I have seen Does protect their fawns in such a manner, multiple times. I have had a few does square off with me thinking I was going to get their little ones too. I have never had a doe charge me, but I have thought they were going to before.
Hi 7magWoodsman
About 4 years ago, during gun deer season here in Oklahoma, I was sitting on the ground, on the side of a hill,observing a deer trail, when 9 does came walking up the hill, in single file. Not a buck anywhere, (it was buck only). The were a little nervous, when they saw me, but I never looked in their eyes, I only looked at them side ways, using my periffial vision. ( my thought has always been, that if you don`t look at the animals directly in the eyes, they don`t perceive you as a threat). I don`t know if it works, all the time, but it seems to.
Anyhow they walked within two or three feet of me, snorting, huffing, and stopping their feet, to get a reaction. I sat motionless,the whole time trying to keep from even grining, cause there was a young yearling doe, that was licking my boot. :-D . Anyhow they lost interest in me after about 2 or 3 minutes, and nervously walked on, as they browsed for acorns.
Next morning, same senario, only this time they didnt approach me, but nimbled at the grasses and acorns, and walked on by.
Third morning, same senario, except there was only 8 instead of 9. I thought to myself that perhaps, one was killed by another hunter, or an animal. Instead of coming up in my direction this time, they stopped and acted nervous. All of a sudden from the opposite direction, came a large doe ( the 9th one of the group), that didn`t come up with the original group this morning. She came charging right at me, and took me totallying off guard :eek: . Now she stopped her attack about 5 feet from my boots, ( I had my 30-30 pointed right at her and was just getting ready to pull the trigger.) Now remember its bucks only, so I didn`t want to shoot her.
Will like I said she stopped her charge, and wheeled around and wheezed, that alarm call they do, and bounded away. The others that had been standing still gave pursuit after her.
In issence, she used herself as a decoy, to get a reaction from me. ( Remember, I raised my rifle in self defence). That action, let her know who I was, and she warned the others. :shock: boy, talk about being inteligent :shock: .
So I could say from that experience, that she would have continued the charge, if I had not moved.
Oh, and by the way, the deer never came up that trail for the rest of the season. I never did get a buck that year, during modern rifle. :cry:
bullet maker
