Results 1 to 17 of 17
  1. #1
    Member 1Cast 1Fish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    VA
    Posts
    376

    Shoot or Pass Opening Day Doe? What would you do?

    I was lucky enough to find a prime area on the local public land and was not let down with a decent buck that showed up early in the morning, however he was way out of range. So I decided to move a bit closer to where I saw the buck come out and not long after a nice doe popped out within bow range...I watched her for a bit hoping that the buck would be following, or he would show back up a bit later...unfortunately neither happened. Just wondering what others would have done? Definitely not upset with the choice to pass on the doe...but definitely curious what others would doin similar situations.


  2. Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Alabama
    Posts
    21,505
    #2
    I would always shoot a few doe or spikes to get some meat early in the season. 2 if they were big or 3 if they were small. Then I would not shoot anything else unless it was a very nice buck.

  3. Banned
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Location
    Emporia VA
    Posts
    454
    #3
    Depends on what you call a nice doe, and what your goals are. Trophy ? meat ? I will be black powder harvesting soon.. deer population in my area is too high and too easy for me to call it hunting. I look at it as owning grazing meat goats that can eat my neighbors corn and vegetables without getting him mad at me.

  4. Member 1Cast 1Fish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    VA
    Posts
    376
    #4
    Quote Originally Posted by Transom View Post
    I would always shoot a few doe or spikes to get some meat early in the season. 2 if they were big or 3 if they were small. Then I would not shoot anything else unless it was a very nice buck.
    That was my plan originally...get the first meat in the freezer then hold out for a nice buck...then I strayed after seeing the buck so early and the sign in the area. I will be out all next week, so still plenty of chances...but the woods have been hit pretty hard...lots of bow hunters this year

  5. Member 1Cast 1Fish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    VA
    Posts
    376
    #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Dropdeadfred View Post
    Depends on what you call a nice doe, and what your goals are. Trophy ? meat ? I will be black powder harvesting soon.. deer population in my area is too high and too easy for me to call it hunting. I look at it as owning grazing meat goats that can eat my neighbors corn and vegetables without getting him mad at me.
    LOL...sounds like a rough problem to have :) Good luck down there in Southern VA....I will be continuing to fight the public land peeps up here in the Northern part of the state :)

  6. Moderator
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Portland, TN
    Posts
    17,415
    #6
    I was taught to kill the first legal thing you see at the beginning of the season. That way you have killed something no matter what and have some meat in the freezer. I don’t do that with small bucks but definitely would have killed a doe. In fact I killed the first doe that passed in now range this year and let a real nice 8pt walk about 4 hours ago.

  7. Member RANGER487's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Cortland, OH
    Posts
    6,606
    #7
    I'm more of meat hunter so taking a Doe would be fine by me. We have been fortunate the last few years and my 14 year old son has taken a early Doe for us. I did pas on 2 small bucks last week and had a good 8 this past weekend hang up at 50 yards. But to be honest if a Doe would have come by that morning probably would have taken her then hunted for a bigger deer.

  8. Moderator adchunts's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Barling, AR
    Posts
    7,829
    #8
    For me, would depend on whether bucks are actively seeking does. If so, I would hold out. If not, to the freezer!
    Aaron Campbell
    Barling, AR
    2007 Bass Cat Sabre
    2011 Merc 175 Pro XS

  9. Member mrlawler1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Center Star, Alabama
    Posts
    18,536
    #9
    I've got more meat in my freezer left over from the last 2 years than I'll eat this year...and I'll add to that this year...never ending thing for me... On my hunting club I never shoot does with spotted fawns...I always try to wait until they at least get the spots off of them before I kill a doe... There's enough coyotes up there on that place that I need to give them a better shot of survival then that..I can kill does later on in the season with a rifle I don't need to shoot them right now.. It's a long season..
    MattandAmber Lawler on Facebook
    Matt Lawler HF on Facebook
    matt_lawler_hf on Instagram

    "There ain't a price on stupid. Stupid comes for free."

    Jonathan Hillstrand


  10. Michigan Bass Club Moderator CGWright's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Charlotte, MI
    Posts
    13,891
    #10
    My goal is 10 point or better (or BIG 8). I can shoot does anytime if I don't connect on a nice buck. But I hunt heavily populated property too.


    To report any post you disagree with press Alt + F4.

  11. Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Dunlap, TN
    Posts
    409
    #11
    I would have waited for a following buck. No question.

  12. Member 1Cast 1Fish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    VA
    Posts
    376
    #12
    Always interesting to see so many different opinions and thoughts. This was the first time I let a doe walk like that, so was interested in what other hunters thought.

  13. Member illinifish's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    ofallon, IL
    Posts
    3,967
    #13
    When I was younger I would wait especially on opening day. Now I am content to get one and Be done with it. I usually will sit in the stand and watch nature for a few days if I get one early
    Enjoying life in Southern Illinois

  14. Member basscat21's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Falmouth, Ma
    Posts
    43,668
    #14
    As long as you have tags, a doe is good

  15. Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Uniontown,Ohio
    Posts
    1,777
    #15
    I would take a doe any day. I'm not into trophy hunting, a good butter ball doe tastes much better than an old grizzled buck. But that's just me.

  16. Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    southside tn
    Posts
    944
    #16
    i made mistake of shooting a doe early season about 35 years ago, her little baby come out after i shot her and stood by his moma for two hours, i had to run him off, hunted that stand several times later every day that fawn came looking for his moma, i shoot no more doe

  17. Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Monroe, NC
    Posts
    100
    #17
    I tend to shoot does later in the year after the rut. Fawns are old enough to fend for themselves and does are usually in groups of 8-12 so you can take out a bigger freezer filler.