I've heard GregH on here say this many times. Hunt the old doe's early as they always come Into estrus much earlier then the rest of the doe's. Greg know's his **** folks!! I always believed It but have never actually seen It with my own eye's. The doe In this video Is confirmed at 10 years old. I know that for sure as I've been watching her for 10 years now. How long she was an adult before 10 years ago I have no clue. She has a limp and Is missing her hoof so she's easy to spot. Last year I never did see her with a fawn but this year she Is with one. This fawn Is huge for this time of year! I know there's spots there but there already fading away a quite a bit. I bet this button buck fawn Is all of 30lbs already. I wonder when old limpy got bred? It had to be very early.
I agree completely with the old does being bred early. I have seen a couple instances already where old does have been pursued by mature bucks in early October, usually between the 10-15. It is a very narrow window of opportunity because as soon as these does are bred the bucks go back to doing their own thing until the rut. And where I hunt, the rut is usually getting going pretty good the 2nd week of November.
Thanks for the compliment Steve! The problem I have on my place is that there are not enough does. At the end of the season, 11/12, I had 2 does and 2 doe fawns. One of the doe fawns was killed by the neighbor kid on our easement last winter. Going into spring this year with 2 does and 1 yearling resulted in each of the older does having single fawns. For 3 seasons I've left the does alone in hopes of increasing doe numbers. I'm not getting the results I was hoping for. This season I'm contemplating taking out one if not both old does in hopes of getting new does that bear twins. I'm still mulling this over. Will I be hurting myself or will it help?
I honestly think you would be doing the small deer herd you have there a favor by taking the old girls out so the doe fawns will stick around and produce some twins In time. Your welcome on the compliment Greg!! Thanks for sharing all that you have on here.
For what it is worth Greg, we have a doe around the house this year that has grew up under a feeder here at the (never hunted) house. She is two an half this season. She has three fawns. Sometimes old does can be hard headed an keep other deer run out. Just a thought. Good luck this year Greg an Schultzy.
Stevo, I agree. That's a big fawn! Greg, I'd whack those older does and make room for younger, healthier replacements.
