This morning after a poor start (mist and wind in wrong direction) I stalked through and came up on 2 fallow does with fawns. One doe ran straight off without barking leaving the other and the 2 fawns standing uncertain.

I moved to the edge of the ride in case there was a buck or pricket in the vicinity. After some uncertainty the other doe made off silently leaving the 2 fawns who moved off the other way. After some indecision they then moved back across the ride. I finally saw that one was a buck. It looked at me and I shot it.

Did I carry out an opportune legal culling of a member of a group of deer which have been causing an amount of agricultural damage and which have proven very hard to come to grips with?

Or did I kill Bambi?

(Note - Does not in season until November, fawns birthed in May weight 40lbs about half that of female ie well grown and weaned)

[This message has been edited by 1894 (edited 09-28-2001).]

You killed dinner big dude

I can just smell the tenderloins wrapped in bacon as they slowly roast in the oven. Yum.

As long as the animal didn't suffer, I don't see the reason for a moral dilemma. I personally have shot some young deer. They were legal but young and small. Good eatin' tho!

When dealing with agricultural damage, one deer that needs fed is the same as another - they'll all eat the hard-working farmer's crops, young or old. This is a practical vs. moral issue. Farming is difficult enough without the critters eating the fruit of your labors.

Enjoy your venison dinner. If there wasn't an ocean between us, I'd stop by and help you eat it ;-)

Best regards,
BigIron

Good eating!
Don

It was you or him man, good shot!

If the deer population needs culling and you are fortunate enough to be selected, do your duty. I have never considered myself coldhearted when pulling the trigger on game and I don't think you should either. Bambi has become a cultural icon for many people who have no realistic understanding of how their food comes to them, as a hunter you have taken it upon yourself to participate in the process that starts with a living animal and results in dinner. You should look on yourself as an intellectually honest realist with the necessary spirit to lay aside the conceits of our current age and conduct yourself as we are designed to do. Now, if you killed Bambi, who the hell was that I shot?

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If Elmer didn't say it, it probably ain't true.

Shoot the ones that are legal to shoot and let the guys managing fish and game decide which ones should live. Sure hope I get mine this year, deer chops and fried taters sounds real good right about now.

In all the years I have been in the woods I have never seen a cartoon character. Now I have seen some characters ....but they were all two legged!!!!!