we found a buck....

[Bassboy1645]

we have been shed hunting/scouting alot latley and my buddy stumbbled upon a buck with its foot wedged into the v of a tree. He ran back and got me and we fetched the saw and went into the woods. We cut the tree down and freed the deer which was kicking around but it just lied there when we left. It was obviously exausted and in pain. the next morning we returned and it was still there and hardly breathing. It was dead by sunday night. I felt really bad that it had to suffer like that. I wanted to just shoot it so bad. WHat should we have done?? I was in a dilema being as it wasnt huntign season and the warden probabaly wouldnt have liked a dead deer with gun shot wound in it.Not sure how the buck even got there in the first place We have pics too but im not sure how to post them and I dont even know If I can post 35mm pics.

[lawdog]

You could have called the warden and asked him for permission to dispatch the deer or asked him to come do it himself. Otherwise, nature took its course. We are so soft when it comes to animals (not that that's a bad thing either) that we don't realize how cruel the normal circle of life is in the wild. You did the best you could for this deer, in reality it was just his time to go. At least you let him rest more comfortably the last couple days...

[Eric Wettschreck]

Agreed.

I came across something kinda sorta similar a few years back. I called the local CO and asked about shooting it. I was told to leave it alone and if it dies it dies.

That's nature being nature.

[Nate McVey]

That's a tough call on that one...........just make sure to always call the DNR first so you can avoid any uneccesary fines.

[Whoaru99]

Yup, I agree. Chances are the CO is going to say let nature take it's course.

[Powerstroke]

CO may let nature take its course, but by calling alw enforcement you can ask the officer for a possession tag to keep the meat so it doens't go to waste.

[Whoaru99]

Agreed, that is a possibility.

But even if the finder doesn't get to tag/eat it, something else probably would so, IMO, it wouldn't be a total waste in nature's cycle.

[LABS4ME]

I had some meat from a deer that was grazed (head-neck) by a car but lived for a couple days... It made it into the woods and laid down... My buddy though it was just dazed and would be fine after it got it's wits about it. He checked on it the next day and it only made a small move. It made it a day and a half before dying, It must've been in some pain as in the end it looked like it was thrashing all over the ground before it died. It was still warm and limber so he was sure it had just died that morning... My buddy got a possession tag for it and butchered it. It was terrible! I think between the lactic acid build-up and probably adrenaline and what ever else courses through a stressed animal, the meat was terrible! He then made it into sausage, but I passed on any of it... I think the dogs ate well that spring... would've been better letting Ma's forest critters get some fresh meat coming out of the winter...

Good Luck!

Ken

[Bobb-o]

Had someone hit a deer right in front of the place i was renting last year, hit the deer in the head and snapped its neck, was actually very good meat.

[LABS4ME]

Had that too before... the one I described above lived for a couple days... this meat was nasty! The difference being I can only assume a quick death vs. a long drawn out one...

Good Luck!

Ken

[McGurk]

Any slow lingering death will ruin good meat. If the animal gets any kind of fever the meat is ruined, too. If you are serious about harvesting an animal you have to do it as quick as possible and get that meat cooled down immediately. Otherwise get the gas can.

[jlm]

Deer ran in open country by road hunters will have the same effect. Another good reason to ban road hunting/hunters!