Fallow Buck

Morning all ,

On my way home the other day from a night out lamping I bumped into a fallow Buck on the road , he didn't look too good and I noticed his front right leg was flopping around like it was broken. I sat watching him for about 20 mins as he was trying to find away over hedge but there is a big drop the other side hedge and would more than likely end up going over like a sack of s***.
So I got out the truck in the rain and was walking him up the road to try get him in the hedge on the right as there is slot of runs where they come through. After about ten mins I got him through a run and he hobbled off.

I spoke to a friend and he said I should of got my .243 out truck and dispatched him as his leg was a right mess. Would this been the thing to do ?
It's a back road in middle of no where and about 1/2 mile from farm I shoot . https://vimeo.com/163132809
I will try and find him when home next as can't see him going far .

ATB

Matt
 
Tricky one, yes he needs dispatching, that leg is t pretty, but I'd have called it into the police first. Discharging a firearm on the public highway without permission could find you in a very sticky situation, however close to your permission. Do you know the surrounding land owners? Maybe worth having a chat, showing them the video and asking if you can find him, who knows you may get some more stalking out of it??
 
Yeah do know them but they live up north and come and stay now and again. The husband dose abit of shooting as seen him out and they also got a local Ish bloke that dose abit of stalking there , but can't remember last time I seen him .
Maybe I will contact owners and see if I can have a look and try get him. Poor bugger didn't look too happy.
 
You were right not to do anything as you may have landed yourself in hot water. The procedure following a report of an injured deer even if by a recognised HAD approved person is that the police should report to the secene. They will also give an incident number. Then the deer can be dealt with safely if necessary the police keeping anyone else at a safe distance. If you do know the land owners it will be worth mentioning what you have seen so that the deer can be "helped" as soon as possible.
 
To be honest what would I have done. If there was a safe shot to be taken I'd have shot it. If no safe shot I'd have moved myself or the deer until I got a safe shot then shot it. I would then have phoned the police and told them what I had done giving all details. At the end of the day this deer was obviously in pain and suffering and as person there and then with both ability and capability to safely and humainly dispatch the deer then that should have been done.

Instead it can wonder around suffering for god knows how long.
Some times people need to grow a pair and do the right thing
My opinion
ILB
 
Damadamma .243 obviously hasn't done his dsc1 or has a grasp of what you are legally allowed to do if faced with an animal that is injured and in distress- you are allowed to use what ever means necessary to put an injured animal out of its misery, that includes shooting with rifle, shotgun ,clubbing to death -As long as it was safe you could of shot it and it would have been deemed a responsible thing to do all the more looking at your video. I don't think you even need to notify police, but as it is on council property I think you have to notify them for disposal
 
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And where does it say in your Level 1 that you may discharge a firearm on a public road without due authority from the police?

Dama has it right, it is an offence to discharge a firearm on a public highway. As much as it may seem right as stalkers to want to put the animal out of its misery, you would be committing an offence. Hopefully the beast will turn up on your ground nearby and you will put it out of its misery. Otherwise I would approach the local farmer/landowner who's land you saw it near and see if you can get permission to seek the buck out and put it down.

I know we all would like to see immediate action taken to dispatch it and put it out of pain, but be careful lads, anyone breaking the law with a firearm and they will have good cause to take your ticket off you.
 
Agree with Sikamalc & Damadama, discharging a firearm in that situation will open you up to a s--t load of trouble regardless of the moral reason. My mentor from years ago told me of a Fallow doe in Wiltshire surviving for at least three seasons with most of one of her forelegs missing. Personally I'd talk to the local landowners to get the ok to track him down & dispatch him
 
Damadamma .243 obviously hasn't done his dsc1 or has a grasp of what you are legally allowed to do if faced with an animal that is injured and in distress- you are allowed to use what ever means necessary to put an injured animal out of its misery, that includes shooting with rifle, shotgun ,clubbing to death -As long as it was safe you could of shot it and it would have been deemed a responsible thing to do all the more looking at your video. I don't think you even need to notify police, but as it is on council property I think you have to notify them for disposal

Purplepig

Much as we all seek to reduce the suffering of injured deer, you may want to fully acquaint yourself with the law.

This is an excellent explanation: http://www.knights-solicitors.co.uk/assets/151110-KtBWin15-DeerLegal.pdf

In particular note their answer to question 4

4. WHO CAN AUTHORISE THE CIVILIAN TO UNDERTAKE HUMANE DISPATCH?
Strictly speaking only the representatives of the owners of the land can authorise humane dispatch of deer on their land (eg. Highways Authorities in the case of public highways or Highways England for motorways and trunk roads). In practice these powers tend to be assumed by police forces.

The Best Practice guide also provides good information:

http://www.thedeerinitiative.co.uk/uploads/guides/127.pdf

As described, the exemption to the law you refer to is with regards to the means of dispatch, not the requirement to have lawful authority to dispatch deer.

Note the following passage:

"If the injured animal runs from the road and onto private land all reasonable efforts should be made to consult the landowner as to their preferred course of action.Without permission there may be a claim of trespass, regardless of motive, this could be particularly serious if a firearm was involved. Acting on a request from the police may provide reasonable excuse."

The road itself is owned by the Highways Authority, or at least the top two spits (spade depths) normally are.

In the absence of the landowner's express permission you should always seek authority from the police - ideally with an incident number in order to avoid any subsequent confusion or misinterpretation.

Hope this helps clear up any confusion.
 
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Highways
Section 161 of the Highways Act, 1980 states that “It
is an offence without lawful authority or excuse to
discharge any firearm within 50 feet of the centre of
the highway and in consequence of which a user of
the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered.”
Although a complaint from a road user is required to
invoke this legislation it is best to avoid shooting near
highways and certainly not across them.
This legislation applies only to public roads used by
vehicles, not public footpaths, other rights of way or
buildings. However it is common sense to take extra
care in these situations and to avoid unnecessary
disturbance.

Copied from pest practice booklet
So my question would be that at that time of night on what obviously seems to be a very rural road would a member of the public have cause to complain?
Obviously I don't know the place and could of been next to a large housing estate for all I know !!
Regards
Jimmy
 
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