Mercy killing: What would you have done?

glang1

glang1

CGN frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
16   0   0
Location
Ottawa, Ontario
Thought I would share this story with the group & get your opinions. I was hunting at my Uncle's farm last week, & while walking out to one of my stands near the front of the property I heard hounds working the neighbors property across the road. Along the road, my Uncle's property is mostly dense bush with some trails. I was walking along one of these trails about 100M into the bush parallel to the road. As I stopped & stood still listening to the hound, I heard 3 shots in quick succession from the road. I thought "Oh boy another road hunter". As I was getting ready to continue to my stand, I heard branches snapping behind me. I quickly dropped to one knee & watched the trail behind me. About 30M behind me a deer slowly walked into the trail & started to walk towards me. It was a small spike buck. I already had my rifle up & ready for a shot, but this deer looked funny to me. It's tongue was hanging too far out of it's mouth & it looked dazed. Upon closer inspection through my scope I noticed that it's entire lower jaw had been shot away. At this point I had a quick decision to make, did I shoot this small wounded deer that was certain to die a horrible death by thirst, or did I just let it walk & keep my tag for the big buck I had been watching for the last month. I knew that in a couple of seconds it would probably see or scent me, & I would miss my chance.

What would you have done in this situation?

George
 
Last edited:
I would shoot it, and contact the MNR right away. I don't think they'd object to you putting it out of it's misery, especially if you could prove (possible?) that you didn't wound it in the first place.

Then again, I live in Alberta, so the MNR over there might be a bit more anal.
 
I would have done what canucklehead suggested. Years ago my friend and I came across a wounded elk during the hunting season. It had obviously been shot and could not stand up. My buddy put him down for good and tagged it. After we field dressed it we could see that it had been shot more than once. Most of the meat was not edible, so it was a waste of his tag. Putting the elk down for good was the right thing to do, but calling local Wildlife Officer and explaining what happened might have been a better idea.
 
I would have shot it! Maybe let the road hunters know that it was dead after so they could put their tag on it....(if they were still around by then).
What did you do?
 
You did exactly the right thing, and if you had to give up your tag, it was still the right thing to do. I would wait to see if the "head shooter" showed up, and let him tag it but if he didn't show in a few minutes chances are he wouldn't.
 
Shoot it and call F&W. Ive done it, and had I tagged it ( I didn't because it was a cow moose and there are no tags for such in WMU 526), the CO said he would have re-issued me a tag.

Seemed to be no problem with the CO in Fairview......
 
In Sask, I would bet the CO would give you another tag, but it depends on the deer density in the area. Regardless, I'd put it down, who knows, maybe the road hunters were actually tracking it in.
 
You must shoot it.

As an aside, a fellow I know was hunting mulies west of Williams Lake in BC. He came upon a doe that was in very poor shape. Something had seriously injured its hind leg and it was badly infected and the entire hind 1/4 looked like it was rotting. The deer was also very skinny. He shot it and called a CO (there is no doe season in the area). Believe it or not the CO tore into him and gave him a really hard time. Mind you, he wasn't charged with anything, but it was a big hassle.

My friend was very angry about this and questioned whether he would even bother to call the CO next time. The problem is, what if someone say him do it from a distance?

Never-the-less, I think it is the right thing to do.
 
Dispatch it, then call the CO, in this case if you did tag it, they may reinstate your tag (issue you a new one) and confiscate the carcass. This is how it works in MB.
 
nice to know there are still responsible hunters out there... including all those who posted to this thread. Those who would dispatch it are hunters.... the rest, including the idiot who wounded that deer..... I can't post what they are, because it will earn me a time-out here!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom