It's been a tough season for me, I've seen a few does and small bucks mostly. had 1 shooter that I couldn't get a shot on Thursday pm. yesterday I hunted from 6 till 3. I seen 1 deer just at shooting light, no clue what it was. Then at 1:15, I look up and saw a doe & fawn come out in my 1/4 acre plot. I debated for almost 30 mins if I should shoot since it was a doe with a fawn when I know there is many does out there with out fawns. I ended up taking the shot and getting my first of the season.
So my question, what's your thoughts on shooting does with fawns when your managing your property? My property is just across the state line in VA. My goals for this farm is quantity that you see deer most hunts (for kids & my 72 y/o dad) and have at least some 3.5 y/o+ bucks for me to shoot. Kids & dad has free range to shoot any thing. When I started hunting this property in 1995, the doe population was out of control. groups of 40 deer weren't hard to find many times in the season. The state of VA changed the doe days from 2 Saturdays in the 2 week gun and last day of season to entire 2 week early ML, 7 of the 15 days of gun season the last week of season about 8-10 years ago. Couple years ago, they changed to 2 deer a day can be killed also. I've seen a shift in does w/o fawns and doe family group sizes. A big doe group now is 5 does. That group there will be only 1 fawn. I've had 1 doe (I know not same doe) that has twins every year for past 9 years. This doe always stays by herself with the twins. Never with other does. Same with the doe I shot, she was always by herself with this fawn.
I've seen a increase in bears in my place over last 5 years along with changes to the regs, I feel the deer numbers have taken a toll. Would you protect the does with fawns and only shoot does w/o fawns only?
My neighbor to the west, is 173 acres and doesn't hunt much (mostly buck), my neighbor to the east/south is 119 acres that's buck only and has hunted 1 time this year.
Doe and Fawn from yesterday
So my question, what's your thoughts on shooting does with fawns when your managing your property? My property is just across the state line in VA. My goals for this farm is quantity that you see deer most hunts (for kids & my 72 y/o dad) and have at least some 3.5 y/o+ bucks for me to shoot. Kids & dad has free range to shoot any thing. When I started hunting this property in 1995, the doe population was out of control. groups of 40 deer weren't hard to find many times in the season. The state of VA changed the doe days from 2 Saturdays in the 2 week gun and last day of season to entire 2 week early ML, 7 of the 15 days of gun season the last week of season about 8-10 years ago. Couple years ago, they changed to 2 deer a day can be killed also. I've seen a shift in does w/o fawns and doe family group sizes. A big doe group now is 5 does. That group there will be only 1 fawn. I've had 1 doe (I know not same doe) that has twins every year for past 9 years. This doe always stays by herself with the twins. Never with other does. Same with the doe I shot, she was always by herself with this fawn.
I've seen a increase in bears in my place over last 5 years along with changes to the regs, I feel the deer numbers have taken a toll. Would you protect the does with fawns and only shoot does w/o fawns only?
My neighbor to the west, is 173 acres and doesn't hunt much (mostly buck), my neighbor to the east/south is 119 acres that's buck only and has hunted 1 time this year.
Doe and Fawn from yesterday