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Why is it better to shoot does early rather than after they have been bred?

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    #1

    Why is it better to shoot does early rather than after they have been bred?

    This question has come up many times in my conversations and in other topic related threads.
    What are your thoughts on taking does early in the season before they are bred? I am only asking as it pertains to the thought of "I don't want to shoot a doe that is bred because she may be carrying a potential monster buck!"
    I for one do not believe it matters, all things being equal. If a doe is bred with a future monster buck in her then she was going to have it either way. If you shoot her early then you still prevented that doe from producing that potential monster buck, she just wasn't bred yet. I guess what I'm talking about is "fate". In the grand scheme of things that doe, that yr either is or is not going to produce a monster buck. Whether she is bred or not when she is shot is not a determining factor.

    Just to be clear I do believe in taking doe to keep the herd in check. I also believe in taking as many doe early so that yo reduce the number of mouths to feed once winter starts and the bucks will have more competition for the remaining doe.
    I just want to get people's thoughts on the theory of why it's best to shoot early as it relates to the doe being bred.
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    #2
    im not no biologist or know 100% what im talking about haha but i would say it would be smarter to take them earlier than later so youre not running the risk of killing does that were bred by your bigger mature bucks that you want to keep around?

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      #3
      I like to take them early to knock the dust of the bow.

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        #4
        The less does you have on your place during the rut, the more intesne your rut will be. I like to shoot them early. Who's to say the doe you killed in Jan wasn't bread by the big buck you killed in November? Now, if your doe population is WAY out of whack, it's more important to get mouths off of the range than it is to worry about what time of year you shoot them. Once you get your numbers in check, I would think a little harder on trying to kill them in early October.

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          #5
          If you kill does in oct, nov, or dec. they are not going to produce fawns. Doesn't matter when you shoot em.

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            #6
            The rut causes physical stress on bucks. The less does to breed, the less the bucks get rundown.

            Also, the earlier you kill the does the more food that is available for the remaining deer.

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              #7
              Originally posted by red View Post
              If you kill does in oct, nov, or dec. they are not going to produce fawns. Doesn't matter when you shoot em.
              This is what I am trying to discuss. Most are missing my point. I understand the numbers game when it comes to breeding, buck/doe ratio and less mouths for available food.
              What I'm asking is why do some say I'd is better to shoot a doe before she is bred rather than later? Doesn't matter when she dies, before or after, she still dies before she gives birth to that potential trophy buck.

              The point about the bucks having less doe to service is valid point. Less doe also creates more competition and more fighting which will put a heavy toll on bucks.

              I just like to get debates like this started to get discussion flowing. Always looking for differing opinions in management.

              I am really looking for opinions pertaining to the reasons taking doe early or late dependent on whether they may be bred or not.

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                #8
                How about this idea.... If you shoot a doe early , then you don't have to worry about shooting her later in the season and in potential rut where you might scare the " monster" if a doe needs to be shot, then that really means you have too many does. And if that is the case, then the buck to doe ratio is off and most likely she is carrying another doe. I say don't worry about it and shoot early mainly to not scare anything later in the season if you wait

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                  #9
                  Also, the earlier the better in shape she is in!

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                    #10
                    I shoot them as early as possible because they are delicious.

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                      #11
                      Originally posted by Rando View Post
                      Also, the earlier the better in shape she is in!
                      in some years. sometimes there is no mast but lots of late summer/early fall browse so the best shape the deer will be in will be early. some years there is no browse, but a great late acorn crop, which means the deer will be fattest late in the season.

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                        #12
                        Originally posted by Hamshire View Post
                        I shoot them as early as possible because they are delicious.
                        +1

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Originally posted by KactusKiller View Post
                          This question has come up many times in my conversations and in other topic related threads.
                          What are your thoughts on taking does early in the season before they are bred? I am only asking as it pertains to the thought of "I don't want to shoot a doe that is bred because she may be carrying a potential monster buck!"
                          I for one do not believe it matters, all things being equal. If a doe is bred with a future monster buck in her then she was going to have it either way. If you shoot her early then you still prevented that doe from producing that potential monster buck, she just wasn't bred yet. I guess what I'm talking about is "fate". In the grand scheme of things that doe, that yr either is or is not going to produce a monster buck. Whether she is bred or not when she is shot is not a determining factor.

                          Just to be clear I do believe in taking doe to keep the herd in check. I also believe in taking as many doe early so that yo reduce the number of mouths to feed once winter starts and the bucks will have more competition for the remaining doe.
                          I just want to get people's thoughts on the theory of why it's best to shoot early as it relates to the doe being bred.

                          I think your comments are right on target. A doe that is carrying a potential monster buck in January is the same doe that wasn't carrying it in Oct/Nov. Either way, results are the same. I also agree with the other comments about carrying capacity, etc.

                          Comment

                            #14
                            We leased a pasture on a large managed ranch in south tx. The land owner wanted us to get ours shot early because if we didn't get our numbers he was gonna have it done far us. It was a lot every year.he never gave any other reasons.

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Taking does early in the season benefits me and the remaining deer (bucks and slickheads).

                              ME:
                              1.) It helps me to "tune up" for he season.

                              2.) It helps me to take the pressure off by putting meat in the freezer.

                              DEER
                              1.) Helps the sex ratio for the herd. Less does help with a more intense rut.

                              2.) Helps reduce pressure on the available food sources.

                              3.) Reduces the opportunity for does to sit behind my stand blowing at me. :-P

                              Comment

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