A few years ago i was hunting deer during gun season and i started to hear something, turns out it was a deer coming out of the willows and being really loud. Turns out it was two fawns. One was perfectly fine, the other was limping hard on one of its front legs. It appeared that one didnt work at all or was extremely painful because the deer never put weight on it. I used my scope on max power for a long time to see if there was a bullet wound or arrow wound, but i saw no blood or holes. What would you guys do? Is this deer going to die in the winter? The shot was not challenging by any means, so a non lethal shot wasn't a worry. I ended up letting the deer go. I did have a legal tag i could have used. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I more than likely would've shot. I have done so before in similar circumstances. I hate to see an animal suffer unnecessarily.
I wouldn't waste a buck tag on it but if an antlerless deer walked by and I had a tag I'd shoot. Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk
I hear ya, the question i was stuck on was is this a life long injury or not? If it was an underdeveloped leg, probably. But if it was a sprained muscle would it recover before winter? In the end I decided to give it a chance. Hopefully it wasn't suffering or recovered Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It was a fawn, couldn't tell gender... Another thing i contemplated... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The deer may have had EHD, I have heard that sometimes there hooves become really sensitive and make it hard to walk on. If I had extra tags I would shoot it so it doesn't suffer.
It's honestly a case by case basis. I have unlimited antlerless tags here for archery and 10 for firearms. Also I can take up to 4 antlered deer I'd I wanted. Those are the kind of calls we have to make in the moment. One episode of BH or die this year Todd had an injured buck come in and I honestly would've shot, but he felt the deer was getting along fine and would recover so he didn't. Neither is right or wrong.
EHD deer are long dead before gun season rolls around. EHD mortality normally hits in the August/September time frame. Back to the OP.. The whitetail is an amazing animal when it comes to recovering from wounds or broke bones. I shot a basket rack 8 point one year that had a broke jaw and right front leg. If I had seen him the year before I would have swore that he would not make it through winter - These were old healed up injuries and didn't slow him chasing a doe right into my sights! Unless you got a tag to burn - give um a chance
You have a lot of freedom with tags! We get one either or tag here in MN Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I had a 3 legged doe come in last season. Not close enough for a clean shot, but I watched her roam around for about 10 minutes or so. Not sure if it was that way since birth, or if it was shot off, or what. She got around just fine and was as healthy as any other deer in the area. If I had the chance, I probably would have shot her. I'm sure she would have tasted just fine
Its always a sacrifice in one tag areas... I cant remember for sure but i think it was first weekend Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yeah we do. And that probably has a lot to do with why I wouldnt hesitate to shoot a deer that looks like it is suffering. When I hunt Ohio I dont think my choice would be the same unless the animal was in really poor shape.
If I got an anterless tag I probably am shooting if my judgement says not going to survive...but then again we got a three legged buck going on 4 years now like that...they are resilient.
I think for me it would be a case by case basis. I have taken a similar shot before when put in that situation and I would not hesitate to do it again. Here in PA we have antler restrictions and I've often wondered what I would do if a clearly injured deer that didn't meet the legal limit for my area came within range. I will keep my decision to myself for fear of starting a debate but it's something I have wrestled with for quite some time.
I would not hesitate to shoot (doe or buck) if it's reasonable to assume the meat is good. I wouldn't shoot a deer (with or without a tag) just to put it out of its misery... let nature take its course no matter how sad. It could live.
I would've shot it if I thought it had a disease that could have spread through the deer herd. You will be amazed how well deer can adapted to injuries like this. I've seen several deer get along just fine with 3 legs. My cousin took a deer this year we called tripod. He had lost his back left leg and that is why his antlers are deformed on the right side.
