OverProtective Doe !!!

Last year I got a doe and when she had her fawns,and when they were day old I went out too tag them. The doe came at me very agressively so I put the the fawns down, to my horror, the doe proceded to stomp 1 fawn to death, teeth bared and all, then she started stomping on the 2nd one and then turned on me.

The 2nd one lived for a couple days then died next to the fence, I was trying to pull it through the fence from the outside and even though it was already dead the doe still tried to stomp it. After her fawns were gone, she stopped being aggressive.

The only reason I am asking for advice is that she has new fawns born yesterday and I am thinking about pulling them to bottlefeed and wondering if anyone else has had this type of a situation.

When I mentioned her actions to the person I got her from, he remembered that she did the same thing the year before.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Wow....that's crazy Mike....I guess we know why the Guy sold her to you......I don't understand what you mean by you put the fawns down.....did you sedate them? if so, this might be why she stomped them ....although it still does not make sense to me why.....anyhow, I would definitely have some pepper spray handy with her........I wouldn't try anything by yourself either with her.....she sounds a little nutty.........I would be interested in how others advise you to handle her......I wish you the best.....

Dennis

What I mean is they were in my hands then i put them back on the ground

Ooops.......I had a air head moment....sorry Mike ......

Hey Mike - Man...that is one looney doe. When that guy said she did the same thing before, was he saying she stomped and killed them or just that she was aggressive towards him? If she killed them, I would definitely pull them NOW! And...I would arm myself with a good sturdy switch to snap her across the side of the head if she trys pulling anything with you. Actually maybe a switch in one hand and a bat, maybe even a gun in the other. Mike, if she'd hit you just right, she could take you down. Dang if I'd take the chance on the ole' rip.



And then...I would look real long and hard at her credentials...REAL hard...and if I thought I could do without her...I would.



I have heard of this behavior before...where the doe was tromping, biting, and actually throwing the fawns in the air.

Can we say PSYCHCO?!!!!!!!!!!!



Let us know Mike...the best to you and her fawns...her, not so much!

I would pull them very very fast and then enjoy a good venison dinner.

I would make sure you have some help then go in and pull them and run like hell if she isnt a great deer i would have alot of jerky

I have a doe that did the same thing last year and again this year. She does not bother her own fawns but kills others. Needless to say that she will make some mighty fine tasting JERKY when she is done feeding her fawns this year!!!

Well Mike I was going to say the same as the others above....but wasn't sure you would want to hear that.......but......I honestly have to agree......I have had some protective does come and charge and snort but never to the point where I felt in trouble...they always backed down and never took it out on their fawns....this deer I would say is the exception to the rule.....she probably should be eliminated ......if she killed her fawns once she will do it again......I would pull them immediately! Wish you the best....sorry for the dumb question earlier.......

Well problem solved, when I went in to the pen, crazy doe tried taking me on again with ears back, eyes big and standing on hind legs, but i was prepared this time, now bottle feeding two more fawns and jerky is on the way. Thanks for all you input !

Hate that it had to end that way, but better her then you or the fawns. Enjoy the jerky!!

Tom Gleason said:

Hate that it had to end that way, but better her then you or the fawns. Enjoy the jerky!!

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Well said Tom...I agree 100%!



And thanks for satisfying our curiosity Mike...And yes, enjoy that jerky...every chewy bite!

IowaMike said:

Well problem solved, when I went in to the pen, crazy doe tried taking me on again with ears back, eyes big and standing on hind legs, but i was prepared this time, now bottle feeding two more fawns and jerky is on the way. Thanks for all you input !

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mike do you think that trait will pass on to her fawn ????

mike sorry it had to go that way but I don't think you had a choice.......hope you get awesome offspring form her anyway.......

crocket said:

mike do you think that trait will pass on to her fawn ????

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I don't know for sure if it is a learned trait or simply her personality, both the fawns from her are doe fawns.

This is only our third year for deer farming. After those fawns grow up and if they exhibit that agressive trait, I'll make more room in the freezer, hopefully it doesn't come down to that. Sure has been quite a learning experience.