Doe VS. Buck

[EagleEye]

Show of hands. Which one would you put in the freezer first?
Personally, I feel that you can't eat horns, but they sure look nice on the wall.:D

[Grassy Sound Buck Bagger]

I am happy to just see deer let alone get a shot at one. If it is an ethical shot and I have a tag I will take the shot. I sure do love backstraps.

GSBB

[condition1]

Bucks are nice but it dosn't matter to me. Does do just fine, most of the time they taste better. Our bucks get ground up with some pork added. Tacos and burgers. UMM

[Liv2hunt]

All seasons included, I try to harvest 2 deer total, because that is what my family will consume. That being said, I now buck hunt only during bow season and bow permit...does are bait to me at this time. Buck only for the first 2 days of muzzleloader and shotgun. If I still need meat after that, its time to thin the herd with the remainder of the muzzleloader season.

[maine_sport]

Show of hands. Which one would you put in the freezer first?
Personally, I feel that you can't eat horns, but they sure look nice on the wall.:D

When I started to hunt the North Maine Woods in 1983, the locals always asked each other "Did you get your deer". No mention of buck or doe. Everyone was happy to get his or her deer. They were allowed only one deer a year. If you took your deer in bow season you were done for the year.

During the 1980s, they started to cut the deer wintering yards to eliminate the Spruce budworm. Couple that with harsh winters (last year > 15 feet of snow) and it devastated the deer herds in Northern Maine.

This year even the bow hunters can only take bucks in Northern Maine. Central and southern Maine deer herds are doing fine.

Here in NJ, I am happy with buck or doe unless the doe has this year's fawn(s) with her.

[yobuck09]

Never taken a doe have taken a number of bucks. I just look at it like this the does produce the bucks so if you take them you may be killing 2 or 3 three bucks also.

[Grassy Sound Buck Bagger]

I typically hunt is Southeastern PA where the deer are drastically over populated so it is not to much of a concern about Buck to Doe ratios. I take what I can down here.

GSBB

[LUCKY7]

Buck or doe doesn't really matter, I like to get at least one in the freezer. Let me back that statement up with this: There are areas I hunt where I won't shoot does, as I believe the herd is in poor condition.

[EagleEye]

Thanks for the replies. I am a meat hunter and wanted to see how many others were out there.

[Joe D.]

Doesn't matter to me either. If it's legal and I have the shot, its going in the freezer.

I would probably consider passing on a small size buck this year though considering I got a decent 8 pointer last year. I'd like to reach the 10 point or better club this year.

[Treude1]

Meat hunter here as long as freezer gets full I'm good.

[swab1985]

I'll shoot whatever walks in front of me...legally of course... I take the first deer I see for the freezer, then if I get a trophy, great, if not, oh well atleast im full of venison

[Eastern Shore Slayer]

Well I hunt to put food on the table
Early bow anything, if I get a doe then I go strictly buck, till end of november, then its time to put more meat in the freezer
where i hunt,Dorchester co. md, is severely over run with deer, if i have 3 deer in the freezer i keep hunting, there are plenty of people who could use the help of all the meat and the farmers who we lease the land from benifit from it, last year they had about 30% loss of soy bean due to deer, and another 30% loss due to the weather

[The Wadd]

In the past before the 3 on one side BS I passed on so many buck! Now if its A legal Buck Ill Shoot him! I would never pass on an 8 pointer! And A Doe with a Bow Is Awesome! :fight:

[BarnesX.308]

I would prefer a buck (antlers intrigue me :D) but will take a doe any day. Only one doe a year upstate, though, and I usually try to take that with my bow.

In rifle, I will pass up a doe if I'm waiting for a buck. If conditions are poor, I'll take a doe to avoid the skunk ;).

I also would like to join the 10 point club this year.

[Full Draw]

I hunt PA and buy a pile of doe tags. Usually early archery all I shoot are does. Of course if a really nice buck comes by I'll try and shoot it. Last year my second day out I passed on a really nice 8 point I probably should of shot. I hate that PA is a one buck state. I want to have a buck tag for the rut. I ended up killing a decent 8 point the last week of archery but it wasn't as nice as the one I passed on.

[BLACKCLOUD]

To put in the freezer I'll drop a doe they taste better. If I kill a buck I have all the ground in to burger.

[outrigger1]

it goes in the freezer doe or buck with the price of everything this year and work being slow Im so glad I did a big garden this year

[ub1243]

i'd rather take a 1 1/2 year old doe for meat.
i try and leave a few old horse faced does. someone has to be the teacher.
for bucks it's 8pt or better.

[1GUNNER]

IN ARCHERY I WILL ONLY LOOK FOR BUCK I USUALLY HUNT 5C WHICH IS OVERPOPULATED ACCORDING TO THE GAME COMMISSION. NOT WHERE I HUNT. OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS THE FARM I HUNT JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE QUANTITY IT USED TO HAVE DUE TO OVERBUILDING AND LOSS OF HABITAT.

IN RIFLE SEASON I HUNT THE NE CORNER OF TIOGA COUNTY AND WILL TAKE WHATEVER PRESENTS ITSELF.:thup:

[DEER CHUM]

During bow im there to hang meat,when the freezers full ill look for a nice buck, muzzy and shotgun ,its time for management unless a bruiser creeps by.

[mudmarlin70]

Once I See what's going on in a certain area, I'll take a doe without hesitation forthe freezer or cull if I'm in an area really run over with deer. Some places I hunt, I wont shoot a doe because one doesnt need to be taken..by me.

When it comes to a buck, I'm only gonna shoot at a really nice animal. I have no problem letting 2 1/2 yr old eights walk right by. I look at it like this....A set of antlers sitting in a box in my basement isnt doing me any good. If the deer is a trophy to me..so be it, game on. But I'd rather take a doe for the freezer where one needs to be taken long beofre I'd take an immature buck.

Mentality here is "if I dont shoot it, someone else will" I look at it like if I shoot it, it defintitely wont see next year. And if someone else takes the deer, and it means something as a trophy to that hunter...thats ok with me.

[Archer101]

I hunt mainly Doe before the Rut starts, then after that starts I try for that big boy!
IMO the Does taste better than that Big Old Buck!

[MEAT-WAGON]

this is my first bow hunt so im anxious to get my first kill doe, buck , doesnt matter meat is meat cant cook the horns i wont shot a small buck give em a chance to make some little ones :razz:

[George Ackley]

Horns make thin soup:D:D:D:D

[theirishjig]

I agree...you can't eat the horns....legal and brown for me:D

[ACEarcher]

If I want/need the meat then doe for sure. Their are always more doe than buck. I'm also pritty strict when it comes to harvesting the buck I want. I try to get as many of the buck in the area on trail cam first then target a specific buck that I want.

[Barrell]

In some areas the bucks dont taste very good. I shot a 13 pointer in the Adirondacks that tasted like roten fish. Its the only deer I ever threw out the meat. Even the hamburger was strong and gamey. There are no fields where I hunt. I see them eating the moss hanging on the tree branches all the time.

[ACEarcher]

Never ate a Jersey deer. I've heard Jersey deer taste like pine.

[Y-BUC-BILL]

Some zones in N.J. should have no doe hunting.Its time the Division stop doe hunting in those zones and let the deer herd rebuild itself.exampleZone 19.In my opinion anyone can shoot a doe.I personally have a problem gutting a deer with tits on it.Also after the deer have bred,your killing the unborn.Just my 2 cents

[One Shot]

I never shot a doe and probably never will unless the deer population gets back up to where it was in the late seventies.I think its ridiculous the amount of doe tags that are being issued.I used to hunt in Potter 30 years ago and would see no less than 50 deer in the first hour.Now your lucky if you see a deer all day.Its hard to get young people into hunting these days when it you cant keep them at least seeing doe wander around.

[bigolebuck]

Early season for me is all about the meat! Then I settle down and do some horn hunting... Usually nothing less than an 8 pointer..
Let the spikes and 4 pointers grow!!!!!!!!!!