So I was on some neighbors property and I was checking out a small grassy meadow and a creek. As I came down to the creek, I stopped almost immediately. There was al least one Doe and there may have been another but it was in some pretty long grass. After about 5 minutes of looking at me it ran away. I soon walked back to the meadow to get in a tree when I spotted a mother deer and her baby doe. The mother was around 4 years old and the doe was only about a year old, maybe. the mother Doe spotted me and started jumping in the air and did the baby doe. I did not exactly know what they were doing, but I also had another question… what would be the consequences of shooting the mother doe? How would that effect the baby doe? Thanks -IndianaBowhunter
Most fawns are born in the late spring between April-July, so the fawn is more than likely less than a year old, or approx. 1.5 years old. If she's 1.5 years old, she's obviously not a fawn. So using the simple math the fawn is approx. 4-7 months old. Here's a snippet of info for you. Fawns are functionally weaned by the time they are 10 weeks old. They will still nurse if allowed up until they are 5 or 6 months old. However, this is not necessary for their survival. After 10 weeks of age, fawns are perfectly capable of obtaining food on their own by grazing and browsing. Deer do learn feeding behavior so the longer a doe and fawn are together, the more the fawn learns. By the time archery season rolls around, fawns are self sufficient and they remain with their mother for purely social reasons. Orphaned fawns are rarely adopted but there is no need of this in the fall anyway. And another snippet. What percentage of the fawns are bred during their first rut, and if they are bred, how many are producing multiple offspring? Whether a female fawn comes into estrous when she is 6-8 months old is directly connected to her weight. Fawns reach puberty at 80 to 90 pounds. If this critical weight is attained, female fawns will come into estrous their first fall. Of the fawns that breed in Pennsylvania, most (>80%) have single fawns. Less than 20% have twins during their first pregnancy So in a nutshell, if you're describing her as a fawn still, she's more than likely less than 80lbs (mating weight), but she's also old enough to survive on her own. In certain circumstances I've heard of fawns not leaving their mothers side after she's been shot. So you could possibly have a fawn standing there staring at you while you're trying to field dress her mom. Personally, I won't shoot at a doe when she has her fawns with her still. But I also don't see anything wrong with a hunter doing it. It's a decision that all of us have to make. Lastly, that fawn is more than likely about to get kicked to the curb by momma in the near future anyway. So it's your call.
Shot a yearling doe opening day last yr. She was alone, very healthy with a full stomach. Other than looking right at me and not galloping away she was self sufficient. Just had her in chilli last week and meatballs this week :-)
