Legal Ethics question

[martinbns]

Today when we were leaving the highway to hunt we noticed a deer bedded down in the field with a few ravens near it. My son and I don't have a mule deer doe tag, the deer tried to stand up clearly it has a broken leg, probably hit by a car. The field is also private property.

I didn't shoot the deer, felt bad and after dropping my son off went back to put it out of it's misery, but it had dragged itself away to points unknown.

What would you guys have done?

 

[pharaoh2]

I know it's a $1000 fine to dispatch an animal here. Letting it suffer is one thing, but had someone reported you the cops wouldn't have had much choice. I witnessed a Jeep plow a deer one night. The lady was convinced the police were coming to take it to the vet, D) but I was told I cannot touch it and I must wait for the police. He showed up, plugged her in the head and we dragged her to the ditch. (The lady was horrified to boot. ) It took probably 10 minutes for the cop to show up, pull out a loud handgun and dispatch it. I could have done so in a few seconds with my .22 and possibly saved someone from being potentially murdered because that officer was on his way to us. But beurocracy is just that, and that's the way our world works.

 

[DVXDUDE]

I would of walked up and atleast slit its throat. I can't stand seeing animals suffer when I can put a stop to it. My dog that I had for 16yrs couldn't get up anymore and i found him laying down in the grass in the rain and I grabbed the .22 and put him out of his misery, hardest thing I've ever done but I could tell he wanted it, and so did that deer. I can see why you were hesitant because of the private property but I would of risked it, When I see any animal suffer I just think of my dog, and how much he was hurting not being able to get up, I know if I was suffering and nothing could be done, I hope someone would put a bullet in my head too.

atleast you went back and tried to finish it off, owell maybe someone else got to it before you did. Hard thing to do either way.

 

[sheephunter]

Today when we were leaving the highway to hunt we noticed a deer bedded down in the field with a few ravens near it. My son and I don't have a mule deer doe tag, the deer tried to stand up clearly it has a broken leg, probably hit by a car. The field is also private property.

I didn't shoot the deer, felt bad and after dropping my son off went back to put it out of it's misery, but it had dragged itself away to points unknown.

What would you guys have done?

As sickening as it is to watch, as an average citizen it's all you can do unless you are authorized by a Peace Officer to dispatch it. The best thing is to call F&W and let them make the call.

 

[sjemac]

I've called FandW a couple of times and they always tell me to dispatch if I have the means.

 

[TEGH]

Now you know
LEGAL ,ETHICS & QUESTION
Don't go togather

 

[blargon]

I'd feel like shooting it, but it would not be legal without the CO involved. Unless you tag it and take it with the landowners permission.

The lady was convinced the police were coming to take it to the vet, D)

One time, the local bait shop owner was telling me, he had a lady come in looking for directions or a phone # for a vet. Seems she hit a deer, and wanted to find a vet to fix it up or put it down. He looks at her and says, "Cripes lady, its deer season. Find someone in an orange coat!"

Another time my dad and I were driving to a job site, and someone had hit a deer on the road. They were parked on the side of the road and had a blanket over the dead deer.

 

[FLYBYU44]

Myself and some co-workers hit a deer with the company truck, it wasn't dead yet but had at least two broken legs and was bleeding. Myself and another guy held it down while another coworker dispatched it with my swiss army knife. The forth guy had a weak stomach about that kind of thing so he sat in the truck with his head between his knees the whole time. I would have at least slit it's throat, then there isn't a gun shot to attract attention and it dies fast.

 

[Icon]

I've called FandW a couple of times and they always tell me to dispatch if I have the means.

A few years back when I was in BC, my Dad and I saw a deer injured in car collision. It was hit just in the town limits, but well away from houses. It was a small town and we knew the head cop pretty well, so we called up to report it. He asked us to shoot it if we could and he would make sure we didn't get in trouble for discharging a firearm within town limits.

Just as my Dad plugged out his rifle, another cop, that was actually on duty that night, showed up and said that he would take care of it. It took him 4 rounds with the tactical shotgun before the deer died. Each shot was from at least 15 yards, he didn't want to get closer. Made us rather sick to think it would have been one shot from Dad's 30-06.

Bottom line is to seek out the closest authority. I think that most of the time you will find that these guys are pretty reasonable with their solutions.

 

[sealhunter]

I hit an Elk and must have broken his back, as he just laid on the pavement, moaning horribly, up and down forcefully with it's head, unable to move.
5 minutes later the police were on scene. They called in the CO's. After waiting 20 minutes for the CO's to show, the policeman said he would dispatch it and commented on the amount of paperwork he would have for discharging his gun. Two shots and it was done.
Until the policeman finished it, it was pure torture to watch.

I have been in the situation maybe twice before, and have never been the shooter, but friends have. They have called CO and informed them of the situation and gave all their information and location and said they would finish the animal and if need be wait there until CO's arrived.
Both times they were told to go ahead and do it.

 

[Familyman]

In BC if you hit or witness a hit animal you can and are encouraged to by the CO's (if they know you are adequetly trained and aren't in danger) to dispatch it after talking to them. If they give you the ok then if you are in a firearm zone and leagle to do so shoot it and if not slit its throat then unzip it and bleed/gut it incase the meat can be salvaged. In some cases here the officer will realease it to you to do with it what you want. I was told that if you are not within phone range and you hit a deer and you know it is in trouble than do the above and hang it, then go until you are within range and notify the authorities. That is what I have been instructed to do by a former CO and now teaches prospective resource enforcement officers. Always check with the authorities before doing anything unless there is an imediate danger to life. There will always be idiot cops that say to just wait but make sure you explain the experience or training that you have or explain the situation in such away to instill the confidence to get you the ok to put the critter out of it's misery. Just my 4cents

 

[tracker]

Going to our camp in the spring the car in front of us hit a moose breaking both rear legs. We just missed hitting the moose as it pulled it self off the roadway into the woods. It was 2am and raining, little damage to the vehicle that hit the moose. Since I was going spring bear hunting (that's when we had a season) I had my 30-06. I walked over to the moose and shot it. I stopped at the Temagami OPP and told them what had happen and what I did. I was told thank you and we will look after the rest. My line of work required me to dispatch/kill many animals hit by vehicles, I never once questioned or warned someone for killing a hit animal lying in the ditch/bush/field that could not leave on its own. We had a deer hit on a highway and it was not removed while waiting for the police, another vehicle hit the deer and lost control killing the driver? Every time I called the MNR they told me to shoot the animal and not once did they come out to help in the accident investigation. BUT there are some people that may stretch the rules a bit on what a hurt animal is and other jurisdictions may treat this in a different manner???? Since your animal was in a field I would of called MNR or FW for instructions.