Which doe to shoot?

[BSK]

I haven't shot a doe in a few years because the neighbor behind me that owns 1250 acres of land has a large group of Wounded Warriors come every year and they shoot 15-20 does, so I will shoot one if I want to, but don't find it necessary to do so because they do it for me. When I do shoot I have two main things that I do that dictates what doe I shoot. I do not shoot a lone doe. They can often times be a button buck and with no other deer around it becomes harder to judge body size. A short head is another obvious fawn give away. The other thing is I shoot the largest doe out of the group to ensure the same thing. This may not be 100 percent fool proof, but the last time I shot a button buck was 1997, before I implemented those rules on to myself, so I feel confident that these two things are very effective.

Excellent rules Hillbilly Hunter. I taught those rules to landowners and clubs for years.

 

[Texan11285]

Yup, shoot the one with the biggest propeller head out of the bunch. As mentioned before, short head, young deer.

 

[Popcorn]

If I'm taking a doe specifically for meat I am targeting a young fat doe for the highest quality meat. This is grill meat for me.
If I am taking doe for management purposes I am indiscriminate after determining it's a doe. This is jerky meat or grind and donate meat.

 

[JeepKuntry]

My favorite is 60lb dressed out. Tender deliciousness!

 

[FredRog72]

I don't think I've got enough does around to shoot one at all, but if I did it would be for meat quality. Not too big but not a little either. I've only got 4 consistent girls that frequent my small oasis and about twice that many fellows.

 

[megalomaniac]

Looking forward to seeing what happens on my friends lease in Starkville the next couple years. They have 1000 acres, 4 members, usually shoot 10 to 15 does per year past 10 years.

The guy with the biggest voice is convinced they aren't killing 140in bucks because they have too many does... so they have shot 40 does since Jan 1 2024 (end of last season plus start of this season).

Habitat isn't great (mix of mature oaks, planted pine, and old cow pasture that has grown up in 20yo bodock and cedar, with about 5% plots).

I told them they would be much better off getting permission from the landowner to fell the bodock and cedars, burn that area 2y later, and increase native browse if they wanted to kill higher scoring deer.

I suspect all they are going to do with their current strategy is produce a couple 130in bucks annually. And between 4 members at $5000 per membership dues, that isn't going to cut it.

 

[megalomaniac]

If I'm taking a doe specifically for meat I am targeting a young fat doe for the highest quality meat. This is grill meat for me.
If I am taking doe for management purposes I am indiscriminate after determining it's a doe. This is jerky meat or grind and donate meat.

Yup, the 1.5yos that haven't had a fawn pulling on them all summer. Those are the best to eat!

 

[megalomaniac]

This is the last dead deer pic in my phone. How old was it? Aging does isn't easy.View attachment 255680

Fully mature, but not OLD (6.5 plus)

She looks to be around 4.5

Also probably dry, based on her body condition. (Or you have WAY more food than I did this late summer!!)

 

[Deer Assassin]

Coming from a numbers guy. I'd expect nothing less.

Sure

A doe is a doe

I'll say this if you want to watch a bunch of deer every time you hunt don't kill does

On properties that myself and others kill several does
The ones that remain are smarter than the bucks and all we see are bucks after bucks every time we hunt

Not my cup of tea


You can be extreme and not kill does or extreme and kill them all
There are pros and cons
The. There is the middle ground which I honestly believe is the best

 

[Ski]

I'll say this if you want to watch a bunch of deer every time you hunt don't kill does

On properties that myself and others kill several does
The ones that remain are smarter than the bucks and all we see are bucks after bucks every time we hunt

That's a wisdom I have never heard anyone else mention before on this topic but it's absolutely relevant & valid.

 

[redblood]

I target older does, late im the season during prolonged cold stretches so i have time to hang them before processing

 

[Setterman]

I read an article once that said the old does 3+ have lower contraception rates at times but a higher fawn survival. They have already been there and done that. The 2yo's have a higher contraceptive rate but slightly lower fawn survival rate. The yearlings that get bred late season are pretty much a coin flip on both. Seems like all those could be valid. Just wondering if anyone had any real world experience or knew of studies on that. Seems interesting. If you just shoot a couple a season doesn't seem like it would matter much at all if any, but for the people that manage and shoot a bunch. Seems like something you would consider.

Not sure contraceptive is the word you're looking for lol

 

[K-dub]

I always tried to kill the oldest in the bunch, with the exception that if you blew at me, you died. No matter the age