Help with a decision

[PapaBear]

The decision I need help with is wether or not to shoot a doe early or wait for a buck and miss the opportunity to fill the freezer if a shooter buck doesn't present himself

[Tex_Cattleman]

It's been nearly a year since you killed a deer, if not more. Let those does come in and maybe a buck follows. If the does appear to be ready to move on, make on of them regret it.

[bassmatt72]

I personally have no problem shooting a doe early, but I have several that come to feeders regularly. Plus, I'm not hunting on the feeders for my big buck, if he comes in on one I'll shoot but I have several stands set through out my lease on trails.

[Shake1]

If I am seeking to shoot a doe, I would prefer to do so "before" the rut begins.

[Electrican]

I waited last year and ended up with a empty freezer. I dont plan on doing that again this year.

[ghost]

All depends on your deer population. I have no problem killing does anytime I want. So I wait. But some properties I would take any good shot that presented itself. The deer dont disappear just cause a doe gets shot. In fact ive shot deer 20 min after shooting one.

[Reaper33]

i wouldnt worry about shooting the doe. Had a buddy shoot one and with it laying under the feeder popped another one as it was eating right next to the dead one.

[BURTONboy]

All depends on your deer population. I have no problem killing does anytime I want. So I wait. But some properties I would take any good shot that presented itself. The deer dont disappear just cause a doe gets shot. In fact ive shot deer 20 min after shooting one.

This. We were shooting doe this weekend, but if a good buck would have come out, we would have stuck him instead. But we also see doe regularly all year long and is never a problem to get a shot on one. If you don't see many doe during season and need some meat, stick one.

[JonBoy]

I've made the mistake of waiting only to come up empty. Now my philosophy is: If its good enough to shoot on the last day of season its good enough to shoot on the first day of season.

[jerp]

Every time I have passed on does in the early season while "waiting on a buck" I have regretted it, ending up with neither. Those does you are seeing in abundance may be harder to find once rifle season starts and the pressure increases. But as mentioned above, it depends on your deer population and how often you get to hunt.

[Pilgrim]

If filling the freezer was my main concern I would kill the first legal animal that gives me the opportunity

[2B4Him]

I've heard of leases where the rules are you must shoot a doe before you shoot a buck. We don't have that rule, but I can see some advantages.
For me, shooting a doe early takes the pressure of filling the freezer off. AND, it seems that when I wait, the does become SUPER skittish in late season.

[Winman]

When you have the shot....TAKE IT......whatever it is ,be proud of it....then wait for another opportunity..

[CastAndBlast]

I waited last year and ended up with nothing! At one time I had 9 does around me, but I waited on the buck in the brush to come out only to find out he was a scrub 8. After that, I couldn't find a doe.

I plan on smoking the first doe I see this year before our rut gets going.

[WCB]

I think your question has been answered but what the hay... I don't have does come in every sitting and some years they are non existant or very spooky toward the end. Pop one now!!
I did Saturday evening but it was 30 minutes before dark. Bucks aren't chasing so she took a dirt nap...