Ethics vs. legality

[h20hunter]

I can explain the decision to shoot to myself and be good......I can't explain the decision to shoot and come away with meat/horns/etc to the warden and be good....

Like I said....if the time comes I'll know what is right for me and won't have to explain the decision to anyone since I wouldn't ever talk about it.

[runamuk]

I saw a 2 point buck this last weekend with a broken jaw, it was just hanging open.

That's a situation where I definitely would have put it out of its misery (unless there would have been witnesses.)

So how would you have handled the meat?

Left it for the coyotes and ravens.

Making an ethical decision to put down a suffering animal is a great one. Making the decision to leave the meat for the scavengers seems to me not an ethical one. I guess I'd have to think long and hard about not only killing the animal, but what to do in the aftermath.

How is it not ethical? The scavengers would have eaten that deer eventually anyway. You just helped speed up the process. You have to remember, just because a human doesn't eat it, it doesn't mean it was wasted.

I agree.  It would be ethical to put it down.  Just have to do it and not get caught.  Easier not to get caught if you don't keep the meat...........(and ethical because you're putting it out of its misery).

and our states overregulation of wildlife has created this conundrum  would be nice if in this case permission could be obtained and the meat salvaged

[pianoman9701]

I saw a 2 point buck this last weekend with a broken jaw, it was just hanging open.

That's a situation where I definitely would have put it out of its misery (unless there would have been witnesses.)

So how would you have handled the meat?

Left it for the coyotes and ravens.

Making an ethical decision to put down a suffering animal is a great one. Making the decision to leave the meat for the scavengers seems to me not an ethical one. I guess I'd have to think long and hard about not only killing the animal, but what to do in the aftermath.

How is it not ethical? The scavengers would have eaten that deer eventually anyway. You just helped speed up the process. You have to remember, just because a human doesn't eat it, it doesn't mean it was wasted.

I agree.  It would be ethical to put it down.  Just have to do it and not get caught.  Easier not to get caught if you don't keep the meat...........(and ethical because you're putting it out of its misery).

and our states overregulation of wildlife has created this conundrum  would be nice if in this case permission could be obtained and the meat salvaged

[/b]

That's not true. This would be a conundrum in any state. Killing an animal that you can't tag because it's suffering would be the same no matter where you hunted.

[pianoman9701]

It's absolutely a tough question.

[Colville]

There's no contradiction pianoman.  The deer was going to die, soon. The result was going to be the consumption of it's meat by nature.  The only thing in question, the ethical conundrum was whether or not to allow the deer to die slowly, suffering or to end it quickly.

Any time you stand to personally profit from an action it will automatically call into question whether you were showing integrity or greed.  The only way to settle that is not to personally benefit in any way.  Not to mention that one is already in violation of law for doing the right thing in killing the deer. To take the meat means that should you be caught later that you'll have no defense that your purpose was purely honorable.

[runamuk]

It's absolutely a tough question.

many other states have the ability to call and get it taken to those who can use it....less wasteful regulations less geared toward the idea of hunting as a sport for trophy acquisition like in this state.   

what I would do is not come online and ask what to do or ponder what I would or would not do...I instead will wait until such time as I am presented a situation and see what I do then....

and no need to shoot it just hit it with your truck 

[pianoman9701]

There's no contradiction pianoman.  The deer was going to die, soon. The result was going to be the consumption of it's meat by nature.  The only thing in question, the ethical conundrum was whether or not to allow the deer to die slowly, suffering or to end it quickly.

Any time you stand to personally profit from an action it will automatically call into question whether you were showing integrity or greed.  The only way to settle that is not to personally benefit in any way.  Not to mention that one is already in violation of law for doing the right thing in killing the deer. To take the meat means that should you be caught later that you'll have no defense that your purpose was purely honorable.

I understand that keeping the meat for yourself wouldn't be an ethical or legal option. I was thinking more along the lines of an anonymous phone call with GPS coordinates to lead them to the kill for salvaging. It's not a situation most of us will ever encounter, but it is interesting to ponder it.

[chad s.]

"If you are hunting with someone who has an unfilled antlerless tag, and you see a cow who is OBVIOUSLY wounded, limping/dragging a leg, mouth hanging wide open and lagging behind the herd, what do you do?"

Most of these stupid answers affirm what I think of a lot of people on this site! How do you know someone didn't just shoot and wound the animal earlier in the day, or the night before, and they're tracking the animal??? So you shoot it, and your buddy tags it, and then the person who was tracking it shows up.......then what??? I get sick of how unethical some of you are. There are two types of hunters; a sportsman, and a dousch bag! We all have the same regulations to abide by. Is it really that tough?

[bobcat]

There are two types of hunters; a sportsman, and a dousch bag!

And you are the *censored* bag type?   

[KyleMB123]

Predators have to eat too.

[pianoman9701]

Tough guy just came in the room, everybody. Sit up straight!

Hey Chad, if you don't like the people on this site, go elsewhere, tough guy. I don't remember needing you before you showed up. Thanks for playing!

[rtspring]

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!

DO not in any way shape or form  put yourself into this situation. Let the cow walk..... no matter what.  Trust me, I am not guilty and have been put through the ringer. The elk is not worth your family, your gun, your truck, and your peace of mind...

Yes indeed, it dont make sense sometimes, But you will have way bigger problems then some wounded elk if you decide to shoot it and don't have the proper tag..

RTSPRING

[rtspring]

READ this and remember it..

There are Fish and Wildlife Officers on here!!!  Take it form a guy that knows! they have copied some of my statements and sent them to the DA.  I could give a damn what they sent to the DA cause I have all the proof I need in my case...

BUT but your A** I'm not the first one they have done this too...  Just because your sitting behind a computer doesn't mean they dont know who you are...

food for thought...

RTSPRING

[pianoman9701]

"If you are hunting with someone who has an unfilled antlerless tag, and you see a cow who is OBVIOUSLY wounded, limping/dragging a leg, mouth hanging wide open and lagging behind the herd, what do you do?"

Most of these stupid answers affirm what I think of a lot of people on this site! How do you know someone didn't just shoot and wound the animal earlier in the day, or the night before, and they're tracking the animal??? So you shoot it, and your buddy tags it, and then the person who was tracking it shows up.......then what??? I get sick of how unethical some of you are. There are two types of hunters; a sportsman, and a dousch bag! We all have the same regulations to abide by. Is it really that tough?

I have a question for the participants in this thread: If you call someone a *censored* and misspell it, doesn't that fall under the double-*censored* rule and make you the *censored*? Feedback anyone?

[combs338]

"If you are hunting with someone who has an unfilled antlerless tag, and you see a cow who is OBVIOUSLY wounded, limping/dragging a leg, mouth hanging wide open and lagging behind the herd, what do you do?"

Most of these stupid answers affirm what I think of a lot of people on this site! How do you know someone didn't just shoot and wound the animal earlier in the day, or the night before, and they're tracking the animal??? So you shoot it, and your buddy tags it, and then the person who was tracking it shows up.......then what??? I get sick of how unethical some of you are. There are two types of hunters; a sportsman, and a dousch bag! We all have the same regulations to abide by. Is it really that tough?

Why yes, yes it does.

I have a question for the participants in this thread: If you call someone a *censored* and misspell it, doesn't that fall under the double-*censored* rule and make you the *censored*? Feedback anyone?