One great time to punch anterless tags is in the lazy days of the early part of bow season. Pete Jessen used a Pronghorn longbow to take this Nebraska doe in September.

Fallen antlerless animals should be treated with respect even though they're not trophies for the wall. While landowners may regard them as pests for good reason, I have a great deal of admiration for all wildlife, and especially for deer. I don't ever want it to get to where I shoot a doe, gut it, and then throw it in the truck unceremoniously. All bowkilled animals deserve our respect, and in my case, a quick photo session to mark the event. Besides, a lack of respect for wildlife doesn't leave a good impression on those who may someday decide the fate of hunting.

Antlerless tags can be a real boon for bowhunters who take advantage of them. And our willingness to fill them allows us to play a more effective role in game management, to hone our hunting and archery skills during "the moment of truth," and to show farmers that we empathize with them and care about more than just putting antlers on the wall. Plus, the increased likelihood of getting a shot certainly makes each hunt more exciting. Doe hunting is also a great way to gain access to new properties, extend your season after you've killed your buck(s), introduce kids to bowhunting, or make your first attempt at videotaping a hunt of your own.

For me, the best analogy is still a batter at the plate. With three balls and no strikes, tactics often dictate the batter not swing at the next pitch in hopes of drawing a walk. As a coach, I can appreciate that as sound strategy, but it's frustrating for the batter to then see the pitcher serve up a meatball right down the middle of the plate.

Well, sometimes we bowhunters take pitches all year, hoping for that big buck. It's much more exciting to swing away now and then. Declare a doe day, and see if it doesn't liven things up for you. It works for me!

PLAN AHEAD
If you plan to take advantage of extra antlerless tags, make sure you know what you're going to do with the meat. Some families can eat several deer a year, so that's not a problem. But for other families, such as mine, one or two deer is plenty, so I arrange for co-workers to receive my additional deer.

Be sure to check your state's regulations regarding this type of arrangement. I'm pretty sure it's illegal to sell wild venison anywhere in America, but most states, like Nebraska, allow a hunter to give meat away. If you have folks in mind who cut up their own deer, things are really easy.

Since my fellow teachers don't butcher their own, I present the deer to my local butcher along with the recipient's name and phone number. Then that person is told to call the butcher within two days to explain how they want the animal cut up. Our state also requires a note explaining the gift with the hunter's permit number on it.

One needs to be sure to dot their I's and cross their T's according to their state's regulations. For instance, I've had folks want to buy a license or at least pay for mine, but I steadfastly refuse. Though well intentioned, any end run around the rules is poaching in my book, and with resident deer tags quite reasonable, I simply consider it the very cheap price of recreation for me. Another solid option is a donation program for the homeless.

The author is a resident of Fremont, Nebraska. He has written numerous features for Bowhunter dating back to 1993.

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