doe permits mean does only!!!

[harvey lee]

For years I would only shoot a very high scoring buck. I guess I had to prove I was capable or something. Now, I would rather shoot a doe to eat and if a big buck comes by, fine but it now is not that big of a deal to me any longer.

I guess I am not against the APR program but to me now, it really makes no difference. I am fine with whatever they do and whatever I harvest.

One can only have so many deer racks or mounts around and I really do not care to eat an old buck for tablecare.

[harvey lee]

If having a doe tag meant you could not shoot a buck, who would get one???? Nobody I know would sacrifice their chance at getting a buck to have a chance to get a doe. If it was that important to get meat most I know would just poach?

In North Dakota where I hunt, a doe tag is only for a doe and nothing else. Plenty of people apply for them right along with myself.

I really believe that for many, shooting a buck is an ego deal. I really do not care that much if I do not shoot a buck. Yes, shooting a huge whitetail is fun but I would rather eat a 2 year old doe.

Given a choice between a 8pt buck or a doe, I will take the doe. Now with that said, a 14pt 180 class deer is a different story but the doe is still better tablefare.

I believe almost every deer hunter knows what he is going to harvest before he enters the woods.

[hockeybc69]

Quote:

a doe tag is only for a doe and nothing else

You cant shoot a fawn buck???

[harvey lee]

You got me there as yes, I believe you can.

[Huskie]

You cant shoot a fawn buck???

[leech~~]

It seems like when you first start off deer hunting as a young man you first want to get your first deer. Then you start hunting for numbers to keep up with the other guys your age in the party, as in "I have more then you". Then later you want to get the big rack on the wall and when you have hunted a while and have done all those things already, you just want to get some deer meat and all the other goals just aren't as important as they once were.

[not_nuf_time]

You may be correct on that ego opinion for some, but for others there are more reasons than that. Maybe, just want (like) the challenge of shooting a buck, or not wanting to be done hunting day 1 when you shoot a doe, or hoping your kid fills the doe tag, then after holding out till your able to enjoy the deer hunting season for a while you decide it may be time to shoot a doe, oops don't happen to see any when you need to. Just more people pushing to dictate how everyone else should function. Just my opinion but, seems to me we already have enough people telling us what to do everyday.

[harvey lee]

As I stated, it's an ego trip for many but not all.

[harvey lee]

It seems like when you first start off deer hunting as a young man you first want to get your first deer. Then you start hunting for numbers to keep up with the other guys your age in the party, as in "I have more then you". Then later you want to get the big rack on the wall and when you have hunted a while and have done all those things already, you just want to get some deer meat and all the other goals just aren't as important as they once were.

Very well stated. That fits probably a huge majority of the deer hunters. But there are those who will always look for the giant.

[flipper]

One other thing I wonder about but do not know the answer to is this:

Is it such a wise thing to manage the herd for a specific genetic trait like big antlers. Maybe there is a downside for all the bucks to end up well endowed in the antler department.

[harvey lee]

I do not believe that could or would ever happen. One would have to totally clean out most gene pools of inferior racked bucks and who would know which buck that would be?