Shoot the doe first, then the fawn. Good way to fill the freezer and you don't have to wonder how the fawn will do. I have to say that in all my hunting, I've never shot a 'dry' doe. I'm not sure they really even exist. :D I've shot does that are alone, just to have a fawn show up after the doe is down, or it's obvious when field dressing that she's still lactating. [Oops.. I was logged in as K. -Christine]
I've shot momma and her two fawns more than once. They tasted great. I just make sure they aren't button bucks. Although, I've read many studies that suggest button bucks will most likely not live in my core hunting area. I hunt for meat and antlers. I know it sounds somewhat "evil" for lack of a better word but I'm out there to put meat in the freezer. If a momma and fawn presents itself and I have a tag then my arrow is flying.
I shoot them. I really have no issues with it at all. Typically from what I've seen, the fawns will take up with another family group of does and fawns anyhow. 2x years ago, I had a pair of does that each had 2x fawns coming out of the same thicket near a food plot almost every day. Like clock work. One of those nannies was a smart old girl, and I was trying to thin the doe population at that point. Rob shot the biggest doe of the two (back when he was a gimp :D), and for the rest of the season the fawns just stuck with the other family group. You would see the one mature doe that made it, and 4x fawns with her. Some of those fawns have since dispersed, but the same family group still lives there in that same thicket today, and I'm pretty sure at least one of the orphaned fawns is still in there. I have no doubt that the fawns will make it in 99.9% of situations by time hunting season opens, and if they don't it's probably because of predation, etc.......something that likely would have gotten them anyhow.
RJ is right on. The doe I shot a few weeks ago had twins with her. I have pics of them now on my trail cam hooked up with another doe and her twins.One big happy family.
About a week and a half ago I had trail cam pics of a fawn trying to suckle and you could tell the doe was not letting it. That night I sat over a food plot to film and the same pair of does came out with a fawn and the fawn was chow'in down on chickory and clover. They'll be fine, it's just something you have to decide whether or not you want to do as a hunter.
Here in Illinois it is a law that if the fawn has spots then you can not take the fawn or the mother! Once the spots are gone they are all fair game! Fill that freezer if no spots! That is what I say!
Momma dies For whatever reason, these 2 bucks were fawns last year and they were by themselves after October 15th. They did just fine.
From all I have read, this seems to be fact according to experts like Dr. Deer, and Leonard Rue III. I shoot does with fawns regardless if they are buck fawns or doe fawns. From one of the previously names authors (not sure which) fawns can actually survive without a mother after 2-3 months.
Guilty as well, when I on a meat hunt that's the perfect scenario. I'm not ashamed of it epically after their in my belly.
