right now.  as soon as you bring him something you're put on a list.  then when Jan comes he starts at the first guy on the list and works down.  last year I was 3rd being successful the first Saturday of the season.  I worked during the week while others hunted.  those are just some of my reasons.

[dbHunterNY]

Those does don't live in a vacuum either. They get wised up with the more pressure from hunters and bucks. They get skittish and I believe if you get the opportunity early, take it.

 

another really good reason I fully believe in.

[Four Season Whitetail's]

I haven't been out yet this year as I was out of the country on vacation.  this weekend i'll be out and I won't be focusing on bucks.  I intend to shoot doe.  I do it in easily accessible areas not where I've patterned a buck.  way more doe than bucks around here.  if I wait to take a doe that's been chased or even worse bred it's wasting effort and energy from bucks.  also later one when the action does get heavy I can hone in on the first signs of a hot doe in an area that I know is holding a nice buck.  I can then sit back, watch, and hunt low impact rather than trampling throughout the area to recover a doe.  also fewer doe mean as you said more concentrated buck activity.  as the season carries on I can focus all my attention to buck harvest and not stress as I've gotten meat for the freezer all ready.  another good thing is the processor I go to doesn't do venison until January as he does livestock right now.  as soon as you bring him something you're put on a list.  then when Jan comes he starts at the first guy on the list and works down.  last year I was 3rd being successful the first Saturday of the season.  I worked during the week while others hunted.  those are just some of my reasons.

Fewer does could also get your only good mature buck in the area over on the neighbors land chasing all his many does because he does not shoot till late season!

[dbHunterNY]

Fewer does could also get your only good mature buck in the area over on the neighbors land chasing all his many does because he does not shoot till late season!

 

that could happen.... or in late season when the deer are all flocking to the nearest good food source my neighbor is banging away shooting doe, while I'm not.  the big buck giving hunters the slip all season long can then eat in piece on my quiet food source with calm other deer..... until he gets in range.    if for some reason I don't fill the freezer this week it probably won't happen until later.  I usually prefer earlier than now.

 

assuming we're not in a doe only area as the buck straying right now wouldn't be a worry.

Edited October 9, 2015 by dbHunterNY