collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Merciful kill or cheap shot?  (Read 5876 times)

Offline andrew_12gauge

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2007
  • Posts: 1152
  • Location: Nampa, Idaho
Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« on: December 09, 2007, 01:55:11 AM »
Well my late archery hunt ended this afternoon, but i just kinda have mixed feelings about it. I had a situation and i did what i felt was best to right it. a buddy of mime called me up yesterday and told me of several deer trapped in a large canal with very steep concrete banks. In years past we have known of several deer trapped in this canal and they usually end up suffering to the bitter end and starving to death, so since i still had an unused deer tag and space in the freezer i decided that i should go and harvest one of these deer, and at least try and right the situation to some end. so i headed down to the canal today and harvested a doe, she was very weak and probably wouldnt have lasted much longer anyway. I feel that it was the right thing to do and i was just wondering what the rest of you on this site would think of this situation. to me it was in no way a hunt but a shooting but i feel it gave the deer a merciful end rather than a long suffering but yet in a way i still feel like it was kinda cheap. I did manage to catch a fawn and a spike buck and get them out of the canal so of the 4 deer that i saw in there 3 managed to get out. was i justified in my actions or should i have let nature take its course? lets hear it.

Offline ICEMAN

  • Site Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 15575
  • Location: Olympia
  • The opinionated one... Y.A.R. Exec. Staff
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2007, 06:33:12 AM »
A great use for a tag. No different than dumping a lesser buck who you find injured. You have shown respect for the animals. You have limited suffering. I say; good job.
molṑn labé

A Knuckle Draggin Neanderthal Meat Head

Kill your television....do it now.....

Don't make me hurt you.

“I don't feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.”  John Wayne

Slenk

  • Guest
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2007, 06:57:23 AM »
Andrew you did Good :hello:
Slenk

Offline high country

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 5133
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2007, 07:04:00 AM »
I think that by your discription you should pat yourself on the back from me, if you do not want to harvest the animals a call to the game dept. can prolly rescue them as well.

from my own exp, be DAMN careful when dealing with live deer that are not tranq'ed. they may seem docile, but they can kick more ass than mike tison on pcp if they want to.

Offline Antlershed

  • Trade Count: (+8)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2007
  • Posts: 4819
  • Location: Olympia, WA
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2007, 07:50:21 AM »
Good to hear that you used your tag on the animal. I say you did good.  :)

Offline billythekidrock

  • Varmint
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 13440
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #5 on: December 09, 2007, 08:33:43 AM »
Shooting fish in a barrel? hmm..I have mixed feelings just reading your post.
The fact that you rescued the rest and put your tag on an animal that would surely have died (and may even taste like it) I think you did the right thing.




Offline DOUBLELUNG

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 5837
  • Location: Wenatchee
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #6 on: December 09, 2007, 08:50:44 AM »
As you clearly pointed out, it certainly isn't hunting.  I think your motivations were good, though; and what you did is legal.  In the end, in most hunting situations, you are the one to decide the rightness of your action.  My opinion, I have no problem with the choice you made, and also have no problem that it left you with mixed feelings too.

Definitely a very gray area.
As long as we have the habitat, we can argue forever about who gets to kill what and when.  No habitat = no game.

Offline MikeWalking

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 4667
  • Location: Woodinville
  • Patches Pal
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #7 on: December 09, 2007, 08:52:43 AM »
The fact that it seems to bother you so much I think speaks well of you.

You did the right thing.

Once worked for a Veterinarian who pointed out a human quirk. We will Euthanize any creature suffering with no hope of recovery, except ourselves.

Offline Professor Chaos

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Dec 2007
  • Posts: 199
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #8 on: December 09, 2007, 09:22:03 AM »
You would know better than the rest of us if it was the right thing, but from the description you gave, i am sure it was the moral thing to do, especially if you have found dead deer down there in the past. 
it doesnt make you feel good to shoot that deer, i have been in a similar situation, but it is the right thing to do.
Bringer of Destruction and Doom

Offline edmondshunter

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Sep 2007
  • Posts: 335
  • Location: Edmonds Wa.
  • work to hunt, hunt to eat, eat to hunt more
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #9 on: December 09, 2007, 10:40:29 AM »
I had a instance once when I was hunting.  I found a dog caught up in a leg snare.  It seemed he had been there for 2 maybe three days.  With a festering wound on his leg.  He might have been ferrel, but maybe just neglected, so skinny you could see all ribs and hips.  I took my shot with my .22 lr  and put him out.  He wouldn't have made it another day, with the snow coming in and the temp. down in the mid 30's. 

I had mixed feelings about that as well.  But quality of life for that animal was bleek, sounds like the same for your doe. You did the right thing by dispatching that animal.

sometimes the best option isnt always the easiest.
A pat on the back is just shy of a kick in the ass..

Offline bigpaw

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 35
  • Location: Nine mile falls
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #10 on: December 09, 2007, 01:41:52 PM »
I think I would have done the same thing. I have seen a lot of starving deer and elk in Wyoming and even though it is nature it's still sad to see them dying of starvation when so many hunters don't fill there tag.
WA. game and fish is a joke

Offline andrew_12gauge

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2007
  • Posts: 1152
  • Location: Nampa, Idaho
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #11 on: December 09, 2007, 03:01:53 PM »
Highcountry,

  In response to your suggestion to call the fish and game department, many have in the past and the department doesnt seem to care about these deer. just another example of the departments ineptness. I guess it just isnt profitable for them to save a few deer from starving to death.

Offline coonhound

  • Jeff ><>
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2007
  • Posts: 687
  • Location: Lewis County
  • Jeff ><>
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #12 on: December 09, 2007, 04:57:39 PM »
We need more like you...it sure would have been a tough decision to loose that coveted tag.

Coon

Offline high country

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 5133
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #13 on: December 09, 2007, 06:14:37 PM »
that strikes me as odd, I have seen them come and relocate deer that were trapped in a rock quarry. that might just be the difference in location

Offline Wea300mag

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Aug 2007
  • Posts: 5433
  • Location: Sedro Woolley
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #14 on: December 09, 2007, 06:18:25 PM »
Definitely a grey area, I personally think what you did was good but I can see how the purists would think different.
Keep your nose in the wind and your eyes on the skyline

Offline wastickslinger

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2007
  • Posts: 2863
  • Location: pluto
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #15 on: December 09, 2007, 06:18:42 PM »
Greast use of your tag. I know that many deer die out in those canals every year.

Offline wastickslinger

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2007
  • Posts: 2863
  • Location: pluto
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #16 on: December 09, 2007, 06:20:19 PM »
And for the guys who think that the our Game Department will go rescue these deer you are wrong. They actually finish them off and take them to the food bank. I know and officer that does it every year.

Offline andrew_12gauge

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2007
  • Posts: 1152
  • Location: Nampa, Idaho
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #17 on: December 09, 2007, 06:37:11 PM »
hey stickslinger that is the first i have heard of them doing anything about the deer in the canals but it sounds like they are being put to good use at least.

everybody should understand that i take no pride in this kill but i do take a little pride in the fact that i did what i feel is right to right the situation.

Offline runningboard

  • Site Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2007
  • Posts: 1496
Re: Merciful kill or cheap shot?
« Reply #18 on: December 09, 2007, 11:23:16 PM »
I think you did the right thing, like most of the other posters said, good use of your tag.
Quote
They actually finish them off and take them to the food bank.
was told by a butcher friend that last week a F&G LEO followed a person to his shop that it turns out had an improperly tagged buck, wrong tag for season, and had him(butcher) hold it for him as evidence. after a few days the butcher called the officer and asked him what to do with it since they have left "evidence" way too long in the past and the officer told him to process it and give it to charity.
Romans 14:2 he who eats only vegetables is weak
Genesis 27:3 Now then, get your equipment—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

2025 OILS! by HillHound
[Today at 02:03:00 AM]


2025 Draw Results by JDArms1240
[Today at 01:55:11 AM]


Norway pass Elk by moocher97
[Today at 12:11:05 AM]


Toutle Quality Bull - Rifle by moocher97
[Today at 12:00:21 AM]


NEED ADVICE: LATE after JUNE 15th IDAHO BEAR by huntnnw
[Yesterday at 11:20:59 PM]


Mature bulls during late season? by Dark2Dark
[Yesterday at 10:53:27 PM]


Cowiche Unit 368 by Limhangerslayer
[Yesterday at 10:41:37 PM]


Put in for a tag I NEVER thought I would draw. by elkrack
[Yesterday at 10:15:14 PM]


Awesome customer service by deerlick
[Yesterday at 10:13:19 PM]


Commercial crab pots going in today. by Stein
[Yesterday at 09:37:31 PM]


FFL preferences or warnings in Olympia or south Sound area? by ASHQUACK
[Yesterday at 09:34:36 PM]


Boat registration by Stein
[Yesterday at 09:31:52 PM]


Flatlanders coming west in 2024, any WA mule deer outfitter recommendations by Beastmonger1987
[Yesterday at 09:31:21 PM]


2024 deer. Let’s see um! by Beastmonger1987
[Yesterday at 09:11:35 PM]


Muzzy Mission Quality!!! by crabcreekhunter
[Yesterday at 09:11:30 PM]


Unknown Suppressors - Whisper Pickle by xrangerx
[Yesterday at 09:06:49 PM]


Stillaguamish 448 QD rifle tag by Bo_nimrod
[Yesterday at 09:03:46 PM]


Nevada mule deer in the rut, followed by late rifle elk in Arizona by Beastmonger1987
[Yesterday at 08:36:20 PM]


Teanaway bull elk by 1buckdown
[Yesterday at 08:34:43 PM]


Colockum Archery Bull Tag by oldleclercrd
[Yesterday at 08:31:58 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal