Sep 25, 2020 · The decision whether to shoot a fawn is no exception. This is a complex dilemma from a management perspective. Fawn does (those that are 5 to 7 months old) are the least likely females in a herd to reproduce successfully that year.

Apr 4, 2018 · Shooting a doe with a fawn to some seems like an ethical dilemma: Will killing the mother leave the fawn orphaned and less likely to survive? “In most cases, no,” says Brian Murphy, executive director of the Quality Deer Management Association.

Although many hunters don’t like taking a chance at possibly shooting a button buck (fawn), there are ways for determining the sex of a fawn. These tips are not always true, but they can give you a guide for achieving your management objectives.

Some hunters worry that taking does early in fall could decrease the survival rates of any orphaned fawns. Here are the facts about fawn age and survival.

Shooting a deer with fawns in tow is a judgment call that most hunters will have to make at some point, but there is a big difference between a doe with a fawn that still has its spots and a doe with a mature fawn that can weigh upwards of 60 pounds.

Mar 11, 2025 · The short, direct answer is: biologically, no, it is generally not wrong to shoot a fawn, particularly in managed hunting scenarios. However, the ethical implications and personal feelings surrounding such a decision are complex and require a deeper understanding.

Nov 20, 2020 · Hunters often wonder, if you shoot a doe with fawns, can the fawns still survive? QDMA breaks it down for us. The QDMA is an outstanding organization every deer hunting enthusiast should follow and support. They provide quality information regarding everything you can imagine regarding whitetail deer management.

Dec 15, 2008 · In short, if you need to remove does to get your deer herd at carrying capacity, do not hesitate to harvest does with older fawns. Last week I wrote an article discussing harvesting white-tailed deer early in the season, which I strongly recommend.

Oct 24, 2021 · What about a grown fawn that is fully weaned and then orphaned during the fall hunting season? Several scientific studies have looked at this question and found that orphaning had little or no effect on the health and body size of these deer.

Dec 9, 2014 · Sunday we found a dead fawn, shot once through the chest and left to rot. In an attempt to understand this, I’m wondering if there is any logical reason for this? Is a late season fawn unlikely to survive the winter?