Euthenising an injured deer; ethics vs legality

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Last winter I came across a doe that had been hit on the road, no one was around and the animal was still alive so I phoned it in to the OPP. The girl asked me if I had anything to dispatch the animal but I did not and was told an officer would attend the scene to do the job. This tells me they don't mind people doing it but they probably want you get there permission first, this is in Ontario so it might vary by province.
 
I used to drive an F-250 with a 24' trailer for a living. Most of the driving was at night. That specific truck had over 50 deer kills and it was still going strong. The record was five at one time. Some of those moments are definitely with me for life. Ever seen a large buck hit the front of a truck doing 100 km/h and then go under a trailer with the ground clearance of approximately 12"?

It was understood that deer hit would be killed "humanely" and hauled into the bush. Officers are happy if you let them know. What they do have a problem with, is people who are taking the animals without permission and/or being sneaky about it. Believe it or not there are people out there who target animals on purpose.
 
sheephunter said:
Technically illegal in Alberta.
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It is also an offence allowing an animal to suffer . . . pick your own path.

Does the same apply to an injured coyote?

The secret just might be in making good notes, pictures would help but if you are so far away that there is no cell phone service then probably the same would apply to the CO.
 
Royzo said:
You are not even supposed to pick up a road kill deer without first buying a permit. .
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It used to be free for some animals like road killed deer, it's called a "Dead Wild Animal Possession Permit". I think now they're $10 or so, depending on if it's for educational use or not.
Most CO's are pretty cool with signing off on them as long as you're truthful. Often they'll want to inspect the carcass and there used to be stories of them X-raying raptors looking for pellets. Some animals they won't give out permits for, such as certain hawks and owls, unless it's for educational purposes like a school/university. This would also be the permit you need for having taxidermy work done on a protected species you've found dead, like a bald eagle for example.
 
I've finished off deer that were hit by vehicles. I shot one on the TransCanada somewhere around Brandon years back. I always carried an ugly old Yugo M48. My wife and kids were with me. All four legs were broken. I got back in the truck and drove away. I would have liked to have had a chat with the driver who hit the deer.

A couple of years ago, a fellow phoned the detachment to say he had come across an injured deer on the TransCanada, near the MB border. He waited until I got there, stayed until I shot it, then gave me a hand to drag it off the road. A darn good gesture on his part. I made sure he knew I appreciated the help.
 
bearkilr said:
Does the long story involve you losing your knife? ;)
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My friend had the knife and I was first to come upon the deer and it was trying to run again. We should have brought a firearm along as well but we would have been shooting 2 hours after dark in farm country and might have scared the sheep! This was a first for me for deer hunting in 26 years. I have been lucky in that everytime I have fired it resulted in either a miss or a dead animal.

The in between's will be on my mind in the future.
 
Cranky Pants said:
Long story short but I had to finish a deer with a large flashlight this fall after a friends bad shot, it was suffering. It was well after dark and no firearm was handy so I did the best I could with what I had.


We went rabbit hunting the other day so I said "I only need my small flashlight then"
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Carry an axe when searching for a potentially wounded deer (wounded whilst hunting...) after dark.

As for me, I would call an injured deer in and see what the COs say.
 
Going north to open our camp in the spring, vehicle infront of me hit a moose breaking both back legs. Moose was in ditch it was dark and I shot it. I stopped at OPP station about 50km north told them what and where it happened and got a thanks. Old days when common sense was used. Also vehicle that hit moose did not stop.
 
Pretty much anyone who's seen an animal suffering greatly would...it's when a dork video's it, that trouble starts.
The clip gets trimmed to only the 'Act of mercy' and gets viewed by tree-huggers; then you look bad.
I can afford to go to court if it comes right down to it.
But in my travels; phoning a CFO ( in SW Sask or SE AB...riiiight) or LEO is often an exercise in futility. Off hours and often no cell reception, it is way remote.
The upside is a Ranchhand behind the seat is cool in these locales, no flashlight or tire-iron is req'd.

Edit; but if I see anyone trying to film it again...things are going to get ugly, fast. Oh... that I-phone that I just smashed on the road was valuable...too f*cking bad.
 
I carry a .22 in my truck all year, and have put down several animals over the years, deer and coyotes mostly.
I don't ask and I leave it there.
We did call one in quite a few years ago, another CGN member and I were heading up to my shooting spot in the boat one summer.
Buck had a broken leg .
Shot the deer and told the F&W I was going to run it up the river a few miles because of the number of does and fawns on the island the buck was on when I shot it.
Dropped it on a mud bank and the next day it was gone!
Cat
 
My brother in law stoped behind a minivan on the highway in rural manitoba, The minivan had taken out a deer but it was still alive so my brother took his truck knife and finished the deer after the lady in the minivan had already reported it. Fish and wildlife showed up just before my brother had left and in his words as he is a hunter "suspicious of him" while in my sister's words. "fish **** were just mad they couldn't shoot it themselves." I wouldn't shoot a animal found, if I could safely do so I'd use my tools available (truck knife) to end it, but if it was horned or had a biting attitude and I could get very hurt I'd leave it for the authorities or the yotes.
 
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thank God I have never had to do it, but I certainly would do it without any question or hesitation. I hate to see suffering. I would not waist time in making these useless phone calls just to cover your azz while the animal is suffering. My youngest son was on his way to work early one morning and spotted an injured deer in the ditch. It was dragging itself along. He phoned me at home and said to get ahold of the CO's right-o-way, which I did. I gave them the exact location and they said they would send someone out to the scene right away. Yeah right! The deer was still there laying dead about 20 ft further than what is was in the morning when my son was on his way home that afternoon. Be a man and do the right thing on the spot without hesitation and the hell with the consequences! If some heartless azz-hole wants to hang you for it, then so be it! At least you can know in your mind that you ended needless suffering quickly.
 
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