Why Kill doe after the rut?

[cantexduck]

I have always wondered why the extended doe and spike season is after the rut. While you are thinning the heard arnt you taking out doe that have been bred already. Alot of people say let the big bucks breed and then take them,but the why take out the doe after they have been bred?? Maybe a really dumb question but it makes no sense to me.

[Ground Checkin' Heavies]

I agree, it doesn't make sense to me either. Curious as to the thought process on shooting a lot of does in January and February?

[Russ81]

We do it to measure fetus lenght to detrimine when the rut was. This info is then used to model when the rut occurs in our area over time and to see how the health of the herd is.

Also it gives last year's fawns a better chance at survial. Research has shown fawns orphaned before December 1st have less chance of making it then fawns orphaned after December 1st. hope this helps

[Chance Love]

I don't think it matters when you kill them, bred or not. I like the extended seasons because it gives us more time to get the work done. Personally though, I like to kill them sooner than later.

[Dale Moser]

Some would say, "If you killed her in October she wouldn't have had a fawn the following year, same as killin her in February".

Not sure which theory makes the most sense, but that's what "deer guys" have told me in the past.

[Brad]

Good point Dale. I never thought about it like that before.

[cj7zrcool]

If I were a buck, I'd say take 'em out late in the year, then I'd atleast have the chance to make a few more notches in my belt. If you take 'em out early, it's a less "target rich environment".

[Dejashoot]

I think that many hunters won't focus on taking does untill they can no longer take a buck/trophy. Some hunters don't want to kill does early in the season because does keep the bucks around and visiting the area.

My $.02

[Hafernick]

The same question arises in my mind pertaining to bucks....why shoot a buck before the rut? He hasn't gotten to pass his JEANS on?

[dmax_hunter]

Theoretically, if you take the does out earlier (prior to the rut), you reduce the buck:doe ratio and your dominate bucks should do the majority of the breeding. However, I have seen several studies that indicate the bucks you want breeding (dominate 4.5 - 6.5 yr olds with good genes) aren't necessarily performing the bulk of the breeding...

[dmax_hunter]

Dustin, hopefully you're harvesting a mature buck, which means he's had several years to pass on his "jeans". Hehe! Additionally, there's a greater chance that buck will be busted up, or worse yet, dead, once the rut kicks in...

[Wildman]

Its all a Democratic move to reduce global warming. Methane gas is known to be a factor in the depletion of our atmosphere and whereas this effect may not be be a factor in one deer, if you do not shoot does after they have bred you have a good chance that you will have two deer after she (the doe a female deer) has birthed the fawn.

One Doe Deer, then

Two deer, then

four deer, then

eight deer, then

sixteen deer......

Before you know it, icebergs are falling from the sky and killing all our deer heard and we are not able to hunt any longer because we stopped shooting does after the rut.

Thats why.......

[Hafernick]

Dustin, hopefully you're harvesting a mature buck, which means he's had several years to pass on his "jeans". Hehe! Additionally, there's a greater chance that buck will be busted up, or worse yet, dead, once the rut kicks in...

I realize that but I think it is no different than shooting a doe after the rut....to me thats how I see it....I personally don't think it makes a difference when you shoot a deer, if you have a good deer population shooting a good mature buck early or a doe late, it will make no difference.

It may be a different story if your deer population is suffering or the ratio is out of wack.

[MQ32Shooter]

I like Wildmans explaination the best!!

[mesquitecountry]

There is a difference. I'll explain why. A doe shot after the rut might be bred to a 190" (merely an example) and you wouldnt even know it. Though that does not guarantee that she's going to have a monster buck in her belly. But you never know. Why let your best bucks breed does and then just shoot them? So what you're doing is effectively killing part of the few off spring that a given buck might produce in a year. Almost all fertile does will be bred no matter what. So it doesnt make sense to shoot a doe that might be carrying superior genetics.

Shoot the does and cull bucks before the rut and you know they wont be bred. That way you know that your best genes (bucks) are going to be breeding at the rut. Spike and doe season makes no sense to me whatsoever. It should just be an extended crossbow/muzzleloader season, but that is a whole nother conversation.

See my other thread for proof that this method works!