So, anyone else grossed out over doe fetuses?

[fritztown]

Always look forward to harvesting does at some point in the season. Usually ends up later than I'd prefer. Anyway, can't get fired up about it--the whole fetus, twin fetus thing--fully formed--yuck! Haven't culled does this late in years because of it...Anyone suffer from the same condition?

[DaveC]

We have to pull them & measure them on one of my leases (MLD) - I'm not too fond of the sight myself.

The jokes of "goes good with eggs" are kinda funny though .

[DawgOnIt]

Had a hunter shoot a doe earlier in the season (pre-rut) that had what appeared to be a fetus. No one wanted to cut it open but curiosity got the best of me. Upon further inspection, it was an almost fully developed fawn that she didn't birth or abort from last year, and her body was slowly absorbing it. Bones, hide, and a few other things still obvious. Yuk! Confirmed with a biologist that this is not that uncommon.

[Mister Bubba's bulletman]

No. That is how God made you and me. It is one of the more fascinating and regretful things to see when cleaning your animal.

Some places do require the inspection of babies. I've had to do that at Chaps on a Javi before.

[tbgascorer]

I know what you mean. My nephew shot his first deer (doe) a couple of days ago. I was afraid to open her up because her belly looked so full that something had to be in there. Upon gutting, we found twins about 2 inches long. I assume she was bred several months ago and this was the result. Kinda sad, but very interesting as well.

[Bobcat]

Just read an article about this very subject in the Lonw Star Outdoors newspaper. Basically stating to shoot does earlier in the year if you want to avoid this. Not to mention that by shooting a carrying doe you're potentially harvesting either two or three deer in one shot (but you should not count those lost fawns as part of your current cull). In some cases this is needed due to the carrying capacity of the land. In other cases you may be shooting yourself in the foot and limiting your success for seasons to come. In the end though, you don't know what she bred with in the way of quality and you always harvesting doe is always advised to keep the buck/doe ratio in check. Good food for thought I suppose and depending upon your areas population situation and ratios the answer could easily change. Moral of story, try to harvest your doe early in the season.

[Knight in Mossy Oak]

Always look forward to harvesting does at some point in the season. Usually ends up later than I'd prefer. Anyway, can't get fired up about it--the whole fetus, twin fetus thing--fully formed--yuck! Haven't culled does this late in years because of it...Anyone suffer from the same condition?

You mean something like this? These came out of a doe killed last year (2007) a couple of days after Thanksgiving. My wife is the curious one...

[A&M 90]

Oh my...seeing that pic makes me sad-hearted.

[Solocam00]

doesnt bother me at all, its actually interesting to me being in the wildlife field and all.

[Red Dot]

Omg!!

Solocam, I have a dog that looks just like the one on your avitar!!!!
My husband killed a doe during doe season long time ago that had twins inside her. He buried her with her twins!!!! He just didn't have the heart to eat her!!!
Red Dot

[bowhuntertex]

Just read an article about this very subject in the Lonw Star Outdoors newspaper. Basically stating to shoot does earlier in the year if you want to avoid this. Not to mention that by shooting a carrying doe you're potentially harvesting either two or three deer in one shot (but you should not count those lost fawns as part of your current cull). In some cases this is needed due to the carrying capacity of the land. In other cases you may be shooting yourself in the foot and limiting your success for seasons to come. In the end though, you don't know what she bred with in the way of quality and you always harvesting doe is always advised to keep the buck/doe ratio in check. Good food for thought I suppose and depending upon your areas population situation and ratios the answer could easily change. Moral of story, try to harvest your doe early in the season.

I do agree with that if you don't want to see the fetus, then shoot does early. but by shooting a carrying doe, doesn't mean that you killed more than one animal. You kept her from giving birth wether she was breed or not. Once she is dead she can't have anymore babies......

[huntresss]

The only time they bother me is when I'm pulling a lamb or kid and reach in and grab hold of a mummified fetus that leaves stink on my hand that won't wash off. That's one of those things you just can't do on a full stomach.

[TXJon]

This has got to be the perfect "right before dinner" thread.

Where's that puking smiley when you really need it?

I have no problem shooting bred does, but I feel no need at all to go digging around in there to see what kind of little surprises I might find.

[Jackalope]

nasty pictures, poor things

[Coach]

My wife is an ag teacher and she makes me bring them home so she can take them to class for her kids to inspect. I've brought her, pig, WT, axis, red deer, sika and black buck ones so far. It's neat to see the different stages of development. The kids love getting to examine them.