I've seen a couple of people make comments on here in the past few days about shooting does during six day. All of the comments seem to imply that it is not ok to shoot a doe during six day. My question is, Why? I've had zero buck action thus far so I'm on my way to buy a doe permit right now. Doe or buck meat all tastes like venison to me, so why not shoot a doe?
Shoot a doe during six day... why not???
BestNJBirdDogs
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Not true: Extensive research was done with wild deer heards marked and tagged with radio tracking gear in Pennsylvania. That research showed that most deer simply bedded during daylight hours in high hunting pressure areas. it also showed that those deer rarely left their core areas (about 80 acres) during the hunting season-they simply changed their activity to hours of darkness with limited movement during mid day. They basicaly held up in hidey holes to wait for the orange army to walk by.
They are there-it's just a matter of getting them to move.-hence that's why so many guys do drives during the gun week.
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That is just an area without deer...
What I was talking about is what I have been seeing in the past week in an area with deer...that is 2-3 pics of does during the day, then 40+ pics at night!! In fact on Sunday, I got absolutely zero pics during the day, then 42 pics that night, including 8 different bucks...[eek]
What time did the first bucks start showing?...Less than 10 minutes after last light!
JC
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Thats is the reason why I dont have a problem with hunters taking does during 6 day. Plain and simple....it gives the meat hunters something to shoot at. If your a hunter, and have yet to fill your freezer by the time 6-day comes around.....I would much rather you take a doe or two rather than filling your frezzer with scrub buck meat.
i was quoted by the originator of this thread let me explain myself
you have 3 days the week prior to drive does .if you want meat change your vacation days to those days not opening day of the "original" buck season those 3 days before are no good either because you have till february in most zones for "meat" and to shues "duh"[confused]no need for insults i just prefer to wait for a buck over shooting does i have next week till the end of feb to kill a doe if i need meat
you have 3 days the week prior to drive does .if you want meat change your vacation days to those days not opening day of the "original" buck season those 3 days before are no good either because you have till february in most zones for "meat" and to shues "duh"[confused]no need for insults i just prefer to wait for a buck over shooting does i have next week till the end of feb to kill a doe if i need meat
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I whole heartedly agree.
Hey I hear you left some footprints around Mt Everest recently.. You prankster..
I think the original thread was about changes you would like to make. Not so much a comment on what is happening under the current regs. But I too have seen some comments from posters about people shooting does.
If you had enough private land that you could manage your own deer, it would make sense to not spook/shoot does if you wanted a buck. Get your buck, then shoot does at the end of the season to balance your herd.
I doubt there is anywhere in NJ like that But it is also true that you cannot shoot a buck if you are at the check station with a doe...
I had five does come by me Monday and a buck trailing. I waited for the buck, and passed on the does (he never presented a shot though). But that is my choice (I shoot 8+ pointers and does but let 6 pointers and smaller walk), I can't get wrapped up in whether someone else shot those does or will. It was just fun trying to wait for that buck with five does standing around on alert. I don't think any other hunter needs to follow my personal rule either.
State land is getting cleaned out of deer, that is a problem. But deer are plentiful in this State and we will never come close to wiping out this herd because 50% of the State is off limits to us all the time and another 40% if off limits most of the time. Baiting was F&G's answer to get deer out of sanctuaries and onto state land, but I doubt it works and has probably hurt hunting in many areas.
If you had enough private land that you could manage your own deer, it would make sense to not spook/shoot does if you wanted a buck. Get your buck, then shoot does at the end of the season to balance your herd.
I doubt there is anywhere in NJ like that
But it is also true that you cannot shoot a buck if you are at the check station with a doe...I had five does come by me Monday and a buck trailing. I waited for the buck, and passed on the does (he never presented a shot though). But that is my choice (I shoot 8+ pointers and does but let 6 pointers and smaller walk), I can't get wrapped up in whether someone else shot those does or will. It was just fun trying to wait for that buck with five does standing around on alert. I don't think any other hunter needs to follow my personal rule either.
State land is getting cleaned out of deer, that is a problem. But deer are plentiful in this State and we will never come close to wiping out this herd because 50% of the State is off limits to us all the time and another 40% if off limits most of the time. Baiting was F&G's answer to get deer out of sanctuaries and onto state land, but I doubt it works and has probably hurt hunting in many areas.
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BEST HONEST QUOTE ON THIS WHOLE THREAD
I don't see where he insulted anyone [confused] Sometimes truth hits home I guess
J/K 11 If you want to only shoot bucks and don't care if they have a more mature at least 2.5 year start then by all means go for for it [up] If that type of hunting works for you so be it. [confused] NOT GONNA WORK FOR ME THOUGH, MY THINKING CHANGES WITH THE TIMES AS I LEARN AND MATURE AS A HUNTER in New Jersey.
Why should everybody have to hunt the way a few you's still feel from the good old days [confused] That is the same sort of mentality that the anties have and use against us [confused] They want us to do what THEY feel is right because that the way they feel [down] Not calling you an antie just hate when people try and push the way they feel on everyone. I know it's apples and oranges to compare the two arguments but it's a slippery slope people. [confusedagain]
To each his own [up]
The "reality" is there where extremely to many does in this state for many years And now that biologists are getting a proper grip on DEER management here in New Jersey. We all see MUCH better buck numbers and bigger bucks taken every year. Also some guys only get the one week to hunt and may travel many miles to hunt in a zone that would allow them to full there freezer without having to shoot a 1.5 year old buck. I would rather see 4 or 5 different small bucks walking pass me then the 20 or 30 does I use to see during six day gun season in the 80's and early 90's
And just so you guys can get a little perspective It’sNOT called “SIX DAY “BUCK” SEASON” OR “SIX DAY SHOTGUN SEASON” IT’S JUST “SIX DAY GUN SEASON”
There are plenty of zones still that are managed during the six day gun season for bucks only if that’s what you wan t to hunt then you can always hunt them. The state keeps great records on harvest and is doing a great job in New Jersey with our heard” NOT” perfect yet, but a hell of a lot better then it was done back in the GOOD OLD DAYS as you guys like to call them.
GOOD LUCK, BE SAFE, AND SHOOT STRAIGHT
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Sorry 11pointer... didn't mean to come off as a hater. My original intention with this post was to understand WHY some people are against killing does during 6 day, not to provide cannon fodder for people to sling at you and/or others with the same opinions. You have every right to disagree with the opportunity the state to gives people who want kill does this week, especially since it goes against tradition. I just want to understand why you and others hold those opinions.
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I passed on a spike and 4 pointer late Monday afternoon. Those two bucks came in together. As much as I squinted, I could not make those antlers turn into 8 points or better!! It was neat watching them come in together and it would have been great to see a few more bucks herded up with those two, but nothing. I passed. I wanted a doe or a decent buck and those 2 bucks I saw did not have the body size I was looking for in a buck.
So, yeas, i would drop a doe during buck season but not small bucks in hopes they turn into decent ones for next year's bow season.
So, yeas, i would drop a doe during buck season but not small bucks in hopes they turn into decent ones for next year's bow season.
As long as we all follow the laws, then our personal choices are just that, personal choices that should be respected by the rest of the hunting community, and any and all bashing and criticizing should simply not be!
I personally will shot does during 6 day, but later in the week. I don't want to spoil the spot I am on, and would like to take a buck, so I am being patient and not shooting does yet. It's a long hunting season and I've got time to be patient, but not everybody does.
So, for those of you who don't shoot does and for those of you that do, I commend you and your choices as long as you are following the law
I personally will shot does during 6 day, but later in the week. I don't want to spoil the spot I am on, and would like to take a buck, so I am being patient and not shooting does yet. It's a long hunting season and I've got time to be patient, but not everybody does.
So, for those of you who don't shoot does and for those of you that do, I commend you and your choices as long as you are following the law
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Just for argument's sake....I want to point out the downside of being able to shoot does during 6-day...
Ive already pointed out why I have no probelm with it...
Ive already pointed out why I have no probelm with it...
The downside is BUTTON BUCKS. By allowing the harvest of does during 6-day, there is no way to ensure the safety of button bucks. Especially on deer drives (which we all know are most popular during 6-day) it is very difficult to spot the buttons on a buck as he flied by at 25mph. If you go out on 6-day with the intention to shoot some does, you are gunning for antlerless deer. Unfortunately, a doe and a button buck are both anterless and a load of OO buck does the same to each of them[confusedagain]
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I'm just have trouble understanding the whole not in 6 day point [confused] but the week after is fine [confused] The doe is just as dead regardless of which week or day she was shot [eyeroll] If you want to hold out on your property and are concerned that taking a doe might spoil your chance at a buck then I can kind of understand your point, but that's only IF there is no pressure in your area and that in this state would be a miracle. I’ve shot doe then killed big bucks hours later out of the same tree during every season we have. So as a seasoned hunter it is a little untrue thinking at least in my experience to think just because you killed a doe or two you wont get a crack at a good buck in the same area.
Thanks for the info Drop Tine. I am still a novice, as this is only my third year hunting, and I am still learning as I go, and a lot of it from the hunters on this site. The spot I hunt in Annandale is only hunted by a few of us, but it is surrounded by property which is heavily hunted and driven as well. The spot in Washington is a hunting club and I try not to go there when too many other people are there, don't want to be hunting right on top of each other. And Budd Lake Bog, well that's another story, if I ever see a deer there, I am shooting no matter what it is.
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