Blacktail does with yearlings

[JFK]

Question for everyone because I’m trying to put the pieces together. This is southern A zone in Ca so it’s rifle season. I’ve hunted this area before and killed bucks in it, but this year basically every single doe has a yearling with it. A good thing for the species to be sure, but normally I’m seeing more lone does or even groups of mature does…with bucks trailing. This year hardly any bucks are on the does.

Do does with yearlings not go into estrus or attract bucks the same as a lone doe?

Do I just suck?

Any info is appreciated.

 

[willfrye027]

yearlings, as in little spikes and such? Or does that still have this years fawns?

Either way that should not affect timing of the does going into estrus.

Big picture if you’ve hunted/scouted the area a lot this year and have not seen any bucks, they might not be there.

That being said this week things could change any day..some potentially cooler weather on closing weekend could stir things up from a pre rut standpoint

 

[SkiParkGuy]

Ive never seen this many doe with yearling combos. Ive seen 28 pairs in the two days Ive had out in the B zones. Only a few solo doe and zero bucks.

 

[Greenbelt]

I've heard the same thing from several people a lot of fawns this year. Could be good or bad how you look at it.

 

[JFK]

Last week of south A zone the does booted all the fawns. Completely different situation than just a week prior when I made the original post. Saw the juvenile deer in groups of 3-6, and mature does all by themselves or with bucks. Night and day difference in behavior in just a week. If half of the fawns I saw this year make it to next year it’s a good sign. Have never seen so many. Saw a lot
of coyotes too though.