I'm curious. I was out this Morning and driving a two track through the bottom of a coulee to find a good spot when I noticed three mulie heads in the grass on top. I drove further down the path and parked. I grabbed and loaded my rifle then started to sneak back towards them and stalk up the hill on the other side. When I got to the top I belly crawled into position for a shot and watched them waiting for them to stand. When they did I noticed two of them were likely yearling twins. I naturally assumed they were the adults fawns and decided to let the big one walk. My reasoning was I wasn't sure if the younger deer would be able to survive the Winter without their Mother. Now they were not spotted fawns but were obviously her young. I've never thought about this before, would these deer have faired well without their Mother? Or would they still be totally dependant on her? I'm Just curious. The truth is I probably wouldn't have shot even had I known they would be fine and would probably pass that shot again. But I just have to wonder. Thanks all.
How old do deer have to be to fend for themselves?
- Thread starter pharaoh2
- Start date
Suka
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I'm no animal expert, but I've always assumed about the time the rut started this yr's crop got the boot.
Reason I say that is it's common to see "this yr's" bucks tagging along forming a batchelor herd with a spiker or two. I've seen the same thing with antelope.
I also see lot's of "this yrs" fawns by themselves, or a bunch of them with one or two adult does.
For example, on opening day this yr I came across a small herd with: 5 "this yr's", 2 that I would guess were a yr, maybe 2 old, and one big old doe. The big doe was dry.
Reason I say that is it's common to see "this yr's" bucks tagging along forming a batchelor herd with a spiker or two. I've seen the same thing with antelope.
I also see lot's of "this yrs" fawns by themselves, or a bunch of them with one or two adult does.
For example, on opening day this yr I came across a small herd with: 5 "this yr's", 2 that I would guess were a yr, maybe 2 old, and one big old doe. The big doe was dry.
http://ww w.myoutdoortv.com/news/deer-hunters-face-questions-when-fawns-in-sight.html
This is a pretty good article basically saying what Suka just said.
For me personally, nothing beats a young deer for taste.
I leave Momma around to make more meat for next year.
This is a pretty good article basically saying what Suka just said.
For me personally, nothing beats a young deer for taste.
I leave Momma around to make more meat for next year.
Buck fawns are pushed out on their own usually between 1/2 - 1 year old. Doe fawns may still be with their mother at 1.5 years.
1.5 year old bucks are likely the dumbest of deer. No one to "show them the ropes" so to speak.
As far as survival, there are many factors including food, weather, predators, size.
1.5 year old bucks are likely the dumbest of deer. No one to "show them the ropes" so to speak.
As far as survival, there are many factors including food, weather, predators, size.
I am like Pharaoh2. I once had a doe draw, saw, I think it was fourteen does, and never fired a shot. Never saw an adult doe by itself, or with another adult deer.
I was the same with twin whitetails in tall grass. Saw the old one, thought she was alone, then movement in the grass revealed two little heads.
I don't know if they would survive, or not, but I was not about to make them prove it.
The young may be booted out for a while during mating season, but until late the following spring, the young are always together with the mom.
I was the same with twin whitetails in tall grass. Saw the old one, thought she was alone, then movement in the grass revealed two little heads.
I don't know if they would survive, or not, but I was not about to make them prove it.
The young may be booted out for a while during mating season, but until late the following spring, the young are always together with the mom.
With mulies it is quite common for yearling does to be still following their mothers. Those are the ones I try to shoot. If I can't find a yearling and time is running out I will take a weanling fawn.
As a general rule I don't shoot mature does. One reason is that they may still have young at heel and the other reason is you have no idea how old she is. I swear to God there is no tougher meat than a 10+ year old doe ....
As a general rule I don't shoot mature does. One reason is that they may still have young at heel and the other reason is you have no idea how old she is. I swear to God there is no tougher meat than a 10+ year old doe ....
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M12shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- East St. Paul, mb
I would imagine that like with moose, a fawn has a better chance of survival through it's first winter with mom around.
