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- Apr 7, 2009
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- Godley, TX
What is an average age for does to maintain production? 12 to 14 or is that too old?
Doe life span
- Thread starter Circle I Deer
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We had our 19 year old Fallow give us a fawn last year and a Whitetail doe that is at least 20+ gave us Huge twin bucks this year...
Sadly we lost our 19 year old one last winter ...We are not sure if something happened She found dead in a Frozen creek.She was very used to the creek so we think maybe something natural....Or maybe a buck?
Sadly we lost our 19 year old one last winter ...We are not sure if something happened She found dead in a Frozen creek.She was very used to the creek so we think maybe something natural....Or maybe a buck?
All animals are different. Some genetic lines are better for longer production periods etc. There has been documented cases of female whitetails giving birth into there 20's.
I have 4 does here over ten that still fawn each year. I will say that as animals get older, but not in all cases as Billie Jo described above, single births tend to become more common as they get older.
I have 4 does here over ten that still fawn each year. I will say that as animals get older, but not in all cases as Billie Jo described above, single births tend to become more common as they get older.
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- Jul 26, 2010
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- Waynesboro, Pa 17268
Healthy i think is the key. I know of some doe that are pushing 15 and dropped trips last year. Our 6 year old dropped 4 as well. So if the animal is healthy and in good physical condition i think that has a lot to do with it more so then age. And i am sure that the older they get the more complications might arise such as single births and such. But keep em fat and keep em healthy!
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No my 19 year old birth single came from a Fallow...
My 20+ year old gave Huge Twin Whitetail Fawns
But yes age and condition can control it of course.
My 20+ year old gave Huge Twin Whitetail Fawns
But yes age and condition can control it of course.
With old deer, teeth are the biggest health concern, spoil them a bit more than others.If you've kept them till 15 they must have survived several culls,no doubt for a good reason.A fawn from an old girl is less likely to have a genetic health fault than a fawn from a young girl.This is the same reason I rarely allow a stag or buck to breed before 5,it allows any genetic faults to express ,which we can not see by eye.Generally speaking having some granny does in with the mob makes yarding & handling so much easier,as they calm down & lead the others around.I have several granny's who will still produce some of the best fawns,even if it's only every second year.These girls will continue to be spoilt as long as there healthy.Cheers Sharkey
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- May 13, 2009
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Sharkey, I'm not sure on the teeth thing I have a doe who did't get her colostrum at birth and as a result has no teeth and has given us no less than qaud doe fawns and and triplet buck fawns 3 years in a row and she can eat anything from peanuts to pretzels and everything else.
G'day Wayne.What I was getting at, is as they get on a bit they have trouble with their teeth,just like us.It doesn't stop them throwing a good fawn,a bit of extra thought & attention to their feed doesn't hurt. Peanuts & pretzels? No beer? I see you spoil yours too.Cheers mate.Sharkey
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i have a 10 yr old that gives me trips every year