Well, I did the ethical thing.
Here's the details: I hunt in Chester Co. and the only firearms allowed are shotguns and muzzleloaders. I carry my 209x50 Encore after last season's success. I have access to private land so I know the pressure will be low, but all around me, on other's property, it sounds like a war zone. These cats just can't pump 'em fast enough, and some even break the law and bring in autoloaders to boot. At 10:30 I can see a deer moving thru the thicket I'm overlooking. It does have horns and is just barely legal with 3 pts. on each side. I was prepared to watch this deer just mosey on along and enjoy knowing that he didn't even know I was there. As he moves within 50 yrds., I can see he is limping very badly and stumbled once. I brought the scope up and could see a gaping wound on his back leg at the knee joint. Obviously, one of the nearby "sportsmen" wailed away with his pump shotgun not knowing nor taking the time to place a good shot, and not even bothering to try and track this deer. When it got to about 35 yds. I did the humane thing and dropped it with 1 shot to the neck. The powerbelt broke his neck cleanly, he dropped at the spot, and didn't even move. If a game warden would tell me that he wasn't legal because his points weren't long enough, I'd gladly pay the fine rather than see an animal suffer due to some dickhead weekend warrior.
Well, I've vented, and I'll feel better in the morning when I try to take a good sized doe. Have 4 tags for them.
Would anyone have done differently?

Hey I'd just like to say good on you. Its a shame that some people just like to sling the lead around and often injure deer or other game. Its nice to see somebody willing to finish the job even if it wasn't the deer you may have been looking for.

Opening weekend for shotgun here in Illinois, 2 of the deer we killed were prior wounded. One had a very clean shotgun slug through the ear, the other had taken an arrow through the back legs. Went cleanly through the ham on one leg and put a gash on the front of the other leg. Both really bad shots. Now we all make mistakes once in a while, but we should all strive to make our shots count and pass on low percentage shots.
my 2 cents.
Bill

You did the right thing and you will sleep soundly like all ethical hunters do. It is unfortunate that tickets could be issued for things of that nature, but I believe the way it could be handled is to put the animal out of its misery, call the local police or game warden to inspect the deer and I believe a carcass tag would be issued. I posed another question one time to a warden...what if I wound a deer which runs onto posted property. I go to the land owner and explain the circumstances and request permission to retrieve/put out of misery this deer and the owner says no. The warden tells me there is nothing he nor anyone else can do about it. I then ask the warden what if I see the owner go out and retrieve this deer. The warden states if he has a tag he is legal I then ask what if he doesn't, the warden stated he is subject to an illegal possesion fine if the deer is moved from the site that it is found, unless he request a carcass tag which would require a law enforcement person to inspect prior to issuance otherwise it would be seized....goofy isn't it. The warden also stated he could not reclaim the deer for me. In most cases if there is no police ariund they will tell you to retieve it and pick the tag up at a latter time this would be OK since they have it on record...be sure to record numbers names and times.

Let me clarify the wound: it was a gaping wound through my scope. Upon inspection of the deer, the knee joint was smashed with pieces of bone everywhere and the main bone above it (femur?) was broken as well. Today was the opening day of Pa season and I doubt how long this animal would have survived. Not once in the 5 minutes that I watched him did he run, only walk with a heavy limp and the 1 stumble to the ground. I am feeling better already knowing that there are other "humane" sportsmen.

I'm not surprised that you did the right thing. I don't know how wanybody could do anything else. I've done exactly that as have my father and grandfather (my Dad was a forester, his father a farmer). Pat yourself on the back and head on down the road to the Shady Maple Smorgasbord for some good eats. You've earned it!

I was just up to Ephrata a couple of weeks ago. Where abouts do y'all hunt up there? Looks more crowded than down here (but not for long I fear ).

I just hate dickheads like that They shoot... animal didn't drop so it must be ok ya right.I have shot at animals knew I missed but, I still look for blood.I shot at a bear two years ago at 400 yards he took off so fast I just was not sure if I hit him or not.The guy I was hunting with said you missed.I said well I may have but,I'll going to look anyway.He said,your going way over there just to look..? Ya, I am thats just me.I don't hunt with him any more just because of that.I have also shot a cow elk in a bull only hunt some other hunter "dickhead" shot her and she was in bad shape.I knew she was not going to make it.So I did what had to be done.