Doe Tag - judging size of animal?

[vpsalin]

How do you judge size of a doe? Any tips? They all seem small to me. Do most people just shoot small/average does just for the table or it's worth waiting for a 150-160 class mama to come along?

 

[Superbrad]

I only shoot larger does when I have a tag.... the one I shot last year was 180.... I am 6 foot tall 220 lbs. so here is a good comparison for you.... That being said, any doe 140 or over I would consider a good shooter candidate as long as she had no fawns in tow....

 

[vpsalin]

The nose on her is stubbier then I would expect a large doe to have. Interesting, I guess my initial idea to look at the length of the snout is not such a good indicator.

 

[Superbrad]

To be honnest with you, you are likely overthinking it.... I find I "just know".... have never been dissapointed with a doe I harvested.... If you limit yourself to finding one that is alone (no fawns) you likely won't be dissapointed....

 

[trevj]

I've always tried to pick the biggest of what shows up in front of me at the time.

Was blessed for choices over the years, esp in South Sk., and North(ish) Alberta, where tags were plentiful.

I ate a few that should have had spots on them, and one that did, too, though. Delish! Not much on 'em, though!

Cheers
Trev

 

[rral22]

To be honnest with you, you are likely overthinking it.... I find I "just know".... have never been dissapointed with a doe I harvested.... If you limit yourself to finding one that is alone (no fawns) you likely won't be dissapointed....

Yes. After you have seen enough does, you will know what "big doe" means, although seeing a lone deer in an unfamiliar environment makes judgement much more uncertain, even after many years of watching them. Any more than one, and you should have some good comparison, but watching lots of deer is the key to recognizing a big bodied animal.

 

[trevj]

One thing that may be worth mentioning, is that the does I am seeing around here that have fawns in tow, are looking pretty sucked down in front of the hip bones and across that area of their backs. Still pretty skinny from pounding nutrition into the offspring.
The eating is too good around here to credit it to much else.

The dry does are...well rounded!

YMMV, of course. It's all just an educated guess until it's hanging on the meat pole.

Cheers
Trev