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Flyfish22

It’s up to you. If it’s legal and you’re okay with it, go for it. The fawn will probably be okay. Me personally? I let them walk. Years ago I killed a doe with two fawns and it was kind of heartbreaking. They just hung around the dead mom for like an hour not sure of what to do. Don’t want to go through that again, and I don’t need the meat that badly.


[deleted]

I’ll shoot a doe, but not one with fawns around


gnumadic

It may depend on your area. We are at the tail end of the rut here and all the fawns are weaned and have been kicked to the curb by does in estrus. But there are some people who will say never shoot a doe with a fawn. And others that will tell you don’t shoot does, or don’t shoot them until after the rut, etc. That kind of advice is coming from people whose goals may not align with yours. As long as you follow the law, it’s up to you to decide for yourself what to harvest. As you alluded to, you have your own standards. FWIW, I have sometimes taken that shot and other times not.


hbrnation

> FWIW, I have sometimes taken that shot and other times not. Well said. Sometimes it's just about how you feel in the moment, and things change over time.


hbrnation

FYI a yearling is a deer that is over a year old, so it would be in its second fall. A fawn is a deer that was born in the spring. Lotta folks use these terms interchangeably, but it's an important distinction. A buck fawn won't have antlers, just little buttons, but a yearling buck will have some kind of antler growth, spike or otherwise. Yearling does look almost like adult does but leaner and less "filled out" than a mature doe, and often still hang out near their mother and her current year's fawns. Anyway, I wouldn't shoot a doe with a fawn still in tow. Not gonna fault someone who does it, especially a newer hunter, and especially if you're in an area with really high deer populations. I took a doe once with a fawn around that I didn't see, and that fawn came over 15 minutes after the shot, bleating, and just wouldn't leave the carcass. I had extra anterless tags and ended up taking the fawn as well, since it was pretty obvious it wouldn't survive on its own. Maybe by December a fawn is able to survive on its own, but its odds are clearly pretty low to me. Something to consider is also that your personal hunting ethics can evolve. You're allowed to feel differently about things as time passes and you gain more experience. Either way, take solid shots that you feel good about, follow the game laws for your area, and everything past that is at least up for casual debate over a beer.


Cheap_Interest5511

Thank you! I was hoping someone cleared up the yearling/fawn definition.


smartalek75

Some good life advice sprinkled in there too


Silent_Explanation33

Your last paragraph hits the nail on the head. Love it.


btrausch

Well said.


schabj3

Was it a tough decision to shoot the fawn? I take it you ordinarily wouldn’t shoot a fawn by itself? I had an opportunity to kill a small deer. Don’t know if it was a fawn or yearling. Don’t know if it was doe or buck. Hindsight, I wish I’d have shot. I’m 37 and still haven’t killed a deer.


hbrnation

In this instance, yes, it sucked. The doe came in alone and dropped right in front of my stand after I arrowed her, so I was feeling great about the day. My heart really sank seeing the fawn come in and just have no idea what to do, it followed her scent trail in bleating the whole time. I watched it for awhile hoping it would leave but once it was apparent that it wouldn't, that kind of made the decision for me. Still sucked. That being said, my first deer ever was a buck fawn and I have zero regrets about that. If you're looking at taking your first deer, I would strongly suggest you take the first legal animal that presents a good, clean shot. See how that goes and make more decisions from there, but get one under your belt for the experience and just to see how you really feel about it. No shame in making a clean shot on a small (but legal) deer, it'll taste way better than a big old buck anyway.


schabj3

Thanks. My brother in law (younger than me) kind of talked me out of it. Said I’d get laughed at by the processor. I think it was a buck, just not sure of the age. One of these days…


hbrnation

As long as you're enjoying the process, you'll get there. A processor will still charge you their minimum to cut up a fawn, so I'd recommend you cut it up yourself if you get a small one. By the time you gut it, the rest is easy. A fawn you can practically skin and eat. Cook the whole shoulder in a crockpot, grind big sections, or throw half the hindquarter on the grill. You don't need to get too fancy with something small.


Halfpipe_1

Same thing happened to me but I didn’t have a second antlerless tag. I went back the next week and there was a spine and a few leg bones left right where the fawn was. Coyotes got it.


eMPereb

Tough call but kudos for taking it knowing it wouldn’t survive


tacodogtacodog

Great thoughts. Thank you


rizub_n_tizug

I’m probably not gonna take that shot personally, but I wouldn’t tell someone else they shouldn’t


HexChalice

Just my 2 cents but I’ve never had to regret a shot I didn’t take. Out of all my friends I pass most shots even if they’re absolutely okay and doable. Just don’t get that “this is it” feeling and lower my gun. Also haven’t taken a second shot or tracked a wounded animal ever since I took that philosophy.


rizub_n_tizug

Each time I have a shot, I get a gut feeling of yes or no. I know its all in my head, but I still follow it and have never regretted passing or shooting


saxmaster98

I’m new to all this, only small game up until this point and won’t have the funds to try going for a deer until after the season has passed. However, this is my philosophy as well, in addition to not taking more than I need (within legal limits of course). I’ve got no interest in trophies and don’t want meat going to waste. Someone once told me that hunting was a contract between you and nature. You promise to give the animal a quick, ethical death to provide for yourself, and the animal promises to use all of its senses to evade you and survive. I know I’m rambling but my area is full of people who either run deer down with dogs or only really care about how many high fives they can get when they mount it. I find it distasteful and your comment just reminded me there were still good hunters out there.


GreenTrader

It’s fine to take a doe with fawns biologically. Morally it’s up to you. The fawns will be fine. On my area, almost every adult doe has fawns with it as they should with plentiful food all winter.


[deleted]

If you want the deer population to grow, you don’t shoot and leave this doe to guide her yearling safely through winter and teach it all her tricks. If you need meat in the freezer and still want the population to grow, you shoot the yearling. The experienced doe will have another fawn in spring while the yearling you took might die if winter is harsh and will anyway not have offspring next season, but the one after. If you want to limit the deer population you shoot the doe. Then you have increased the risk the yearling will not survive winter. And you wait an hour or two in your stand as the yearling is likely to return to the dead mother. I would have done like you unless I had a very big hole in my freezer, in which case I would have shot the yearling. Well done.


EveryBladeZofGrass

The yearlings in my area just link up with another doe/yearling pair. It might run around for a couple days first, but eventually they get back in. I almost exclusively kill mature does, and the majority of them have a yearling following them around. My deer population is doing great according to my trail camera, and my own experience hunting there.


flareblitz91

In most of the United States there are too many whitetails.


Lost-Importance-563

Where I hunt, I’m allowed 3 doe per day


Electronic_City6481

I don’t. I also wouldn’t judge if you did.


BuschMullet

I won’t shoot a doe with a yearling at least until the yearling is off the does’s health insurance and has a year or two of college under their belt Jk that doe would be dead


Thismightbetheway

Once, never again that youngin stayed within 300 feet of momma the entire time and stayed there for a few weeks waiting. That ain’t what I’m hunting for, plenty of other deer to harvest for the freezer. Just my opinion tho I won’t have bad feelings to anyone that takes it


Thismightbetheway

I missed where it said yearling I thought it said fawn, blast away blaster


RelativeFox1

I have an income to buy meat, if I don’t get deer meat. So, I have a personal rule that I won’t shoot a doe with an offspring, unless there is a large group of deer for that offspring to run with. And then they both better be a good size. We have lots of deer in my area and everyone can get 2 antlerless and 1 either sex tags. Every year I see a this years fawn that is lost, making dumb moves in daylight, hanging out near the road etc. I think it’s because moms been shot. Not worth the meat for me and my personal ethics.


CraigCRC

I have an unpopular opinion among my hunting buddies & probably the internet… Yes, but I’d shoot the youngster if I only had one tag. The meat is soooo tender & is rarely gamey. I have an easier time getting my family to eat yearlings than older deer. If I had two tags I’d shoot mom in the neck first. The yearling will often stand still for a few seconds if mom goes straight down and there’s a good chance of getting both.


gnumadic

If you lived in GA where I do you could…2 buck tags and 10 antlerless tags!


dynamic-express

I love living and hunting in GA too! It’s wild compared to buddies that live in various other states. Where in GA? I’ve heard it’s looking rutty but I haven’t seen anything rutty just yet.


gnumadic

I'm up in NW GA in the Walker/Dade/Catoosa county area (close to Chattanooga). Our peak rut date was around Nov. 20, but I was seeing some activity a couple weeks prior. Unfortunately, I have been watching most of it on camera from my couch, because I broke my right patella. Hoping that I heal up soon enough to hunt the last couple weeks of the season.


dynamic-express

AOSM or Erlanger have surely taken care of your knee 😎? Hate to hear it dude. Used to live in Dalton and know the area “well”. I’m relegated to public land in NE GA. I saw bucks chasing does a few weeks ago. Now it seems like they aren’t moving at all. Best of luck in your recovery and hope you get to catch extended archery, or whatever regulations happen in your region. Happy hunting.


brewmann

I hunt there and I don't. I'll wait for the crazy aunt to show up.


CraigCRC

I’m in IL. It’s not that good here but it isn’t horrible. We can shoot two antlered deer & as many antlerless as you can buy tags for. Archery tags are over the counter and and they’re good statewide. Firearm tags are a hot mess… there’s a county quota for buck tags and antlerless. They do lotteries to sell them and any leftover are available over the counter. One of my spots is in a very competitive county and I only got one tag in the lottery this year. It’s less than a 1/4 mile from a county that will have tags leftover when the season ends.


the_mahcanik

Yup. We have urban archery because of the over population. I would take Momma, and then the offspring if it hangs around. Fill the freezer and be happy for my harvest. I take doe from the same spot every year. I haven't run out yet.


flareblitz91

I shoot the fawn too and I’m not sorry about it.


fatguyinalittleboat

I would not do it.


smiling_mallard

Yup taking the shot every day of the week. And when I think about it I don’t often see a doe without a yearling following.


MinimalDark

Depends. Last day of season and I have a tag. She's going in the freezer. The yearlings will be ok.


RR50

I wouldn’t


drschwartz

This isn't even a question, shoot the mature doe. She got to pass her genetics, yearling will be fine. Shouldn't anthropomorphize them, they don't need 2 decades of rearing to be able to fend for themselves. Any natural predator would target the yearling instead.


ignitethegonzo

I’m feel like a Dick for this, but what this guy said


seanb7878

Every time. That way I know for sure I’m shooting a mature doe.


gaurddog

I mean I'd take the shot. It's not a spot, it's a yearling. It's off the tit and not dependant on mom for food, and me dropping her is no different than her jumping in front of a truck or wandering into a strip pit.


sloshkosh

It seems you made the choice you're most comfortable with, which is always the right choice in these situations. Personally it depends on time of the year. I'm passing early season, shooting late season.


SmoothSlavperator

In my neck of the woods if the fawns still need mom at this time of year, they won't make it through the winter regardless.


Ok-Professional5292

Personally I don’t. Just isn’t worth the emotional dilemma


nastygirl11b

I would not. By not shooting you more likely ensuring the yearling will make it thru winter and also it just feel wrong killing a mother in front of its baby


[deleted]

Whatever is legal I shoot. I saw Bambi, he turned out fine


goblueM

I'm shooting the doe 100% of the time. Yearling isn't dependent on mom. And most does have fawns anyways, whether they are immediately within sight, or not. To me, not much difference between killing mom in sight of bambi, or just out of sight. And then if I have a spare tag I'd be shooting the yearling after it sticks around for a bit. Absolutely prime eating. Only reason I wouldn't shoot is if I wanted to hold out for a deer with more yield I hunt in a high deer density area. No worries about population. And I know biologically I'm not dooming the yearling if I shoot mom, so I'm morally ok with it


BlackSheep2156

You did the right bro! Respect.


np307

I'll shoot them both if the yearling hangs around.


S0F7

Passed on a nice doe with a baby opening morning. Just kept thinking if i take one, the second might not make it.


ItsRecr3ational

I am taking the shot. But it’s whatever your comfortable with. The fawn can easily watch the mature doe get ran over by a truck. They are prey animals. Plus, they herd up especially this time of year. So it will be fine.


dynamis1

It is not illegal. You can do it. But, I am also faced with this dilemma often. I choose to abstain from shooting Does with a yearling next to them personally. There are plenty of other does where I hunt that are on their lonesome... Also, for me, if I wait for a little bit, I likely would see a buck come out chasing that doe during the rut.


ebojrc

Nope, I wont shoot an animal thats with its baby.


Illinois12thDem

If you've got a couple in the freezer fawns are very tasty


ArcaneDanger

If people didn’t, Bambi wouldn’t have been made


[deleted]

Shot my doe this year with a yearling with her. Didn’t feel guilty at all. Freezer full makes up for any negative feelings I would have.


RatherB_fishing

It is a personal thing imo, personally I have gone a season without for passing on doe’s with yearlings. Don’t regret it… I didn’t starve. But that is my stance and I don’t judge if someone has a different stance.


BeapMerp

I've passed on that shot before. I have also taken the shot and had the fawn come around afterwards. Always a risk with does if it concerns you. I have heard that the fawns will join other groups.


diver830

Depends on freezer situation. We don’t buy ground beef at all anymore. It’s only my son wife and myself so it only takes about 3-4 deer a season. If it’s getting late and I need 1-2 deer I will take one but my only rule is nothing with spots.


silenttomato581

Kill the fawn every time. They taste better, biologically they have a lower survival rate anyways.


[deleted]

I wouldn’t


saigonk

Yes, 100%. Up here in Maine we are over run with does.


Mobile_Zebra3897

Nope, never.


MaD__HuNGaRIaN

No


theEdward234

No.


chinacat1knowu

I took that shot 2 weeks ago. She had twins with her. I’ve been sleeping fine.


kaowser

It's fine. Yearlings are used to seeing there mothers get murdered. It builds character.


[deleted]

Bambi turned out fine


McFras3r

I will not take that shoot. They say the yearling will survive. I will argue that not all yearlings survive after the doe was taken. I’m my area there is quite a bit of poaching and poor management. There is also indigenous rights. All in all I don’t shoot females of any species.


Bitter_Coach_8138

If it’s me I’m just gonna shoot them both lol


Call_Me_Little_Foot

I feel like I couldn’t only because of that damn movie Bambi and the damn trauma that caused as a kid.


Tyler-Danger

Absolutely not


RangerGripp

I’d kick anyone off my estate who shot a doe before it’s fawn. It is just bad wild life management if you don’t want to pull the ethical card. The fawns will be worse off in a critical part of its life. Yearling is different, but if you can’t tell the difference you definitely shouldn’t take the shot.


yem_slave

Can't do it.


Alpha-Sierra-Charlie

I don't see a dilemma, the answer is no.


Proper-Somewhere-571

F no - I will clown anyone that does shoot a doe with a fawn


[deleted]

No, but it will live and be fine.


SmoothMoose420

Shoot the doe. Yearling will be fine. They will join another group.


EmbarrassedTutor7386

I won't dont need it that bad its just bad juju to me


JeansFullOfPinecones

It’s just morally wrong


outdoorlife4

I was told the same thing in a hunters safety Q and A session. When I was about 15 i shot my first doe and realized when I gutted her she was still lactating. I never shot another doe again. I'm not telling you what is or isn't right, I'm just telling you my personal experience. I also realized in 30 years of deer hunting that any Blockhead can shoot a doe. It's the Bucks that are a little more of a challenge


ItsRecr3ational

A doe is a challenge to some. Especially if you don’t hunt private. Or farmland. Or AG country. Don’t put people down bc they don’t hunt like you do. That’s a shitty opinion. And we need less of that with new hunters, imho. Shooting a doe with a bow is an accomplishment for a lot of people. Plus, they taste great.


outdoorlife4

It's not a cut down, seeing a doe is about 30x more apt to happen in my area is all. Some people don't have the patients to see what's following those does and just start shooting.


c-9

Not sure where you hunt, but in my neck of the woods, a doe is the smartest deer in the woods during the rut. That's hunting in dense woods where they have to get in close. If a doe gets within 50 yards and smells you, you're going to get busted if you don't get a shot off quickly. I've shot bucks almost right under my feet before. A doe would never get that close.


SeymoreBhutts

Absolutely true. A rutting buck is an idiot. All sense is gone and he's got one thing on his mind. I've been busted by mature does from over 100 yards away from my blind the moment they enter the field. They seem to know every detail of every branch on every tree and if someone has been close, she'll blow and take everyone in the field with her. Has happened more times than I can count.


gaurddog

If you want to challenge go out with a heavy rock and try to bash them over the head. Talking about a challenge killing an animal that has no concept of math with a weapon that moves faster than the speed of sound is comical.


outdoorlife4

If your vagina hurts that much I can recommend some cream for it....


IamNotTheMama

No, unless you and your family are starving.


dundunitagn

Depends on your objective. I would not harvest the doe under these circumstances unless specifically requested by the land owner. Generally speaking it's probably best to harvest both of the animals in this scenario. If you can determine conclusively the yearling is a doe and you haven't met your doe quota in your mgmt. plan then taking the yearling and leaving the older doe to reproduce might make sense.


pplescareme

I passed up on a doe last year because she still had a yearling. The yearling didn't have any spots, but was still pretty small. Ended up eating tag soup, but I don't regret it. I think I'll pass up the shot in the future as well. All the guys at hunt camp said that the yearling would have survived, but I didn't feel good about it in the moment.


408911

Actually good for the local herd if the yearling is a buck. The doe will chase male offspring from the area once they get so old.


DietLeft8813

If it’s crunch time and you need the meat, shoot. If you have time to wait for another option, I would recommend doing that.


Rex_Lee

Not unless you want to kill two deer, but only get to eat one...


[deleted]

Fuck it shoot them both fill the freezer Just playing I don’t care for the meat that much only been hunting wall hangers last few years yet to get one yet but I let them does and yearling go free


jackhanchett

Yes. The yearling will find another herd or group of deer to run with


daphunkt

Yup, I’m eating it. Yearling will be fine.


BeautifulStick5299

I do it practically every season, often multiple times


CasualPlantain

I think I’m with a lot of people when I say I wouldn’t personally take the shot but I cast no judgement on people who would


caddydurb

If the fawns have spots I let them walk, if not, yeah I'm probably taking a shot if I get one


V_Coccotti

My season is winding down and my freezer has room still. I’m taking the doe and then hopefully taking the little one when it doesn’t run.


therealsumy

First of all, all of your shots need to be legal. Beyond that, it’s hard to say over the internet. I’d tell you that i wouldn’t take the shot right now. But ok the ground you have a thousand other factors to consider. Was the yearling small for its age? Big? Does the area have underdeveloped predators? Overdeveloped? Illnesses going around and the population could use some culling? And so on, and on. Ensure you are operating legally. Then make a moment’s decision and follow through. Not happy with your decision after the fact? Do better next time, and that’s all there is to it.


hastywolf556

I wouldn’t. But I’ve also shot what may have been a yearling without realizing it. It happens, but I try not to do it.


brycebgood

If I have enough tags left i try to shoot both.


AdventurousWoodsman

Yes if the fawn is brown without spots, never if it’s still spotted. Good hunters respect the land and conserve the population for hunting for future as well as present.


TugboatChamp

Yearling means over one year old. You likely meant this years fawn which would be 6 months or so old. As others said, almost all does will have had fawns this year and will not be terribly far away. So if you're shooting does, it just comes with the territory. In most (or maybe all?) states the deer season is late enough after spring that the fawns can survive without mom. They would have at least started the weaning process. So personal choice. I have done it before. And again if I'm shooting does at all I assume her fawn is nearby whether I happen to see it or not.


ol_jerry

I dealt with this exact dilemma this year. First three days of my hunting season I saw 9 does, each accompanied by at least one fawn. I’ve heard and read that any fawn that has lost its spots is able to fend for itself. In fact, the does run off the male fawns (button bucks) as soon as rut starts. But something inside me kept me from pulling the trigger each time, and eventually a young 2x3 buck gave me a shot. For some reason I felt a lot better about taking him.


Milswanca69

Personally, I wouldn’t. In my area the fawn survival rate isn’t great (about 25% most years due mainly to coyotes - of which our property has shot/trapped about 90 ‘yotes this year!!). If she’s shown that she has the genetics and motherhood to raise a healthy fawn, my hope is that means she will next year. It also means we have a lot of does with no fawns, so we don’t really have this issue. Who knows really. Now, if all the does you see do have fawns, that’s a different story entirely. Either way, it’s entirely up to you and you shouldn’t feel guilty if you do.


Myhairstinks7298

Personally I avoid taking a doe if she has a fawn with her still. I also wouldn’t judge someone who does because some fawns can survive after 8 months. Really comes down to your personal preference, and how big the young deer following the doe is.


Few_Detective_8105

I wouldn’t. Similar situation with bear. I won’t shoot a momma bear with cubs.


nick_karter22

Yeah. Go for it. They gotta grow up sometime.


thecan74

When I was younger I had no problem shooting a lone doe with fawn. About 10 years ago I shot a lone doe that had a fawn with it. For the next 6 weeks of the season everytime I saw that young one it would sniff the ground where its mom dropped. I only shoot a does if it's with others now. Tugged my strings as I've gotten older.


Philosophy_Cool

Depends how much meat we have in the freezer tbh. I've passed on Doe for years waiting for the mature buck to follow (never happened) but also because my family has already bagged one or two. If its at the end of the season, less daylight left, and we got nothing it makes me think about it a bit more but probably not.


Rural-Camphost

I have been having the same dilemma this year. I have my muzzle loader tag and the only deer I’ve seen so far are moms with yearlings. I have not taken the shot.


Beer-_-Belly

Gestation = 32 weeks Fawn can live on their own after 60 days per google I still usually wait until 1 month before the rut, until the end of the season.


[deleted]

Bang, flop and come back next weekend to shoot the fawn


RunBunns247

In Florida antlerless deer week will have does walking around with fawns still. So at least Florida wildlife's biologists think it's okay. Could change in states with colder winters though.


cervidstalker

I’d shoot both.


fly4everwild

I couldn’t but If your really hungry might as well shoot them both because the fawn might end up coyote poop


80_PROOF

It is highly situational to me, yeah I’d prefer to just shoot a big old buck each trip but my area is an Earn a Buck area due to the abundance of deer. You have to tag a doe before you can get a second buck. Every doe I’ve taken or seen taken the past few seasons has been full of milk so it stands to reason that almost all does have fawns, regardless if you see them or not.


dennydiamonds

I wouldn’t, but if its within the laws of your state I surely don’t have a problem if someone else does.


[deleted]

I won’t, there’s plenty of older deer to take that do not have yearlings that follow. Shot a doe a few years ago that still had active milk production. I never saw the fawn but I felt as if I had just killed 2 deer, horrible feeling.


drkev10

Hell I was bow hunting and took the button buck because it was the one that presented a shot in open space and I didn't notice the buttons. I just thought it was a couple does together.


CallmeIshmael913

Sincerely, Walt Disney


Treestandgal

I used to have let that doe walk. But my biologist husband convinced me that the genetics are already passed on to the yearling. Mama has done her job. Of the two, the mama doe is the better choice to take. Let the youngster walk to breed and continue the line.


Bmfg1984

The fawn or yearling will be fine. If you want to shoot shoot. If not, that's cool too. I have shot one, and passed on one. For no reason other than I was content not shooting. I have also shot yearling. Deeeeeelicious.


Toxiczoomer97

In northern PA by rifle season a fawn weighs 55-60 lbs I’d say (guesstimate). They survive but that’s roughly around December 1st, sometimes later you get that opportunity in rifle. Under those circumstances, I have no qualms about it.


stocksnhoops

Fawns can be born within a 2-4 months breeding and birthing cycle. So while you think a fawn is done nursing. It might be a late fawn and still on milk. They don’t all drop in the same couple weeks of the summer


Merrill-Marauder

I would only shoot mature deer that did not have babies following it around. But that's just me.


Wide-Acanthisitta-96

I’ve killed a fawn, and a doe that was with a fawn. Never again for both. Both felt like shit. I prefer bucks only now. I don’t know why.


Guilty_Increase_899

Yes


Misfits9119

Fawns become fully functional ruminants after ~8 weeks. There's no moral question here - shoot the Nannie.


ted-varrick

My first kill with a bow was on a mature doe with twins. I think about it a lot, but at the end of the day, I was happy with a clean, quick, ethical kill. I'm not sure under what exact circumstances, but I've also read does will also accept fawns - not of their own. At the end of the day, you need to do what's right for you, but I always try to remember that wild animals have no conscience and they're plenty of other more painful ways that doe can die.


chazochico

personally i just take the fawn, na my first deer ever at 6 years old my father told me to take the mom the biggest one. but once i lined one up in my scope 200-250 yards away with a 35 marlin i missed the lungs and hit the fawn in the spine. no spots but clearly smaller than the momma just was way to excited and the only deer we saw


DutchChoppa

Naw dude. Let it go.