Permanent herd building insanity?

[Daydreamer]

I really want some venison. I’m ready to shoot one, but I discovered a new problem last night. I have it in my head to not shoot does that have fawns with them, the idea being not to kill the ones smart enough to successfully raise fawns.

My area, it seems like we’ve been in herd building mode for over 12 years straight. We had the back to back to back horrible winters, wolves, and severe overharvest leading up to that dating back to the late 2000’s and then the perfect storm hit and pops have been sketchy ever since.

That’s led me to never feeling good about taking a doe. I encourage all my guests to shoot whatever they want though. I got over that hyper controlling harvest shit years ago.

I truly think we are one good winter away from a population changing situation that will position the herd well for years to come. There’s so damn much logging going on, that the carry capacity will be many times higher than what we have deer for now.

Am I still on the right track, or should I just take a fawn and call it good? I feel if I kill a doe, the doe dies, her 1-2 fawns die, and next years 1-2 fawns die as well. I don’t really want to shoot a fawn because I don’t want to do the work for that little meat.


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What's your resident population now vs 10 years ago? I think you have more than done your share to bring the population to what it is today. You deserve some fresh venny.

 

[hillrunner]

I really want some venison. I’m ready to shoot one, but I discovered a new problem last night. I have it in my head to not shoot does that have fawns with them, the idea being not to kill the ones smart enough to successfully raise fawns.

My area, it seems like we’ve been in herd building mode for over 12 years straight. We had the back to back to back horrible winters, wolves, and severe overharvest leading up to that dating back to the late 2000’s and then the perfect storm hit and pops have been sketchy ever since.

That’s led me to never feeling good about taking a doe. I encourage all my guests to shoot whatever they want though. I got over that hyper controlling harvest shit years ago.

I truly think we are one good winter away from a population changing situation that will position the herd well for years to come. There’s so damn much logging going on, that the carry capacity will be many times higher than what we have deer for now.

Am I still on the right track, or should I just take a fawn and call it good? I feel if I kill a doe, the doe dies, her 1-2 fawns die, and next years 1-2 fawns die as well. I don’t really want to shoot a fawn because I don’t want to do the work for that little meat.


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If you are letting other people shoot whatever they want I see no sense in not letting yourself take a doe for the freezer. One deer will not make or break the situation.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

Shoot a fawn (or two) or any buck if you want some venison and would like to see your deer herd grow. I like venison a lot, so I wouldn't skip harvesting a deer, but I would select a deer that would lead to the desired outcome. If you don't have enough deer, leave the adult does alone. If you have just enough deer, shoot 1/5 of the adult does. If you have too many deer, shoot as many does as you can.

It may be harder to shoot a deer on your place in the next couple years when you have a sea of 6' tall aspen shoots next fall next door. That will be the best food and cover around, but as it pulls deer off your place it might allow desired species on your place to avoid browsing pressure. It will give you time to start planning what you want your place to look like 20 years from now when the neighboring clear cut canopies and has a dramatically lower carrying capacity for deer.

 

[bueller]

Pick out a territorial doe to hunt. Her fawns will herd up with others once winter hits and they will likely survive. With the old nanny removed you may see a net increase in the number of doe using your property next year.

 

[Mtyhunter]

those old nannies...smarter and tougher than hell. have 2 doe units in my main area right now, and man, those old does stand up and fight each other constantly. and if they're not fighting each other, shes whopping her own fawn on the head. kinda like the bucks around here, they don't mind scrapping at all.

 

[Mtyhunter]

 

[SD51555]

What's your resident population now vs 10 years ago? I think you have more than done your share to bring the population to what it is today. You deserve some fresh venny.

It's up. It's very good, best I've seen ever on my place. I got my place after the populations had crashed hard. I've got pics with 5 fawns in one frame.

 

[SD51555]

If you are letting other people shoot whatever they want I see no sense in not letting yourself take a doe for the freezer. One deer will not make or break the situation.

That's a tad deceiving. Nobody in my camp wants to shoot a doe or even a small buck, so it's not a huge lift for me to say that. If I had OTC doe tags and a meat hungry bunch, it'd be a wildly different harvest framework. Far as I know, nobody got a doe tag this year for gun season, so only archery hunters can take a doe.

 

[Catscratch]

How much meat would you get off a doe? I usually get 55-65lbs from the bucks I shoot. I'm guessing your does up north would provide more than what mine do. Supplement it with fish, bear, grouse, and whatever else you can harvest locally and I'd think you could fill a freezer or pantry (canned) with wild meat pretty easily and not feel too bad for taking a doe once every few years.

 

[SwampCat]

I am one of those who is all about the does. If the deer numbers seem to be increasing somewhat - and the population is acceptable - I would probably take a doe or two. If it is static or decreasing - I would be hesitant about starting to take a doe or two. I went through this for eight long years