What would you do????

[Doc Nock]

Once we were given "dominion" over all the creatures of land and sea, along with it came responsibility.

Congrats on caring more about nature than shooting a big'un.

Worst memory of my life was on an August scouting trip in Snowshoe, PA, in a large clear cut, was to have a doe spot us. She was out maybe 300 yards and just kept coming closer as 3 of us stood there watching.

In the binocs, I could see soemthing didn't look right about her head.

Here there was a black "hole" right where her lower jaw bone connected to her head.

Her lower jaw hung at a right angle down from her snout. She'd likely been jack lighted by someone, broke her jaw and didn't kill her.

Why that critically wounded deer came that far right to within 40 yard of us standing there in the wide open, with her jaw agape, I'll never know... but I have my own thoughts...

What I do know was it was 20 yrs or more ago and I can't get that picture out of my mind!!! NOt one of us who usually carried a handgun of some sort, so much as had a knife with us that day.

That deer had to have starved... coyotes weren't around PA back then... it still makes my stomach turn over.

Were that I could have, regardless of what laws or repercussions, that deer's misery would have ended there!

Thanks you for what you did.

[luv2bowhunt]

I have and would do the same thing again without even thinking about it. I hate to see an animal suffer.

[dragon rider]

No question at all for me - you absolutely did the right thing.

[Friend]

Thank you for making the ethically moral choice.

[RAU]

You did the right thing

[GWC]

End his suffering,was the ethical decision

[Jason_MO]

Job well done!! You made a great choice.

[RedShaft]

well what did you find out was wrong with its leg?

[MCNSC]

[straitera]

That's big IMO. Class act. Like to think I would have done the same. No regrets.

[dirtguy]

good call

[Fletcher]

Nothing to feel upset about in shooting a fawn.  They're the least likely to survive the winter and biologically the best deer to shoot.  Taking the injured one is a great choice.

[damascusdave]

Originally posted by 3Feathers:
Got in my treestand this morn. around 7am.About
8:30 something cought my eye.A deer around 75yrds away coming along the ridge with a bad limp.Was almost dragging its left hind leg.I have a trail I watch connecting two ridges.The
 deer came with in 15yrds and tried to go up the steep bank ,but couldn,t after a couple trys.It just stood in the creek for a while.Made the decision to take him.Don,t like to see things suffer....He was a fawn though.I still feel upset
about it.What would you have done??????

I would have done exactly what you did only I would not feel bad about it in the least. You would sooner see the predators get that deer?

DDave

[Mudd]

I am curious.

Can you identify what it was that upset you?

Was it the taking of a fawn or just having to witness something suffering and in a pitiful way?

It is a "was" now and in my opinion you did the only right thing that could/should have been done.

Your answer to my question isn't all that important since your action speaks volumes about who you are and what you're made of.

You are welcome in my camp anytime!

God bless,Mudd

PS: Those who show mercy will be shown mercy.

[toddster]

Like everyone else I would of and have done it, it was the right thing.  Don't feel bad, we are not just hunters but conservationalist, a responsiblity.  4 years ago I was hunting this nice big buck here in illiois, has a doe and a small 8 in freezer.  So was having fun playing chess with this buck. Well in Illinois can only take 2 bucks each year.  About 9 this little fork horn buck came limping badly.  Appeared that front leg was broke from a car.  He could barely walk, let alone run.  I watched him and felt really bad for the guy.  I could already play out in my mind what would happen come december or january.  So he stood there in pain at 20 yards.  I told myself I have a responiblity and got a pass thru, he walked 15 yards, laid down and that was it.  Next day I was going after turkeys and heard something behind me and there was the big buck browsing 30 yards, but you know what, I felt better burning that tag for the little guy, one of my proudest harvests.  You did the right thing, be proud, alot of other type hunters wouldn't of wasted a tag, great ethics!!!

[Eric Krewson]

A thirty pounder came by me last year with this wound on one shoulder. It was feeding but limping badly. I suspect the wound was a glancing blow gun shot.

 

I shot the deer and was hesitant whether to eat it or not. Close examination showed no infection, apparently a very recent wound. I discarded the wounded shoulder and consumed the rest, one of the best deer I ever ate.

I felt bad about shooting such a tiny deer but worse about seeing it suffer.

[Andrew Downs]

You did the right thimg to end it's suffering.

Nice one  

[penrosefred]

right choice

[frassettor]

I would have taken him as well, no question about it!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Congrats on your deer Tim.    

I shot a little nubbin 2 years ago with the rifle. It had a hole you could see thropugh in the hind ham.

Look at it this way, some of your eastern friends have not had a deer in range yet.