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Q:
Just outside village limits I had to slow down to let a deer struggle across the street. I thought it had just been hit by a car. I stopped next to it. A young buck with a single short antler. One rear leg was gone below the knee. His hoof was gone on the other rear leg so it was humping along on one rear ankle. Both legs were healed up, but it was sad to see. My bow was in the car and I have an unfilled tag so I thought about putting it down (but realized that could have been considered illegal hunting from a motor vehicle). It looked at me and grabbed a mouthful of grass and chewed away. Beside the missing leg and hoof it seemed healthy and, surprisingly, content and unafraid. I don't think it will survive the Michigan winter or the coyotes, but decided to leave it be. What would you have done?
Question by MLH. Uploaded on October 26, 2009
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Answers (15)
It sort of depends on where you were and how much trafiic would be on the road...if it was like a dirt road or a highway were there wouldn't be another car for a good minute or so then I would have just got out, step of on the side and shot it....but if there was cars passing and stuff like that I would have just let it go, or follow it in the woods and finish it....
Called the DNR
Called the wardens office! or the DNR like Kyle... You did the right thing though by not touching him. As sad as the situation is- its not worth you getting in trouble.
If you were not in a legal hunting zone, you did exactly the right thing. I think notifying the game department would be good, too. Nature is sometimes cruel to the weak and wounded, but taking illegal action is not worth the consequences.
you absolutely did the right thing. this deer at least has a fighting chance if it is still capable of filling its stomach. if it does get killed by the yotes, that might keep one more healthy deer alive. agree with wa mtnhunter, nature is tough.
Nature is cruel that way.
I'd have done as you did...observe, and let Nature take its course.
let nature run her course everything happens for a reason out there.
i know its sad to see but some times we have to let nature take its course if i seen something like that i would want to do something myself if i could but in your case i can see your point.
I'm with the call the "Game and Fish" folks here. That way if you see hem again you'll know where you'd stand if you "helped" the little guy out.
It is amazing what a wild animal can adapt to. Sounds like it could be complications from Hemorrhagic disease. The disease causes (amoung other things)reduced blood flow to the extremities and sloughing of hooves is quite common. Partial loss of limbs to subsequent secondary infections is also a real possibility with HD.
You did the right thing and your heart is in the right place.
I would have just let it be. Nothing you can really do without getting in trouble.
You did the right thing: nothing. Sometimes that's the hardest choice. Animals have been surviving and dying unassisted by mankind for a heck of a long time.
I would have called Game and Fish... but you did the right thing with letting it be.
You have done the right thing, although if it was me, and i was way out in the sticks, and saw this, i would have taken the deer. I know that an ethical argument can be started, and we could argue about it for a month...
Post an Answer
If you were not in a legal hunting zone, you did exactly the right thing. I think notifying the game department would be good, too. Nature is sometimes cruel to the weak and wounded, but taking illegal action is not worth the consequences.
you absolutely did the right thing. this deer at least has a fighting chance if it is still capable of filling its stomach. if it does get killed by the yotes, that might keep one more healthy deer alive. agree with wa mtnhunter, nature is tough.
Called the DNR
Called the wardens office! or the DNR like Kyle... You did the right thing though by not touching him. As sad as the situation is- its not worth you getting in trouble.
It sort of depends on where you were and how much trafiic would be on the road...if it was like a dirt road or a highway were there wouldn't be another car for a good minute or so then I would have just got out, step of on the side and shot it....but if there was cars passing and stuff like that I would have just let it go, or follow it in the woods and finish it....
Nature is cruel that way.
I'd have done as you did...observe, and let Nature take its course.
let nature run her course everything happens for a reason out there.
i know its sad to see but some times we have to let nature take its course if i seen something like that i would want to do something myself if i could but in your case i can see your point.
I'm with the call the "Game and Fish" folks here. That way if you see hem again you'll know where you'd stand if you "helped" the little guy out.
It is amazing what a wild animal can adapt to. Sounds like it could be complications from Hemorrhagic disease. The disease causes (amoung other things)reduced blood flow to the extremities and sloughing of hooves is quite common. Partial loss of limbs to subsequent secondary infections is also a real possibility with HD.
You did the right thing and your heart is in the right place.
I would have just let it be. Nothing you can really do without getting in trouble.
You did the right thing: nothing. Sometimes that's the hardest choice. Animals have been surviving and dying unassisted by mankind for a heck of a long time.
I would have called Game and Fish... but you did the right thing with letting it be.
You have done the right thing, although if it was me, and i was way out in the sticks, and saw this, i would have taken the deer. I know that an ethical argument can be started, and we could argue about it for a month...
Post an Answer