This a.m. i was checking some traps at the creek and a smallish antlered deer got up from 20 feet away and attempted to climb the steep bank. Could tell it was wounded as there was a brownish dark hole in its rear ham and it was sort of floundering and throwing its head back as it tried to climb the bank. I scrambled back up the way i came, went to the 4 wheeler to get my 22 thinking to hit it in the head and put it out of its misery.

When i got back, it wasn't to be seen and i looked some and then went back to the house to get my husband and some bigger guns. We fanned out and searched out through the briars and head high weeds in the immediate area but didn't jump him up.

Then started walking up the creek where the brush is even thicker thinking that'd be where it'd head. We started seeing a lot of beaver sign and got distracted by that and i didn't really expect to find the deer. We had went a good 600 yards and rounded a bend and something was in the water's edge. My husband said there's the deer. Its gait was terrible and appeared in pain, but it made it across the creek. I shot at it but the shot hit low because the animal was moving and then my husband shot it and put it down.

We couldn't get across the creek to retrieve the deer but we didn't want it anyway. The hindquarter is the biggest portion of a deer and who'd want to eat something with a festering wound? We just wanted to put it out of its misery.

And then we called and left a message for the game warden because there is Sunday hunting laws here.

In a way i feel bad because it appears it was trying to heal itself by going to the creek to soak its wound. Maybe it would have lived. But my husband said where the wound was, there is a bone socket there so it wasn't just a muscle wound and it would have probably died a long miserable death.

Plinker

You did the right thing. I would have done the same. I hate to see any animal suffer like that and the guy that shot was not a hunter he was a slob and gives all of us a bad name

Plinker you folks did the best you could to help the deer. Do hope you didn't leave it in the crik though.

Those things happen now and then when you're out in the woods. That's why I always wear a big bore handgun. Never know what, or when you might need it.

George

quote:

Originally posted by georgeld:
Do hope you didn't leave it in the crik though.

George

Had to leave it on the far creek bank. Couln't safely cross the creek. To get to the other side would have required going to a distant bridge, and then coming in from the opposite direction through 25 acres of brush. We went so far as to try to contact the property owner over there, but only found it belongs to a group of 5 heirs, no phone number. Quite frankly we spent enough time on it, and since the wound wasn't a fresh one, i wouldn't actually want to eat any other part of it. Not sure about gang green or blood poisioning or such in a wounded animal but i'm squeamish about possiblilties like that.

Plinker

That was the best you could do then.
Couple days and the coyotes would have it cleaned up and not many bones left.

I just mentioned that because one time we rode into the high country about 12 miles, watered the horses and got down and drank deeply of the wonderful "Fresh"?? mtn water. Then rode around the bend and there in the middle of the crik was a fully inflated dead beaver. We didn't develope any problems over it. But, sure could have. and the feeling was unsettling for days.

Thank you for taking care of the situation best you could.

George

Checked my cat snare today and found it and the anchor wire and rope are all gone. No trail as to where it went either. Am sure there's a gray cat running around the neighborhood dragging quite a mess behind. Bet that's the last time that cat goes into my shop at least.

Be rather messy if someone see's it and tries to take the snare off. Am sure they'd get chewed up and infected. But, no way to spread the word.

Sure thought the rope was tied solid though. Next time I'll make sure.

Need to make another snare now too.

George

We just had this discussion on another forum. WOUld you shoot w/o tages etc if animal appears to be suffering. Its comforting to know it will no longer suffer.