Injured deer - To shoot or not to shoot?

[Monkey Spanker]

So call or text. Bothered.

How about this then
From that little missing piece of the jigsaw, I just spent a couple of minutes working out who you are from your posts and a couple of internet searches (and I am no detective!)
I now know who you are, your landline number and email address, where you live, where you work, who lives with you (and their names). I also know what calibres of firearms you have (Nice and desireable!)
I'm after a .338 off ticket, so maybe I come visit, work out when you are out and help myself? Wise up man!
Oh, and you are 58 and born Jan 58, Happy Birthday!
Don't believe me?
You have a PM that will chill your Poo!!!
Feel free to reply when you have read it!
MS

 

[highseat6.5]

How about this then
From that little missing piece of the jigsaw, I just spent a couple of minutes working out who you are from your posts and a couple of internet searches (and I am no detective!)
I now know who you are, your landline number and email address, where you live, where you work, who lives with you (and their names). I also know what calibres of firearms you have (Nice and desireable!)
I'm after a .338 off ticket, so maybe I come visit, work out when you are out and help myself? Wise up man!
Oh, and you are 58 and born Jan 58, Happy Birthday!
Don't believe me?
You have a PM that will chill your Poo!!!
Feel free to reply when you have read it!
MS

Scary ....all that from a mobile number and keyboard ...

 

[baguio]

So call or text. Bothered.

Ignorance is bliss. Wake up and smell the coffee awmc before something or someone comes and bites your behind!

 

[Chasey]

I dread the day when i am left with some unedable carcus to manage but the welfair of the deer comes first

I would shoot it without hesitation even if out of seasion.

ATB

 

[JTO]

How about this then
From that little missing piece of the jigsaw, I just spent a couple of minutes working out who you are from your posts and a couple of internet searches (and I am no detective!)
I now know who you are, your landline number and email address, where you live, where you work, who lives with you (and their names). I also know what calibres of firearms you have (Nice and desireable!)
I'm after a .338 off ticket, so maybe I come visit, work out when you are out and help myself? Wise up man!
Oh, and you are 58 and born Jan 58, Happy Birthday!
Don't believe me?
You have a PM that will chill your Poo!!!
Feel free to reply when you have read it!
MS

This is the reason I don't use Farcebook.

 

[baguio]

I can't get my head around why anyone would not shoot an animal that was clearly in pain. It beggars belief that a stalker could walk away without pulling the trigger. There wasn't even the out of season or dependants to consider. Very odd IMO

 

[FrenchieBoy]

I can't get my head around why anyone would not shoot an animal that was clearly in pain. It beggars belief that a stalker could walk away with pulling the trigger. There wasn't even the out of season or dependants to consider. Very odd IMO

There's a simple answer to that which isn't so odd. In my first post I said that there was no sign of bleeding and the animal did not appear to be suffering any discomfort.
On top of that I did not feel 100% sure that if I had taken the shot I would not have ended up with the possibility of leaving an animal with a non-fatal bullet wound that I might not have been able to finish off cleanly.
I stand by what I believe: "If there is any doubt don't pull the trigger"! I will make no apology for holding that belief!

 

[baguio]

But FrenchieBoy, you said that she had fresh injuries and that the shot would have been easy enough. You had a duty as the deer manager on that patch to end it's suffering. The end.
That said, it's been a worthwhile thread and all is not lost. You live and learn as we all do.
baguio

 

[kismet55]

I was called up by a lady,doesn't support stalking, to shoot a 3 legged fallow doe in her field. It was out of season.
I went over with my rifle and saw the doe in the herd of about 50. I struggled to get in range with a safe backstop. In doing so I spooked the herd a number of times but they just ran around the field. The heavily pregnant doe kept up with the herd OK.
I went back to the landowner and told her that as the doe was keeping up OK. She could be left until in season,when I'd prioritise culling her, as running on 3 legs would eventually damage her spine and significantly reduce her quality of life. Not withstanding that there wasn't a safe shot. Also she would have a good chance to bring off her unborn fawn.
Basically practicalities with some PR.

 

[exmarksman9870]

How about this then
From that little missing piece of the jigsaw, I just spent a couple of minutes working out who you are from your posts and a couple of internet searches (and I am no detective!)
I now know who you are, your landline number and email address, where you live, where you work, who lives with you (and their names). I also know what calibres of firearms you have (Nice and desireable!)
I'm after a .338 off ticket, so maybe I come visit, work out when you are out and help myself? Wise up man!
Oh, and you are 58 and born Jan 58, Happy Birthday!
Don't believe me?
You have a PM that will chill your Poo!!!
Feel free to reply when you have read it!
MS

Haha good enough for 14 int ...well done

 

[Ronny]

Probably best to cull her. Have a thorough inspection post mortem to build up your bank of knowledge. It is surprising how resilient they are but don't leave them to suffer if you have the means to stop or prevent it.

 

[sikamalc]

Hmm we seem to have a few on this thread treading the zero tolerance line with Admin.

Gentlemen there is NOTHING wrong with anyone asking a question, whether they are a novice or professional, they have not designed a human yet that knows everything.

As for the culling of deer in or out of season that are injured. It is has been pointed out by one or two sensible responses by members that the welfare of the deer comes first. As deer stalkers we should always have this in the back of our minds whilst out stalking.

I well remember a member on here stalking with me for his Level 2 whilst on my lease in Scotland. A very skinny and small Red hind calf showed itself whilst stalking during the stag season. The candidate turned to me and said I cant shoot it as it is out of season. I immediately told him to take the shot and dispatch the beast.

He did not hesitate and killed it outright. The calf was in a bad way and although we carried out the usual inspections it was not put into the food chain and was disposed of. Following on from this Level 2 stalk the paperwork was sent in, although I told him that the assessor would be questioning both you and me on this ICR. Sure enough the assessor, who was none other than Ronnie Rose, called me to discuss the ICR. Having explained that I told him to take the beast out Ronnie was more than happy with what had occurred and the welfare of the animal had been taken into account and the candidate passed his Level 2.

So not matter what the season, if a deer is injured it is your duty to dispatch the animal, after all you do not know how that animal will cope with its injury in a few days time, and you already noted on seeing it the second time that it was walking with a different gait. Also in the summer open wounds are likely to get fly strike and this again could lead to a slow agonising death for the animal.

 

[FrenchieBoy]

OK Guys, just a quick update:
I've just got back in from checking my Fenn Traps and the deer feeder and also to put some chopped apples out (Which I do on a regular basis). I wasn't expecting to see anything as it was raining and blowing a gail so I didn't take my rifle and do my usual and go to my "observation point" first. I went straight over the fence and down and around the embankment towards where the feeder is. As I rounded the corner I startled a young roe doe that was lying against a fallen tree (Sheltering from the howling wind I would guess). It was the doe that I started this thread about.
She now has a light coloured patch of fur on her back and the same on her leg where the original injuries were, and she made off like a scolded whippet. It seems that she has recovered very well from whatever caused the original injuries.
I appreciate all that you have all said about not allowing an animal to suffer needlessly and I agree with you and certainly bare this in mind in the future. However I feel that seeing the doe now I am much more comfortable with my decision not to have taken the shot when I first saw the deer and now she is looking fit and well she will have a good chance to go on to produce some offspring and help the local deer population to expand in this area.

 

[Heym SR20]

Good result. It's amazing how all animals can recover from what seem to be catastrophic injuries. Suspect that's a doe that you will probably never shoot.

 

[allown]

If you have access to a gun, then use it. Much more humane, will end its suffering quickly.