Does shooting does ruin your chances at a big buck - early season

I have a few nice bucks that I'm watching on my main property but they're only coming in at night, very rarely during the daylight, maybe once every 2 weeks. Do you think that shooting a doe and spilling a little blood would spook the bucks from coming in?

 

I believe so, but im just guessing! We here on Long Island have a new law that from opening day, October 1st thru October 16th, antlerless only!! I know several people who arent even going to hunt those first 2 weeks because they dont want to ruin there spot. Iwill hunt, I just love being out there, but many are staying away for that time period. To me, that answers your question!

 

well if so, than I guess i've defeated the odds a few times in my life...as have others :D

 

Iv got no problem killing does early. I'd rather kill them early, than wait till after the rut when bucks have already spent their energy breeding them.

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I think it really depends on your property. Most situations it is a good thing to take a doe. Less doe mean bucks have to work harder to spread their seed, making them more responsive to calling and on their feet during daylight hours. Although, if you are hunting a small property with a couple doe residing there, you are probably depending on traveling bucks to pass through your area during the rut. If you take the only doe there, then the bucks aren't as likely to visit your property.

I personally avoid taking doe till after the rut. The last thing I want to do if arrow a doe and have to track it right through a bedding area that might hold a buck I'm after early in the season.

 

Over hunting a spot does, but shooting does does not.

 

Shoot does early, Couple reasons. If you take out mature does early it will make those big bucks have to search even harder for that special lady. I knew a guy once that had a piece of property were the buck to doe ratio was through the roof. Like 9 to 1. He started whacking does left and right, Mature ones, Young ones, Everything. If it was a doe he killed it. He ended up bringing it down where it needed to be at and was seeing bucks more often. Shooting does in September and Early to mid October is perfectly fine and shouldn't spook off those big bucks. I'm buck only from the last week of October to the end of November.

 

Depends on your buck to do ration...I personally don't until later into the season because does attract bucks and if they are around during the rut the more bucks will be looking for them. I have a more balanced herd though where I have a lot of bucks to does...vs the other way around...if you only have a few bucks and tons of does you could stand to take some out early and I doubt it would ruin your chance of seeing a buck...in fact it may increase your chances because bucks will be forced to move more in search of the few does that are around.

 

Let me also state I prefer taking em late rather than early but depending on the stand and the property I'll shoot one the first minute on stand.

 

I agree with Smitty88 on a small property with few deer it might be an issue. But on any piece of public land or private with a high deer population it is not an issue. The land I hunt has an overabundance of does. We do not pass on shot opportunities at any point during the season.

 

I have watched bucks walk right past a gut piles in early season as if it were never there. That being said. over hunting an area will ruin it faster than anything.

I always try to take a doe early..

Bucks have no use for them early before the rut starts. Once the rut kicks in, and even into late season they are bait! LOL

 

Take them late and you are removing 2-3 deer from the herd... Maybe one that will have the genetics to make you a hero!

 

Yes...No...Maybe?

My honest thought is I don't think so...depends on what you want though, if you are holding out for a big buck, why risk it?

 

With that thought process taking them early does just the same thing.....only difference is one likely got bred and one would have...

I'm in the Smitty 88 camp. You've already said the bucks are basically nocturnal. They are that way for a reason and this time of year the pressure should be off of them but apparently something is making them that way. Shooting a doe early and the possibility of having a long track job that could take you through areas that could really bugger the buck you are after is something to consider. Gut pile and blood I don't think would bother them, your intrusion and scent may. Guess it all depends on your situation though as some have mentioned if you are overrun with does it may pay to remove a couple early. I think I would hold off though if it were me.

 

I wouldn't think twice if there is a big doe population.

 

In my experience, shooting a doe or any deer for that matter in of itself will not stop or prevent any other deer from coming into that area later. Just be cautious in your retrieval so there is as little difference than if you were just there putting in a stand, or prepping the area ahead of time.

 

Nah, just imagine all the dead animals deer have come across in their day to day lives. They live in the wild and they die in the wild. Deer hit by cars, predation, old age, there's plenty of dead carcasses in the woods not even caused by hunting.

 

Whether early or late the same number are removed, unless of course the doe can't have kids, but I've yet to figure that out just by watching them :D

 

Have you ever killed a big buck?

 

We usually take a couple does early on with no problem. Probably depends a lot on the deer population in your area. The yearlings that are still tagging along with a mature doe will usually hang around the same area after the mature doe is shot.. At least that has been my experience at our property.

Also fun to get that first arrow out before a big one shows up. Might calm some people down knowing they have already got one down. Blood happens in wildlife and I don't believe it to be a huge deterrent long term. Maybe short term.