bucks vs. does?

[nyhunter24]

this year im going to take the first big doe i come across, get some meat in the freazer possibly. then after, worry about the bucks (unless i see a buck anyways)... when do u guys harvest does?

[AlabamaHunter]

I usually shoot a doe to start the season off, but i don't take the first one i see unless its big enough. I personally don't want to shoot a real young deer unless its the end of the season and i need some meat. But I've got enough private land i don't have a problem harvesting a couple does every year. And even after i shoot one doe, I'm probably not going to hesitate to shoot another as long as the rut hasn't come in yet. Wildlife biologist say that its good to harvest at least one third of the population every season. So harvesting and couple of does is actually good for your herd and helps promotes the growth of larger bucks.

[Tenpoint]

It really depends on how many tags I get, which is typically one, two or three. If I only have one tag I try to hold out a bit longer, but I also want to make sure I have some summer sausage in the freezer.

Tenpoint

[AlabamaHunter]

We don't have tags for deer down here. Unless its a gun hunt on the management area. Most of our management areas are bow hunt only until they have a gun hunt. For private land and land not owned by the state there is no limit on does, other than the daily limit, and we can only harvest three bucks. Which we have to document each buck on the back of our hunting license, or on the proper sheets.

[nyhunter24]

i agree with you Alabamahunter. lucky for me i have 2 extra doe tags

[DocHolladay]

I take a doe whenever I can. I'm not picky about where or when. We can take 3 doe a day and a buck per day, up to 3 bucks for the whole deer season. The only thing I make sure of is that the spots are gone from her fawns before I shoot her or that the fawn doesnt have spots before I shoot them.

[NYBuckhunter]

I shoot the first 2+ year old doe I see, then I shoot the second one LOL. If a buck happens to walk by, and he is up to my standards, Ill shoot him too. Basically I shoot does until I am out of doe permits, then I hunt for a good buck. If I happen to get a buck before my doe permits are gone, then so be it.

[KwackWacker]

I shoot 7 - 10 does a year typically. I shoot them when I have the opportunity but I quit shooting does after the rut. I dont like tagging pregnant does so most of my does taken before mid November.

[DouglasSpear]

Haha, well, I've never killed a doe, and with all this doe talk it's starting to annoy me. As mentioned in other sections, I have only killed bucks - and not by choice. For some reason, I never really see many does in the woods and I can't figure out why. I think I'll use my either sex tag for a buck and then really try to get my first doe.

[AlabamaHunter]

Do you hunt alot of food plots? If not try hunting food plots a little more. I don't know about Ohio but down here i see way more does in food plots than bucks.

[Brow Tine]

Il shoot the first doe thats older than 2 years....and if she does not have buck behind her

[DouglasSpear]

Do you hunt alot of food plots? If not try hunting food plots a little more. I don't know about Ohio but down here i see way more does in food plots than bucks.

That could be a good point, I only like to hunt in the woods. I don't like hunting in or near big open fields. I like the surprise, serenity, and darkness of hunting in the woods - but I will change my game plan this year and see if I can get a doe.

[brian88]

ill shoot a doe the last few days of the hunt if i don't get a buck.

mostly i just do it so i come away with some meat. i hate leaving the hunt empty handed got to get my jerky fix

[backwoodsman]

During archery season we have no limit of does. For gun season you can usually get at least 3 or 4 doe tags(im going to wallys in a few to get 3 more). I/we shoot every doe we can, which some years can equal 10 or so each. Every few years one of us will approach 20 does in the season. We prefer the smaller does 80lbs or so is just about right. Of course during the rut we are careful and watch for bucks trailing does.

[jschulz]

I usually shoot a couple doe every year, great meat and good herd control.

[backwoodsman]

Most areas have way too many deer. Illinois is overrun with does, our biggest problem for the majority of hunters is access. Alot of our state is now locked up by outfitters. One county west of us its not uncommon to see groups of 20+does. Most everyone has heard of Pike county. We have several spots to hunt there but the pickings are slim for those that dont own ground or know someone who does. Even with as many deer as we usually take none goes to waste. There are always people asking for deer meat, we always keep one freezer full for anyone thats having a hard time making ends meet. One of the healthiest red meats and tastiest too. Hard to beat a loin roast or butterflys. We make over 300lbs of jerky some years, dried weight.