Pegleg Deer would you shoot?

[chukar58]

While out scouting before the season I observed a mule deer that had been crippled and was limping badly due to an injured hind leg.  The next day I ran into the same deer and really got to have a good look at him with my spotting scope and named him Pegleg.  Its looking like the hind leg may be broken above the hoc and he is not able to put any weight on it.  I suspect that this injury happened awhile ago because rival buck challenged him to a mock fight and Pegleg locked antlers with this rival and was doing his share of pushing and shoving for a few minutes.  I was left wondering if given the shot would I harvest this buck.  What would you do as a Sportsman and Hunter?

[OutHouse]

Either you take him, another hunter takes him, or the winter eats him. I say put him down. Could it be an arrow wound?

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

If its legal absolutely.  Might put him out of misery as well.

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[hemi]

 

[yakimarcher]

Dump him!

[chukar58]

It could be an archery injury or perhaps hit by a car or some disease or perhaps infection.  I thought I would shoot him just to end his pain knowing full well his days are numbered any way you look at it.

[Buckmark]

I would take him 

I shot a buck years ago that was limping, not using a front leg and while skinning him i found a smashed lead ball in his shoulder.

[lamrith]

I would drop the hammer or give him a splinter without a second thought.

[JohnD]

I shot a deer about 15 years ago that only had 3 legs. It looked like it was born that way and was a few years old. Still tasty but not much meat on that shoulder. I didn't even think about not shooting... but I have never been the best hunter in the world so I'll shoot anything legal. :-)

[skeeter 20i]

My oldest shot one a few years ago that only had 3 legs.  Said he felt sorry for it.  It came in ready for a fight as soon as the boy hit the horns together.  Said it was the funniest thing he'd ever seen.

[Seabass]

I don't see how it would be any different than shooting any other buck? If you kill one you kill one. It's just one less buck than there was before. It doesn't need to be any more complicated than that. We are talking about animals for food.

[Lincoln4]

 

[Pathfinder101]

It could be an archery injury or perhaps hit by a car or some disease or perhaps infection.  I thought I would shoot him just to end his pain knowing full well his days are numbered any way you look at it.

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   I have done this before.  Kinder than letting a pack of coyotes eat him alive...

[Henrydog]

JohnD that is the coolest photo I have seen in a long time.  I always tease my kid when I am out hunting and he is stuck in school that I will tie up a 3 legged deer for him. 

[nwwanderer]

Not unusual, they seem to do fine with three.  Elk, deer, coyotes business as usual

[jackmaster]

It could be an archery injury or perhaps hit by a car or some disease or perhaps infection.  I thought I would shoot him just to end his pain knowing full well his days are numbered any way you look at it.

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   I have done this before.  Kinder than letting a pack of coyotes eat him alive...

:yeah:my dad did this a few years ago and he is pickier than me when it comes to blacktail, but this buck was wasted away by a bad infection in his back, couldn't even get up hardly, dad shot him and tagged him and did everything except eat it, the meat smelled like he had gang green all through his body, pretty sad, but that's what being a sportsman is about I have more respect for animals than I do most people

[lokidog]

Weather girl shot a three legger a few years back. It was missing a front leg below the knee.  Smelled horrible, the state issued her a second tag.

Yours sounds relatively healthy, I would shoot either way.

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[Bango skank]

A doe showed up at my place today with a bum front leg, cant put any weight on it.  Her days are numbered im sure.  Limping bad.

[DaveMonti]

Years ago, the farm I hunted in Pennsylvania had a gimpy doe.  One of her front legs must have been broken and healed at a weird angle and her knee wouldn't bend.  She walked funny, but she got around just fine, and due to her injury, she must have compensated by becoming VERY smart!  She was the most "aware" deer I've ever seen.  She'd walk down a trail and stop and look right up at me in my treestand several times a year, snort and off she'd go with the herd following her. 

Anyhow, we gave her a free pass out of respect and because she was entertaining to watch.  She was around for quite a few years and had twins every year, even though the hardest winters I can remember.  Tough old broad!

[fishnfur]

OK, well then, what if it had two missing legs?  Would you still kill it?   

[csaaphill]

Either you take him, another hunter takes him, or the winter eats him. I say put him down. Could it be an arrow wound?

Not necessarily Me and my dad for a few years seen a doe on this one hillside almost every year called her Gimpy she survived at least two winters if not three.

[csaaphill]

But is it legal then yeah more likely I'd take it. But not so much because it's going to die but if it's legal. If not let it go watch it though if possible and see if it lives. Odds are if not injured to the point of Eminent death then it will likely live.

[chukar58]

That's a good cross section of perspective for Pegleg and if he shows himself on my watch I will give him a dirt nap.