OT - What would you do??

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:41 pm

I was out hunting today for tree rats and I came upon a situation that I would like to hear your opinion on.

In Pa, we are inbetween deer seasons. The late flintlock primitive season opens on the 26th and runs for a couple of weeks. As I was slow hunting along a creek bottom, I saw a doe deep in a thicket on high alert. I was busted, being about 10 yards from her, and as she STRUGGLED to get out of her bed, I saw her left rear leg was shattered and she was unable use it as she got up and looked over her shoulder. I said to myself that this deer was suffering and certainly won't make it through the winter. I was hunting with a 12 bore hammer shotgun from 1897 and I was carrying a pistol capable of shooting the deer. With her obviously suffering, I drew my pistol, taking aim behind her shoulder and ........

WHAT WOULD YOU DO:

Let her go, suffering as she was to perhaps hunt her during the BP season, allowing her to suffer for at least 4 more days.

Shoot her and put her out of her pain, even though she was not "legal" to shoot.

If you shoot her, do you call the game warden and tell them what you did, do you tag her and count her as one of your deer, Do you not tag her and take her home, donate her, or leave her?

Contact Game Officials to have them "attempt" to put her down, if they could find her, and if they had the inclination to do so.

What would you do??? I'll post later the end of the story

Joe Reilly · Post by **Joe Reilly** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:45 pm

Coyotes will eat good tonight. I would not report it.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:48 pm

I think I'd shoot the deer. The question is then what to do?

You might go find a warden and keep the conversation between you and him. In other words don't go telling the dispatcher why you need him if you must go that route but I would think that if you talked to him one on one and offered to donate the meat to a shelter somewhere you might be in the clear. It would be his call as long as you didn't FORCE him to MAKE a call in front of someone else. He might even deliver the meat for you to keep things honest.

What happens to road kill in your area?

Rusty <><

horsesoldier03 · Post by **horsesoldier03** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:53 pm

Joe Reilly wrote:Coyotes will eat good tonight. I would not report it.

+1

DDude · Post by **DDude** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:55 pm

I'd have put her down and kept on walking. It's the humane thing to do and since you weren't taking her for personal benefit in keeping with the hunting regulation I'd simply not mention it to anyone else.

horsesoldier03 · Post by **horsesoldier03** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:58 pm

The letter of the law always views things in BLACK and WHITE. Despite your motive, you could be charged for Killing a Deer out of Season and possibly shooting a deer and not tagging it. He could also accuse you of being the individual that shattered the deers leg in the first place. I have seen others make judgement calls like this and what seems like what may be right at the time is CONDEMNED by others later.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:59 pm

What deer? I didn`t see no deer!
If you did do it,Thanks. You are a good guy. I hate to see any animal suffer. That is why I dont bow hunt any more. Nothing against bow hunters, just dont like the feeling it gives me when I am/was doing it.It should be quick and clean.

canonsix · Post by **canonsix** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:59 pm

I would put her down and keep walking. Doug

Comal Forge · Post by **Comal Forge** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:05 pm

I'd shoot her and leave the carcass for the varmints. They get to eat, too.

A couple of years ago, my son put down a buck deer that had been arrowed in the top of the back with a broadhead. He was moving very slowly and about 20 yds away when he looked straight at Clayton right before the shot. I'm sure he was in pain and it was a relief to finish it. The wound stank to high heaven and we could not get anywhere close without handkerchiefs over our noses so we didn't even try to cut him open but hauled it off to where the coyotes and buzzards would clean up the mess.

stretch · Post by **stretch** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:05 pm

Shoot the poor thing, say a quick prayer to the Creator,
police your brass, and keep on going.

Many wardens would write ya up. You don't need the hassle.
You and I know you did the RIGHT thing. Maybe not legal,
but the law is an a** many times.

Kansas Ed · Post by **Kansas Ed** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:08 pm

In the Andy Griffith days of law enforcement, you would be thanked by the authorities for putting her down. Unfortunately the Andy Griffith days are over. I'd say you probably have a 25% chance of getting an Andy Griffith type....75% of getting a Barney Fife....

Shoot and walk on...

Ed

gcs · Post by **gcs** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:20 pm

I'd of shot it and moved on, it's what is right, and nobody needs to know. In fact, we don't need to know.

I wouldn't want to eat it in that condition either.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:21 pm

Mike

I put up nearly the same post about a year ago on the old site.
I was out dirtbiking in NW PA and came across a doe with a shattered front leg. I wanted to put her down but had nothing more than a Swiss army knife with me. It was getting dark and I knew by the time I got back to my cabin and back she'd be long gone even if I could find her again. I was pretty deep into an unfamiliar area.

I did go back out the next morning w/ my .41 S&W with the intention of putting her down. She was obvioulsy in pain and starving. Pretty sure I found the right spot but she was gone.

To my suprise I got blasted by a couple guys for not going back out and putting her down.

Seriously doubt i would have found her in the dark. Now i don't ride without a shooter and a GPS. Just for that reason.

Very glad you were able to do what should be done.

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:06 pm

I would probably call before doing anything. The people that I call would probably say "shoot it, leave it." That would work for me, it don't need to stay miserable.

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:21 pm

Keep on walking.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:31 pm

SSS...without the shovel. In this PC day and age, no good deed goes unpunished.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:50 pm

The only right thing to do is the "humane" thing. The "letter of the law" has nothing to do with the situation, most enforcement types I know, fully understand difference between the letter and the spirit. As you didn't INTEND to break the law if you'd drop it and leave it where it lay. However, taking it, whether you tagg it or not would not be viewed as magnaminiously. Nature will recover that which is hers in such a fashion as she deems fit.

Faced a similar quandry when hunting; came across three scrawny legal bucks. And I mean scrawny! Ribs showing, hollows in the hips, plainly wasting away. To kill or not to kill? That day I elected to let nature take her course. Another day and I might have made another decision.

I am not a lawyer, nor did I stay in a Holiday Inn last nite!

1886 · Post by **1886** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:58 pm

I think my conscience would dictate that I put her down and keep walking never speaking of the matter. Sometimes it seems doing the right thing can get one into a mess with the "authorities." 1886.

Dastook · Post by **Dastook** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:04 pm

Put her down. Say a prayer and move on.

danthegunman · Post by **danthegunman** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:18 pm

Put her out of her misery....then move on.

Dan

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:21 pm

if you have a cell phone call the wildlife officer
and let them know who you are and the situation
they may give you permission to take her and put her out of her misery.

The Lewis · Post by **The Lewis** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:35 pm

Shoot Walk Shut up. I suppose IF you were in an area that had cell reception then I might call a the warden and see what they want done. Otherwise SWS.

txpete · Post by **txpete** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:49 pm

danthegunman wrote:Put her out of her misery....then move on.

Dan

big +1

dbateman · Post by **dbateman** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 8:00 pm

+1 put her down anyone how objeckts is clerey not of sound minde and not worth listing too

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:28 pm

148 grain +P Lead Semi Wadcutter Hollow Points are effective deer cartridges at 10 yards. She fell back into the thickets she struggled out of. This also validates the load for self defense. Shot behind the near shoulder to the opposite shoulder, and shot her once more when I got over her. No calls were made. I also tore up one of my doe tags.

danthegunman · Post by **danthegunman** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:37 pm

Way to go, rjohns94

otteray · Post by **otteray** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 10:04 pm

After putting her down, please remove the lead slug if any condors are watching, thank you!
Ray in California

Marlin .35 · Post by **Marlin .35** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:29 am

Show mercy, and leave it lie!!!! ARt

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:56 am

Laws of Physics cannot be disobeyed.
Laws of God must not be disobeyed.
Laws of Man are matters of choice.

The first two determine that you need to kill the deer, and determine the best way(s) to do so quickly and humanely with what tools are available.

The third merely gives you a choice as to how much paperwork or risk of arrest you are willing to engage in.

octagon · Post by **octagon** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:13 am

I was hunting the Cactus Ranch last year, had been in a tree where I nailed a board to sit on and was watching a 25 acre field of wheat full of deer about 2 hours looking for the fattest doe. I finally picked her out with about 30 minutes of shooting time left when a 2.5 year old buck came hobbling out of the tree line with a shattered front leg (bone protruding). He was hopping around feeding and was directly in the sun. Up to that point I was having a beautiful day and watching him hop around put a quick end to that. I wanted that fat doe bad, but that was not an option. I waited till Hoppy got just out of the sun and dispatched him at 90 yards. Of course the others ran like hell.
Dragged him to the fence line. His front foot was locked backwards at the ankle. Drive home - no meat till next trip.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:21 am

AJMD429 wrote:Laws of Physics cannot be disobeyed.
Laws of God must not be disobeyed.
Laws of Man are matters of choice.

The first two determine that you need to kill the deer, and determine the best way(s) to do so quickly and humanely with what tools are available.

The third merely gives you a choice as to how much paperwork or risk of arrest you are willing to engage in.

+1. You did the right thing Mike. We are stewards of this earth, and should always show mercy to the creatures God has given us for our use. Never let the law prevent you from doing what is right. That said, there is no point in subjecting yourself to a pinhead bureaucrat who wasn't there when you made the right decision.

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:19 pm

You did the right thing. I cann't bear to see critters suffer if I have the means to end it. I wouldnt have let to much go to waste though.

Savage99 · Post by **Savage99** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:22 pm

Buzzards gotta eat..plus if you leave her there you'll know where to find some coyotes after deer season

...

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:36 pm

I didn't have to think about what was right, had a problem with leaving her but there was no way to get her out without drawing attention and by so doing, my motives would have been called into question. In South central PA, we have few coyotes but the foxes and other opportunist will have a good start on the winter.

Bogie35 · Post by **Bogie35** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:09 pm

Sometimes the principle of a situation is much higher than "the law". To me and my God, it's a higher crime to allow an animal to suffer, than it is to shoot one out of season. In this case, I would shoot her and walk on.

Humbly,
bogie

gregg · Post by **gregg** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:51 am

I have to shoot deer that been hit by cars once in the blue moons driving to work. Just shoot and drag off road and shut up. Why put the officer in the rock and hard place. I seen it back fire on people so why go there. Your doing the right thing not robing a bank.

sore shoulder · Post by **sore shoulder** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:31 am

gregg wrote:. Your doing the right thing not robing a bank.

It's sometimes amazing how many people don't see it that way.

OT - What would you do??

OT - What would you do??

the rest of the story

Thanks