Fawns without Does

[lungdeflator]

Scouting this weekend we kicked up 2 seperate fawns, both without does. They were both on field edges so it would have been obvious if there was a doe somewhere close by. And then this morning into work I was on a long straight stretch were I could see the road...no doe ran in front of the fawn and then I waited for a couple minutes and no doe followed. Whats the deal? where are their mama's?

[jentz]

Somewhere your not looking

[96trigger]

I was thinking the same thing. They are in the area, but maybe not right there. I often kick fawns up in alfalfa fields when I am mowing them. Momma is nowhere in sight, but I know that she will be back to check on her fawn and will be able to find it again, even if I chase it away.

[mabr]

She may be dead, road kill. I had 2 fawns last year that I swore would not make it through the season as the mom had obviously meet her demise somehow.

I started seeing them alone in mid August always together and in 1 area only. Me and my wife were walking to a ground blind one evening to watch this field. Right as we were about the enter the field i noticed they were out browsing. We snuck up to enjoy the show, then they noticed us at about 100 yards and literally ran right at us. I couldnt believe it they came within 20 yards before they stopped and then just stood there looking at us. It was as if they thought we may have been their mom, but finally realized we werent and took off. I watched them the rest of the summer and into bow season and knew they we going to be in the back of someones truck once gun season opened.

This property I do not gun hunt, but the owner lets 1 group of folks hunt it during gun season and I just knew they would take at least 1 of them if not both. Well during muzzle loader season I was in the same area, and what do you know they both show up together still after running the gauntlet of a intensive harvest area. They made it, but boy had they become ALOT more educated. All on there own with no mom to show them the ropes.

These animals amaze me at how adaptable they are. Im not positive its one of them, but last weekend while doing some pre-scouting. A smallish doe came out into this same field with 2 of her own now and I got to watch them for over and hour feeding in the same field.

So even if moms not around anymore dont give up hope that they wont make it. These fawns i mentioned were maybe a little older than ones that are out there now, but they should all be on a hard diet now so they have a pretty good chance of making it even without mom.

[Powerstroke]

She's there. They don't run around chasing their fawns like bears do with their cubs. Does will frequently leave their fawn to lure a predator away or just to go eat for herself.

You didn't see her, but she was nearby watching.

[KG243]

It also has been said that a doe will leave her fawn for up to 72 hours at times.