I'm not against taking a doe if given the opportunity this weekend, I'm just wondering how to go about it. I'm really afraid I may mess up a good thing. The stand I'll be hunting tomorrow I always see bucks during the rut, it is also the stand where I see most of the doe activity as well(all season). The problem is I never see a solo doe, generally they will be anywhere from 3-7(some fawns) at a time. Last year I passed on a lot of does hoping a buck would be shortly behind, never happened and it ended up hurting my freezer. I just feel like it is a catch 22 no matter which way I go. I'm not on a field edge or anything, this is an AM feeding to bedding trail and the property is only 60-70 acres with a few people hunting other locations on it. Is there a point where you will not shoot a doe due to the number of deer with her? Late or early season I wouldn't worry on it too much, but it's "that" time of year. Thanks for your insight.
If I have my mind set on harvesting a doe, take the shot when an opportunity presents itself. I've had big numbers around and it didn't seem to matter so much as the season progressed. But I will say, come Oct 25th through Thanksgiving, I'm only shooting bucks. I'll hunt does but only for the fact that they are my attractant. That being said, my season in KY is rather long, so many opportunities to fill the freezer. Best of luck.
I usually buy an extra doe tag but always fill it after my buck tag is filled. That's just me though.
I can only hunt does right now but will be hunting bucks starting the 5th. I just stay out of my good buck spots/areas. I 've got enough other areas to hunt does where previous scouting hasn't shown any real good bucks. If I happen to see a good buck in any of these spots... I will just sneak out of there and scrap the doe hunt unless I have one down already. Or I will hunt areas I didn't get to scout much for bucks and kill two birds with one stone by hunting does and scouting for good bucks at the same time. I've been saving my last doe tag just for this reason... to prepare for buck huntng on the 5th. Tim
I wouldn't be shooting doe's In a buck spot If It was me. To much scent of walking around and getting the doe out would be my main concern.
This morning made up my mind for me. No female deer being shot by me for now. I was ready to take one but glad it did not work out
I used to think killing a doe this time of year was taking away my buck "bait", but last year I killed a doe at this time and killed my 9pt 3 days later in the exact same spot. I too thought it might disturb my area finding, gutting, and dragging her out, but it didn't seem to matter.
I just passed on the queen of the forest, easily the biggest doe I have ever seen while hunting. She came in and was literally 6 yds, she went in the thicket behind me and I tried to keep an eye on her and where she came from simultaneously, and seen a beautiful 8 pt about 45 yds away. He wasn't that big, maybe low to mid 120's but he had highly polished caramel antlers. Not sure I could have passed him, but he never afforded me the chance. Igot her on video, hopefully he'll show up as well.
Theres places I will still take a doe and stands I've saved just for this upcoming week, that I will not.
Now that I'm in the October lull, I'm questioning myself. I have passed 12 deer this season in hopes of taking a big mature doe and I let her walk. I could have taken her Rambo style. Just uploaded a short video from my phone I'm getting ready to post in the live from the stand thread. Just gives a 360 view of my setup
I couldn't care less about antlers. If I was hunting antlers, I would go to a fence forrest, and let them tell me what time of day buck #432675 comes to the feeder.
I will shoot a doe tomorrow if the opportunity is there - have not hunted much - unless I have a visual on a shooter buck at that moment. Come Nov I will hold off until the Nov 19th gun season on does.
