Shooting Does With Fawns

[Flapjack]

Last week I was hunting near a swamp, and shot a doe which I THOUGHT was alone...she emerged from the grass and meandered around for a few minutes..As soon as I let fly, another deer came flying out of the grass, and all but chased after the doe who ran about 50 yards before she fell...at first I just thought it was a second doe (pretty big to be a fawn I thought..no spots, etc.) and then ran off snorting..I honestly thought nothing of it until I field dressed the Doe. The Doe I shot did appear to be lactating, although not much at all.

Two days later I was in the same stand and thought there was some goofball crashing through the leaves messing with one of those bleat "cans"..Turned out it was what I believe to be that same fawn..walked right by my stand Bleating away every 3 steps...... Really tugs at the heart strings guys..

My question is, how bad did I mess up on this? What would you think the chances of survival is for this fawn if not shot this season? The deer did look much more like a small doe than a fawn, if you know what I am trying to say. I have always strived to be an ethical hunter, and just hope I didnt blow the little guys chances...

[Moron]

Some fawns may not be completely weaned at this time. But I wouldn't worry you created an orphan that will suffer mortality because you took it's mother. It likely has some clan in the area in the form of grandma, aunts or step sisters. :)

[TnRidge]

Orphaned fawns ,especially button bucks are said to have a better chance of survival ,since the mother is not around to run them off when they are older (dispersal). They will likely stay in familiar terrritory in their current home range .

[dinoday]

It seams most does have a fawn or two still heaging around them this time of year.Better to take the doe than the fawn IMO.You can't always tell if its a button or not,and the fawns are usually pretty good size by now.

Dinner is served :evil:

[One Eye]

If that fawn is not ready to eat and fend for itself by now, it would most likely not make it anyway. Back in my baiting days, I watched the old does let the fawns go to the bait first to see if it was safe. Looks like the doe was looking out for Number #1 to me. That fawn will be fine as far as being able to make it on its own.

I also tend to agree with the dispersal theory with button bucks and their mothers.

Dan

[Trushot_Archer]

I've seen orphaned fawns group up together as well.

I like it. Shoot the Mother's the first week and the place turns into "retarded deer village"...Fawns running all over making noise and playing. Not great for the big horn hunters but I like to be entertained :D

[Pinefarm]

From everything I've read, the doe with 1 or 2 button bucks is the doe you want to shoot, specifically. The research shows that the chances of survival are just as good or better for that button buck and the chances that the BB will disperse (leave to an area 2-5 miles miles away so as to not breed with his own mother) are greatly reduced by taking that doe. So if you don't shoot that doe, there's no meat in the frezer, the buck will leave and you may not have affected your buck to doe ratio expect maybe making it worse, shoot that doe and you have meat in the freezer, one less doe and one more buck next year.
So basically, you just did the deer and yourself about the best thing possible. At least scientifically and ethically. Although I do admit a young deer baa-ing like that does kinda "get ya" for the short term. But that doe was going to boot that male fawn in the next week or so anyways.

[dinoci22]

the season dates are what they are for a reason. One Eye is right. if a fawn can't make it on its own by now it most likely wouldn't make it this winter.

[Bob S]

Fawns can be weaned at two months. Like One Eye said, if that deer can`t fend for himself by now, he most likely won`t survive the winter.

And if he was a she, she would be the next one to get shot.

[Termie33]

Most fawns at this part of the year are able to survive on their own. I read before that when a doe has a buck fawn and a doe fawn, the mother will kick the buck out in september or october, so that it doesnt imbreed like others have said. Ive also noticed this myself while hunting. Which is why its so important to really check over a lone "doe" if you decide to take it, because that doe might actually be a lone button buck.

[Moron]

Most fawns at this part of the year are able to survive on their own. I read before that when a doe has a buck fawn and a doe fawn, the mother will kick the buck out in september or october, so that it doesnt imbreed like others have said. Ive also noticed this myself while hunting. Which is why its so important to really check over a lone "doe" if you decide to take it, because that doe might actually be a lone button buck.

I agree with the dispersal theory and all but I've seen many buck fawns remain with the maternal group until the following summer other than being tempararily dispersed by rutting bucks when their mother comes in heat.

[deepwoods]

I also agree with the dispersal theory. I use this as a tool to tell me the rut is about to fire up. A bunch of "nickle-heads" wandering around the woods aimlessly because their mothers just chased them off. I agree its sad but it is a necessary part of nature to prevent inbreeding. What you did was fine.

Enjoy the bounty of you harvest. Congrat's.

[Ack]

I have also read the articles about the button buck dispersal theory and totally agree. I'm still waiting for a chance at one of the mature baldies where I hunt:D !

[jimmyboy]

Bucks of 1 1/2 yrs age are dispersal bucks,not buck fawns.

[rzdrmh]

from my reading, a buck will disperse between the ages of 6 - 24 months. orphaned yearlings will only disperse 10% of the time. survival rate of fawns after 45 DAYS of age is around 80%.

you did yourself a favor.

[StreamAddict]

Another orphaned fawn due to EVIL hunters!! Tsk Tsk..

I bet John Kerry can create a wonderful gov't program to care for the plight of the orphaned fawns. ;)

[safetreehunt]

"retarded deer village:D
I like that one Trushot. Good chuckle. I'll use that one this weekend with my brothers. We've been shooting does a lot every year for the past 5 years and cannot seem bring down the doe population at all. Full size, fawns, yearlings, doesnt' matter. We must still have about a 30:1 ratio at least.

Don't worry about the youngster. She'll eat good next year.