Doe Hunting

UnlistMe
Tennessee Deer Sporting & Deer Hunting Community Forum

Help Support TNDeer | Tennessee Deer:

Bulldog25

Bulldog25

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2013
Messages
881
City & State/Province
Wilson County
I'm not sure if most of y'all are like me but so far I have held out of shooting does and have just waited for the bucks. Hoping that if I leave the does it will increase my odds for there to be a buck following one when I'm out there. But rut has seemed to be non-existent and season is reaching it's end. So the question I have is at what point do y'all start shooting does? 3 weeks left? 2 weeks? A week?
 
now till the end! of my life that is! lol in all seriousness now is the time I start but only because I like to kill them when its NORMALLY cold so I can let them hang, as far as waiting to kill them to have one bring a buck by you is no help in buck hunting in my opinion, unless you are just going to slaughter every doe you have right before the rut, then that might have a negative effect on your bucks but I don't know im not the expert.
 
We shoot them whenever we feel like shooting them; before the rut, during the rut, after the rut...

Although I do recommend not doing too much early killing from areas you want to buck hunt during the rut. If you can leave buck hunting during the rut for a different section of the property than where you have killed does early, you will probably have more success.

The problem with killing does before the rut is not that the bucks will leave because there aren't enough does around; it is the human pressure of retrieving downed does that can drive bucks away from an area.
 
Well in Unit L does are fair game all season so that's why I was asking but I understand the logic of pressure instead of lack of mates. Have only killed one buck this season and haven't seen anything in a while has put me about to the point of if it's brown it's down since the end is near.
 
Perlick Faucet - Flow Control - Model 650SS
See price on Amazon
Perlick Faucet - Flow Control - Model 650SS
Fermentation Lids, Fermentation Kit for Wide Mouth Jars, 6 Set Plastic Fermenting Lids with 6 Airlocks, 6 Silicone Grommets, 6 Silicone Rings(Jars Not Included)
See price on Amazon
Fermentation Lids, Fermentation Kit for Wide Mouth Jars, 6 Set Plastic Fermenting Lids with 6 Airlocks, 6 Silicone Grommets, 6 Silicone Rings(Jars Not Included)
Husqvarna X-Cut SP33G 20 Inch Chainsaw Chain, .325" Pitch, .050" Gauge, 80 Drive Links, Pre-Stretched Chainsaw Blade Replacement with Superior Lubrication and Low Kickback, 581643680
See price on Amazon
Husqvarna X-Cut SP33G 20 Inch Chainsaw Chain, .325" Pitch, .050" Gauge, 80 Drive Links, Pre-Stretched Chainsaw Blade Replacement with Superior Lubrication and Low Kickback, 581643680
Amazon Basics 8-Piece Wood Chisel Set for Woodworking, with Honing Guide, Sharpening Stone and Storage Case, 1/4" - 1-1/2"
See price on Amazon
Amazon Basics 8-Piece Wood Chisel Set for Woodworking, with Honing Guide, Sharpening Stone and Storage Case, 1/4" - 1-1/2"
Original Patented Airlock Fermentation Lids for Wide Mouth Mason Jars, Fermenter Caps, Fermentation Kit for Sauerkraut & Pickle Kit, One Way Waterless Airlock Valve - BPA-Free (Jar Not Included)
See price on Amazon
Original Patented Airlock Fermentation Lids for Wide Mouth Mason Jars, Fermenter Caps, Fermentation Kit for Sauerkraut & Pickle Kit, One Way Waterless Airlock Valve - BPA-Free (Jar Not Included)
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Chain Saw Cordless Chainsaw, 10-Inch Battery Chainsaw, Tool Only, for Wood Cutting and Tree Pruning, Includes Guide Bar Scabbard (LCS1020B)
See price on Amazon
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Chain Saw Cordless Chainsaw, 10-Inch Battery Chainsaw, Tool Only, for Wood Cutting and Tree Pruning, Includes Guide Bar Scabbard (LCS1020B)
GREBSTK 4-Piece Ultra-Sharp Wood Chisel Set, CR-V Steel Beveled Blades with Guards, Comfortable & Durable Handle, for Carving, DIY & Woodworking (1/4", 1/2", 3/4", 1")
See price on Amazon
GREBSTK 4-Piece Ultra-Sharp Wood Chisel Set, CR-V Steel Beveled Blades with Guards, Comfortable & Durable Handle, for Carving, DIY & Woodworking (1/4", 1/2", 3/4", 1")
Husqvarna 585550084 24" C83 X-Cut 24" Chain 3/8" .050" 84 DL 3 Pack
See price on Amazon
Husqvarna 585550084 24" C83 X-Cut 24" Chain 3/8" .050" 84 DL 3 Pack
WEN Electric Log Splitter, 6.5-Ton Capacity with Portable Stand (56208)
See price on Amazon
WEN Electric Log Splitter, 6.5-Ton Capacity with Portable Stand (56208)
Briess 2-Row Caramel Malt 90L - 1 lb
See price on Amazon
Briess 2-Row Caramel Malt 90L - 1 lb
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.
I usually shoot does at any opportunity on the few archery hunts I do each year. During the first few muzzleloader hunts (when my success rate is probably at its absolute highest due to a pretty modern weapon on unpressured deer), I will often leave the does a lone if I feel that big buck is in the area.

In general, though, it's all about filling the freezer for me. If I don't have a single deer down by the second week of muzzleloader, I get very nervous, because I know that my odds are continuously dropping (aside from a good week of rut activity).

I try to hunt at least 3 different public land properties per year, plus a backup private spot in the late season. On areas that are more questionable, I take the first legal deer I can get (baby bucks get a pass, that's it).

So I guess my answer is that...it depends on a lot of stuff :)
 
I've always waited til the end of season to shoot does. I've always felt that if the adjoining properties were killing does all season long then if I didn't shoot them then they felt safe on my place. If I had does then the bucks wouldn't have to leave to find one. Then at the end of season I still had does that weren't spooked and they'd be easier to kill late season. And I never kill a doe in a food plot. jmo
 
I shoot them whenever they're legal here and the mood strikes me. I try to only shoot big ones because it's just as much trouble for me to process a little one and I'm shooting them for meat as well as population control...

Got one in archery, 3 in MZ...

Was hunting does yesterday in rifle and got a decent buck instead...What the heck...
 
I shoot the first legal deer in range. Top priority is a lil meat. Then I usually get a bit picky. I've killed many does late in the year. Mainly in Unit L. I've got a spot with a few deer, so I'm not going to hunt it for does next week. I'm hoping a few survive and I'll have something to go after next year.
 
I have been holding out to but its time to drop the hammer. I have had three people ask me for a deer. So im gonna try to put four down this week.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top