RSPCA helps roe bucks.

[Namman]

Wild animals are normally very robust, they have to be. Evolution has done them no favours if they escape essentially unharmed from a predator (us), only to die later from stress associated illness, it is illogical.

Post script to my last post. Over the years I have seen dozens of fallow deer, bucks and does, with the bottom of a rear leg missing. The local RSPCA have stated from time to time that this is the result of poaching or poor marksmanship!! However the real reason is that they get caught up on fences which have two strands of barbed wire above the square mesh. They are then left hanging by one leg. If the leg breaks off they do survive, obviously if not, they will die on the fence. I have shot many of these three legged deer and have found the site of amputation to be completely healed over and covered in skin/hair. The deer are nearly always in good condition otherwise, albeit with noticeable muscle wasting in the non functional leg.
Perhaps they survive this because there is no human contact?
I have heard stories from experienced stalkers who have claimed that injured roe deer have screamed when restrained, before the coup de grace is given. It makes one wonder at the stress that handling causes and hence their inability to recover .

 

[shakey jake]

not sure what i would do if i found trapped but apparently unharmed deer, only tought is if you shoot it, its definatly dead if you release it, its got a chance. id be interested to see evidence of roe dying weeks after releas from being released

 

[Stalker62]

I managed to free a young buck last year which had put it's head through a neighbour's gate. It was just before first light and I have no idea how long he had been there.

I released him into the woods on the other side of the road and he bounded off. I always hoped he made it - 'post capture myopathy' not withstanding.

Personal decision but I would always prefer to give them a chance. No qualms about destroying deer that have none.

 

[VSS]

not sure what i would do if i found trapped but apparently unharmed deer, only tought is if you shoot it, its definatly dead if you release it, its got a chance. id be interested to see evidence of roe dying weeks after releas from being released

I should imagine that a lot of the people who might come across a trapped deer, including stalkers, gamekeepers and members of the public, have no experience of handling large live animals under stress. Despite their best intentions, I can well believe that their whole approach could exacerbate the situation and lead to myopathy. A livestock farmer, on the other hand, would probably release the animal without a second thought and without causing undue additional stress.
(Agreed though that a bullet is the best bet in some circumstances).
Having run livestock handling courses for a many years, I found it quite interesting to note that some people cause stress to animals without even doing anything, whearas others can approach and handle them without causing a stir. Most people without experience can be taught, but it takes time and tact. Others never seem to be able to develop the necessary intuition.

 

[Namman]

The only trapped deer I have come across have been caught by the rear leg on cattle fences. The top two strands of wire twist tightly around the animals leg. The wire is so tightly wrapped around the leg as to be impossible to free . Either the leg snaps off and the animal escapes and possibly survives, or it dies hanging upside down in which case the suffering is plain to see as the ground around it is ripped up. I leave it to you individually, to decide the most humane action to take in these situations. Having freed quite a few by cutting the wire , not touching the deer, only to find them dead later, I now think it is kinder to shoot such animals.