What's Wrong With Hunting Does

What’s Wrong With Hunting Does?

By Freddie McKnight

Mention deer hunting in a circle of friends and I assure you that most, if not all, of the conversation will be focused on the bucks.

Who has not heard the stories associated with the taking of an antlered critter, be it a spike or a big 10-pointer? You hear all of the details from start to finish and then see the pictures and a mount of the deer.

But what do you hear about does? Not much of anything that I can figure out. Most hunters simply say something like “I got a doe,” then drop the subject. I can’t figure it out -- just because does don’t grow headgear (normally anyway), they are not thought of as being a worthy opponent.

I don’t know about you, but my first deer was a doe. Taken during my first year of hunting, I was as proud of that deer as any I have taken. Still am too.

I have been blessed by being able to hunt many places, taking my fair share of bucks along the way, but when I seriously think about deer hunting, most of my best memories are centered around doe hunts.

GO FOR THE DOE

Growing up in a family of hunters, it was not uncommon to team up with cousins, uncles, aunts, and grandparents come deer season to conduct organized drives. The night before opening day was met with anticipation of who might be the lucky one this season.

It was not uncommon to see 30 or 40 deer in a day, but you had a great season if you just saw a buck. It would take several years of hunting before I attached a tag to a set of horns, but never did I go a year without filling my doe tags.

The night before doe season was spent with more anticipation than that of the buck season. After all of the time spent hunting for bucks, we knew where the does would be.

Drives would be full of action, with both the drivers and standers taking deer along the way. Many memorable moments occurred during these short seasons.

I can remember one hunt vividly. I was flanking the strip mine drive, my mother being the first driver in about 50 yards away. Two huge does tried to break out the side of the drive, the one nearly tramping on me as it came up the deer trail on the bank.

I still think it had powder burns on its neck where I shot it. The other doe turned tail and ran back towards my mom who downed it in short order. To this day, these two does are the heaviest ever taken in that area, but you don’t see any pictures or anything in print about a pair of antlerless deer near the 200-pound mark.

I love to hunt with different weapons throughout the season, but really enjoy using the pistol in the regular firearms portion of the Pennsylvania gun season. The challenge of the six shooter has lured me out many times when others had given up for the year. In fact, one of my longest shots on a deer in the woods was made with a pistol.

It was the second day of doe season and, for one reason or another, the gang only hunted one day together that year. Still, with each of us having a tag left, my dad and I headed to one of our favorite “small push” locations.

With a skiff of snow on the ground and rocky terrain to cover, I opted to carry only the sidearm in a shoulder holster so that I could use my hands for latching onto trees. Dad would take up a position on the high rock at the end of the point.

I saw the deer heading out, long before they were within gun range. They were going in the right direction, but they would still have to cross a deep hollow to get to my waiting father. I crested the hill before the hollow and drew the revolver from the holster. Peeking over the top, I spied five does standing nearly nose to tail about 150 yards away. They were heading in the right direction and I thought I might as well take a poke at one, if for nothing else, just to alert my father they were on their way.

The middle deer was the biggest, definitely a mature doe. With only iron sights to guide my shot, I drew a fine bead on the front shoulder of that deer and not so gently yanked the trigger.

The fourth deer in line, a smaller doe, went smack down and never moved. I had hit her right in the spine in the middle of her back. This is the first I have ever owned up to killing the deer I was not aiming at, but please don’t tell anyone. It was quite a remarkable shot and one that will stick with me forever.

SHARE THE EXPERIENCE

This past year, during the deer season opener, I had the company of my two young sons. After being driven out of our first stand location by high winds, we opted to sit at the edge of a power line. It was not long before a couple of deer were coming out of the woods. Having both a buck and a doe tag, I would gladly fill either or both in the company of the boys.

The first deer stopped at the edge of the woods, giving me the chance to see it was a big doe. She then bolted across the opening, allowing for only one quick shot, which missed its mark.

The boys were still ribbing me about missing that deer and allowing the other to get by without a shot when another doe came across. I did not miss this shot and the doe tumbled at the crack of the rifle, but got up to go again. We waited a bit before taking up the ample blood trail and came upon her bedded down. She jumped up to go, but a second shot to the neck put her on the ground.

When the deer was down, the boys ran up to her. Shot in the neck, the deer’s muscles were still twitching when the two lads came upon her. One immediately grabbed her around the neck while the second one picked up a stick and hit her over the head. Both were yelling for me to get up there because she was going to get away. I could hardly walk for laughing so hard. It is truly a moment I shall cherish forever.

So the next time someone tells you he or she shot a doe, try to get him or her to share the details with you. There may be some memories behind the story that should be shared with others, but because there is no headgear involved, many shy away from sharing it with others. All hunting stories -- whether a buck or doe -- were meant to be shared!