Say for example a male or female deer is out of season and is limping from a leg injury from potentially being caught in a fence or some other scenario where walking was definitely a challenge...... would it be ethical to kill it and would a game dealer accept it evan thought it was a humane kill?.......on the odd occasion I've seen herds of deer where one will definitely be in pain and struggling
Are you allowed to sell humane dispatch?
- Thread starter Birdshot
- Start date
If it passes all the carcass inspection criteria it's OK.
Sometimes the affected limb will be condemned, and the rest of the carcass passed.
Obviously if there's active infection, pus, swelling, extensive bruising etc then that puts a different perspective on things. But a limp is not sufficient reason on its own to condemn.
Sometimes the affected limb will be condemned, and the rest of the carcass passed.
Obviously if there's active infection, pus, swelling, extensive bruising etc then that puts a different perspective on things. But a limp is not sufficient reason on its own to condemn.
Yes I'm allowed to shoot on the land.........
All those i have shot as wounded , have not been put into the human food . I have used a few for dog food but i would not if i noticed infection etc . Might seem wastful but think if you got it wrong . Go to a dealer with a bad one or a real poor beast and you will get a bill for disposal
Interesting interesting
.......I like to prepare myself for the unexpected.......I've never been involved with humane dispatch hence the reason why I'm hereI shot this very lame fallow buck fawn on the basis of "HD". (I don't usually shoot fawns except for welfare reasons). Although undersized, the carcass was fine for processing (burgers, sausages & mince). If you zoom in on the pic you can see rear lower left leg is missing. There were multiple healed breaks to the rest of the hind leg, and the pelvis was also smashed and healed.
(The doe came looking for it after the shot, so I took her too).
(The doe came looking for it after the shot, so I took her too).
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308rws
Well-Known Member
Just because a deer has a limp doesn't means that it needs culling. As others have stated deer can survive on three legs and often do. Take time to make a thorough assessment of the animal and any welfare issues such as dependant young etc. to inform your decision. For example, you might decide to observe and monitor an injured animal's progress.
If a wound is still open and has not yet healed there will be a risk of infection. Hence the importance of a thorough inspection of the carcass lymphatic system. If there is evidence that the deer has been fighting infection then it should not enter into the human food chain.
You also need to know how you would dispose of an infected carcass and when it's necessary to report any notifiable disease to the APHA.
Read the deer legislation associated with ending unnecessary suffering and out of season culling. So that you know your Deer Act defences and rights, should you or the landowner ever be challenged.
If a wound is still open and has not yet healed there will be a risk of infection. Hence the importance of a thorough inspection of the carcass lymphatic system. If there is evidence that the deer has been fighting infection then it should not enter into the human food chain.
You also need to know how you would dispose of an infected carcass and when it's necessary to report any notifiable disease to the APHA.
Read the deer legislation associated with ending unnecessary suffering and out of season culling. So that you know your Deer Act defences and rights, should you or the landowner ever be challenged.
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
The basics of assessing whether or not a deer should go into the food chain starts long before the shot is fired. Is the deer fit and healthy, and does its behaviour give any indication that it is unwell, injured or highly stressed.
If it does not appear fit and healthy that should certainly be taken into account when considering whether it should go into the food chain.
If it has been wounded - eg in a vehicle collision or in a fight during the rut, it is likely to be very stressed and full of adrenaline. Adrenaline and good quality meat don’t go together.
If it does not appear fit and healthy that should certainly be taken into account when considering whether it should go into the food chain.
If it has been wounded - eg in a vehicle collision or in a fight during the rut, it is likely to be very stressed and full of adrenaline. Adrenaline and good quality meat don’t go together.
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Rake Aboot
Well-Known Member
Given the numbers up here the choice is easier.
If it’s unfit, injured, deformed or in any way looks like it’s suitable for cull it gets shot.
Justifying it is easy.
If it’s unfit, injured, deformed or in any way looks like it’s suitable for cull it gets shot.
Justifying it is easy.
No legal reason why not - assuming justification was there for shooting it out of season on welfare grounds. It's treated like any other animal before and after shot with regards to observation of behaviour and carcass inspection in line with Trained Hunter / Large Game Hygiene. You should declare the reason it was culled on the tag to the dealer, noting and damage, behavioural observations etc.
But the justification for welfare reasons is a pretty high threshold as deer are so resilient. So the fact it is being culled on welfare grounds means there is something very wrong in the first place and I'd be much more cautious than with a healthy animal.
Ruby Tuesday 2
Well-Known Member
Personally if I was shooting it out of season on humane grounds I would never be considering selling it to a dealer even if they wanted it.
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