I was out on a stalk last night and followed a lone doe in the scope for a while, hobbling along the edge of the field not putting any weight on her front left leg. She didnt look emaciated and she was still browsing on some shrubbery, but she was obviously very injured with her front leg off the ground and back quite hunched. I was in two minds as its now clearly out of season, however should she have been put down to prevent further suffering? Ultimately I let her carry on but im still not sure if I should have. Has anyone encountered this before, and how did you handle it?
Dispatching injured does out of season
- Thread starter Moaky
- Start date
It would have been perfectly legal, and ethical, to shoot it.
I have encountered similar, and had no hesitation in taking the shot.
Dan Newcombe
Well-Known Member
It would be defendable in law but that’s not the same as being legal, same as the farmers defence and using a shotgun for dispatch etc. it’s up to you to prove if someone was to come after you.
You would have to be very sure that the welfare is seriously compromised and the fact it’s in decent condition and eating would suggest that it’s actually doing ok. You see deer with pretty bad legacies of injuries doing just fine on a semi regular basis.
You would have to be very sure that the welfare is seriously compromised and the fact it’s in decent condition and eating would suggest that it’s actually doing ok. You see deer with pretty bad legacies of injuries doing just fine on a semi regular basis.
Pellet Pinger
Well-Known Member
Another plus side of digital scopes, the deer could have been filmed thus removing any doubt in the event of an issue.
I fully understand the Op's hesitancy. While the chances of being 'questioned' post cull are low, it could prove tricky to demonstrate a justifiable injury if there is no visible trauma.
Just my view, of course.
K
Just my view, of course.
K
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
Deer, as you say can make remarkable recoveries from injury. I had a buck that had caught itself in a fence and badly broke a back leg. It was found and released by the ladies who graze a number of horses. He was around for several years and became very tame.
Given that it was feeding happily and if it looks in otherwise good condition and you are not under pressure to shoot large numbers - leave it alone.
But if its condition goes down and its not doing well, shoot it.
As deer managers these are the sorts of decisions that we take. Shooting a deer out of season is an offence under the deer act. In other words illegal. There is a defence on welfare grounds. You would need to be comfortable arguing that it was being shot on welfare grounds.
Also a lot depends on whereabouts in the UK you are. There are any number of busybodies about who are keen to ring up police / RSPCA etc etc. So when / if you get the knock on the door / or phone call from your FEO can you explain and evidence your reasoning.
If its just a hobble / limp then that’s probably quite hard to defend. Probably slightly elongated toes from walking on wet ground.
But if you can see a leg flapping about, clearly broken, with lots flies buzzing about etc that’s a good reason.
Most animals if badly injured will go a lie up out of sight in cover away from predators etc. they either mend so they can get up and go out and feed etc. or they die and enter the wildlife food chain.
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roaring_stag
Well-Known Member
I see you are in Scotland therefore the following applies:
Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 (as amended), Section 25
A person shall not be guilty of an offence against this Act or any order made under this Act in respect of any act done for the purpose of preventing suffering by—[F1(za)a deer which is starving and which has no reasonable chance of recovering;]
(a)an injured or diseased deer; or
(b)F2... any deer calf, fawn or kid deprived, or about to be deprived, of its mother.
That’s really helpful thanks for that reference
Sheamus
Well-Known Member
May bank holiday (Saturday) 2024 i was out looking for a Hind. Which from reports was struggling to walk with a broken back leg.
I was mindful of the fact that she way well have a calf to support.
Which in early May/June could be hidden away in cover somewhere?
I caught up with her on the Monday. She was feeding but struggling to walk on three legs.
The broken back leg had no movement what so ever.
I let her be. She went on to raise her staggie calf through the summer and travel with the resident herd of reds.
The first chance I had to shoot her calf was on the 10th November.
She was dispatched shortly after.
Why i'm writing this is for people to be aware of the circumstances of shooting female Deer on the grounds of welfare. Through May,June, July.
I was mindful of the fact that she way well have a calf to support.
Which in early May/June could be hidden away in cover somewhere?
I caught up with her on the Monday. She was feeding but struggling to walk on three legs.
The broken back leg had no movement what so ever.
I let her be. She went on to raise her staggie calf through the summer and travel with the resident herd of reds.
The first chance I had to shoot her calf was on the 10th November.
She was dispatched shortly after.
Why i'm writing this is for people to be aware of the circumstances of shooting female Deer on the grounds of welfare. Through May,June, July.
Me and the wife has just discussed this and both working in livestock have said it all would depend on the severity of the injury. Basically if you feel the injury is something that would be causing pain or suffering it shouldn't even be something you need to think about, you have a moral duty to do the ethical thing
Rake Aboot
Well-Known Member
I’m not interested in what the law says when it comes to animal welfare. I’d have dropped her if she was that bad, even in mid summer, hopefully with her dependent.
Sheamus
Well-Known Member
Thing is there's no room for "hopefully"..
You need to be completely certain of your actions.
Completely certain that no dependant youngsters are left.
Or it's ending a welfare issue with one hand and causing another with the other hand.
That Hind in the picture above would of been dispatched on the Monday if her calf was present.
It just so happened that it was several months later when I was 100% certain of my actions..
Some other guy would of choose to do things a different way and that entirely up to them.
Deer act 1991 Section 6 (2)A person shall not be guilty of an offence under section 2 or section 3 above by reason of any act done for the purpose of preventing the suffering of an injured or diseased deer.
The law is on your side, if you think you need to dispatch the animal to prevent suffering, pull the trigger.
The law is on your side, if you think you need to dispatch the animal to prevent suffering, pull the trigger.
Hobbling AND hunched suggest a significant injury so If no calf in tow then definitely, later on when chance of a calf I'd be hesitant. We tend to have a lot of deer with alladins slippers due to the wet bog. A lot of deer tend to carry mild limps due to this but survive perfectly well.
David Barker
Well-Known Member
I think it is important to know how injured the doe is. I have seen many roe deer recover from what people would think a life threatening injury. At this time of year i give the female the binifit og the doubt. Feeding well and limping in my opinion is not enough to risk orphaning a new born Kid.
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