How terrible is this

[RackBlaster]

So I am driving down a busy 2 lane highway up in Wisconsin this past weekend and ahead I see a doe bedded down in the ditch with its head up. It turns out the deer was hit by a vehicle, it was bleeding from the hind quarters , there were chunks of hair scattered around , it looked like big gouges of flesh hanging between its rear legs. Sorry to be so graphic but this really burns me up. So I drove by seeing this and it also looked like what I thought was dried up blood all over its side but it didn't look like blood , so I turned around and stopped to get a better look and that's when my blood pressure went up. What I thought was blood at first was actually a big orange X that i guess the state marks deer as road kill. How in the **** could they leave that poor deer laying there god knows how long suffering like that.The deer obviously had a broken back or something because it did not try to run when I stopped. I go on my way and pass the police station which is on that hwy less than a mile away and see 2 squads in the lot and figure well maybe it just happened and they haven't had a chance to put it down yet. I come back from the store 1.5 hrs later and the deer is still there alive and the squads were gone, had I known I would not get in trouble I would have went home and got my gun and done it myself. Is there any laws on this, to leave an animal like this? Not sure about you guys but this really bothered me.

[dance.and.shoot]

that poor deer...no, you're not the only one bothered by that. and honestly, if it was me, i probably wouldn't care if it was against the law or not...i'm not going to let it suffer. i'd grab my gun, my camera and a camcorder so i have proof that it was suffering then i'd put it out of it's misery.

[fly]

Now law to leave it, but there is a law that states an officer has to finish it off. Police wouldn't do it huh? They usually will and then offer the meat to whoever finds it or is there.

If you ever finish one off you could be brought up on charges if caught. This is from what I remember reading in the ILDNR hunting digest last year.

For years I would carry a knife in the truck for this very reason. I see too many down but not out on the road side.

[Dakota]

Okay, that really ticks me off! :mad: That's a situation when ethics come into play. Had it been myself, I must admit, I probably would have done the ethical vs. legal thing and done it myself if the state or law enforcement wouldn't.

Dakota

[dance.and.shoot]

besides, i've got friends in low places who can cover for me. and i used to street race, so i can hold my own on that part too

"It's only illegal if you get caught." that's my story, and i'm stickin' to it.

[buckee]

Well, let's put it this way. If you or I was to shoot a deer, and wound it in the same manner, and then purposely left it sitting there for who knows how long, and someone witnessed us doing this, we would be charged and found guilty of animal cruelty.

[MichiganHunter]

I have heard of officers not wanting to do this cause its a paper work thing about why they had to discharge their weapons......If i had a ccw I whould have stopped rolled down the window and put it down, I'd call the cops and complain.

When I took drivers ed, my instructor told me that if we ever hit a animal we called for help and if no one chould get there we had an obligation to the animal to use our vehicle to put the animal down

Edited October 24, 2009 by MichiganHunter

[arrow32]

I'd a stop whether against the law or not and put the deer or of its suffering.

Understand why you didn't tho. Can't afford to get into any trouble.lol

[Swamphunter]

I have heard of officers not wanting to do this cause its a paper work thing about why they had to discharge their weapons

Thats not the case, the paperwork is no big deal. The question is how much traffic is there at the time and can it be done safely. We have to consider that the bullet exiting our firearm had better have a safe backstop which can be tough to find on a paved highway with concrete barriers and metal guardrails. Not too mention traffic in the background, houses in the distance whatever. Its not like shooting one on the side of a country road all the time. That offcier discharges that firearm, and God forbid hit anything other than the deer, goodbye job.

Although I agree it is a horrifying thing to have to leave it there, but in no way am I obligated to HAVE to discharge my firearm to dispatch an animal. That is for encon to deal with. With that being said I would however, if it could be done safely, do it....

[sluggunner]

That makes my blood boil!!

And, you are right, they do spray road klll deer with an orange X on them so someone can pick them up later. 1.) Why on earth didn't the sap who sprayed the X on her put her out of her misery? How could anyone be so cold hearted? 2.) I never understood why our state has to pay someone to drive around in a state owned vehicle, on state payroll time to "Mark" the dead deer, and then pay some other sap to drive around in another state vehicle wasting more taxpayer money to pick it up later. Why can't they just have one person that locates and picks up the road killed animals all in one setp? Never under estimate the stupidity of our government and its ability to find ways to waste our hard earned money.

[redkneck]

That is UNREAL! We dont paint deer down here. The clean-up crew is a bunch of black guys that fly down and eat the animal in a few days normally, unless it's in town. I keep a pistol in my truck all the time. Last year I shot a doe just up the highway here that had been hit and was down with leg bone sticking out. One shot in the back of the head, and I took it home to clean it (not something I'd normally do, but this deer was untouched except for the back legs were in horrible shape). I can't sit there to watch an animal suffer. I know a lot of LEO's around here, and I dont know of the first one that would have a problem with this at all.

[Randy]

Thats not the case, the paperwork is no big deal. The question is how much traffic is there at the time and can it be done safely. We have to consider that the bullet exiting our firearm had better have a safe backstop which can be tough to find on a paved highway with concrete barriers and metal guardrails. Not too mention traffic in the background, houses in the distance whatever. Its not like shooting one on the side of a country road all the time. That offcier discharges that firearm, and God forbid hit anything other than the deer, goodbye job.

Although I agree it is a horrifying thing to have to leave it there, but in no way am I obligated to HAVE to discharge my firearm to dispatch an animal. That is for encon to deal with. With that being said I would however, if it could be done safely, do it....

There's your answer!

And, you are right, they do spray road klll deer with an orange X on them so someone can pick them up later. 1.) Why on earth didn't the sap who sprayed the X on her put her out of her misery? How could anyone be so cold hearted? 2.) I never understood why our state has to pay someone to drive around in a state owned vehicle, on state payroll time to "Mark" the dead deer, and then pay some other sap to drive around in another state vehicle wasting more taxpayer money to pick it up later. Why can't they just have one person that locates and picks up the road killed animals all in one setp? Never under estimate the stupidity of our government and its ability to find ways to waste our hard earned money.

I can't argue the fact that our state waste a ton of money but, as far as picking up the dead deer, most counties pay for that as they get bids from people that want the deer for whatever reason. I know by me there was a zoo that fed the big kittys the deer. ; )

That is UNREAL! We dont paint deer down here. The clean-up crew is a bunch of black guys that fly down and eat the animal in a few days normally, unless it's in town. I keep a pistol in my truck all the time. Last year I shot a doe just up the highway here that had been hit and was down with leg bone sticking out. One shot in the back of the head, and I took it home to clean it (not something I'd normally do, but this deer was untouched except for the back legs were in horrible shape). I can't sit there to watch an animal suffer. I know a lot of LEO's around here, and I dont know of the first one that would have a problem with this at all.

The reason Wisconsin started painting the deer was "earn-a-buck". People would pick up road kills and tag them, go to the registration station and get their "buck tag". So now every deer gets painted and if you register an antlerless the ear gets cut off so someone else can't retag the deer and register it again. Too many liars and cheats nowadays...

[sluggunner]

So are the Counnties paying for it?

If so it is still taxpayer money, unless these people are paying the county to take the deer. My understanding from an ad I saw in our local paper was that the County wanted bids from people/companies as to how much they would charge the county to pick up the deer. Second point, as far as paying people to go around spray painting deer to combat earn a buck cheats, that is another stupid government move that does not justify the cost for two reasons. 1.) Think of the cost to tag all the deer with orange spray paint to stop the few unethical people that would pick up a road kill to count towards their antlerless deer. 2.) Wouldn't it be much easier to closely inspect the deer being registered as killed by a hunter for broken legs, road rash, smashed in ribs, or looking for signs that the animal has been dead for some time and bust the cheaters that way? Then it would limit the amount of fraud going on to the small percentage of unethical people who can actually locate a fresh road kill with very little damage on it . Then the numbers of that happening would be so small it wouldn't be worth the time and money spent paying people to drive around and waste gas spray painting hundreds of deer that could never be used for fraud.

[Randy]

If so it is still taxpayer money, unless these people are paying the county to take the deer. My understanding from an ad I saw in our local paper was that the County wanted bids from people/companies as to how much they would charge the county to pick up the deer. Second point, as far as paying people to go around spray painting deer to combat earn a buck cheats, that is another stupid government move that does not justify the cost for two reasons. 1.) Think of the cost to tag all the deer with orange spray paint to stop the few unethical people that would pick up a road kill to count towards their antlerless deer. 2.) Wouldn't it be much easier to closely inspect the deer being registered as killed by a hunter for broken legs, road rash, smashed in ribs, or looking for signs that the animal has been dead for some time and bust the cheaters that way? Then it would limit the amount of fraud going on to the small percentage of unethical people who can actually locate a fresh road kill with very little damage on it . Then the numbers of that happening would be so small it wouldn't be worth the time and money spent paying people to drive around and waste gas spray painting hundreds of deer that could never be used for fraud.

Yep, no doubt we're still paying for it. I'm not sure who paints them but I did see a county sheriff painting one once. Otherwise I think it's the "road crews" that paint them. They are driving around anyways. If you REALLY want to know how your tax dollars are wasted, call Doyle and ask him how much money he is saving by having 25 extra staff at my Institution and paying them wages and benefits instead of me a little bit of overtime or ask him why he is furloughing me and filling my job with overtime...

[redkneck]

The reason Wisconsin started painting the deer was "earn-a-buck". People would pick up road kills and tag them, go to the registration station and get their "buck tag". So now every deer gets painted and if you register an antlerless the ear gets cut off so someone else can't retag the deer and register it again. Too many liars and cheats nowadays...

That makes sense, but still I don't really understand. If MS had an "earn a buck" program, I can't imagine not just popping a doe on the first day and going to get my tag.....What gives? Obviously you have plenty of does, or else you wouldnt be in that program anyway. Some folks are just idiots.

[camoman1]

That really burns me up too!! How ridiculous.

And Im not buying the whole 'cops bullet may hit a person etc". If a cop cant hit a deer in the head with his/her gun from 2 feet away....they sure as heck shouldnt be a cop as far as Im concerned.

I do understand the law about civilians not being able to shoot wounded animals on the roadside...that could be dangerous.

Ive finished off deer with a knife in the past. The cop showed up after and told me and the other guy 'good job', asked us if we wanted it, and said have a nice day.

[fly]

That really burns me up too!! How ridiculous.

And Im not buying the whole 'cops bullet may hit a person etc". If a cop cant hit a deer in the head with his/her gun from 2 feet away....they sure as heck shouldnt be a cop as far as Im concerned.

I do understand the law about civilians not being able to shoot wounded animals on the roadside...that could be dangerous.

Ive finished off deer with a knife in the past. The cop showed up after and told me and the other guy 'good job', asked us if we wanted it, and said have a nice day.

I'd have to disagree about the cop deciding not to shoot a deer because of safety issues. The bullet may not stay in the animal and I'd be appreciative of a cop refraining from taking a shot that would put somone at risk. What I don't understand is why a citizen can be charged for using a knife to finish off a deer hit by a car.

3.Except for any law enforcement officers in the performance of

their duties, it shall be illegal to kill a deer crippled under these

circumstances unless permission has been obtained from a

Conservation Police Officer or the Regional Office (see phone

numbers on page 1).

[camoman1]

I'd have to disagree about the cop deciding not to shoot a deer because of safety issues. The bullet may not stay in the animal and I'd be appreciative of a cop refraining from taking a shot that would put somone at risk. What I don't understand is why a citizen can be charged for using a knife to finish off a deer hit by a car.

3.Except for any law enforcement officers in the performance of

their duties, it shall be illegal to kill a deer crippled under these

circumstances unless permission has been obtained from a

Conservation Police Officer or the Regional Office (see phone

numbers on page 1).

Not trying to stir the pot and I fully respect your opinion...

But a pistol round fired into an animal from a few feet away, at a downward angle, into a ditch isnt going anywhere. As long as good judgment is used, ie not shooting toward the road or houses etc. If an officer decides it is NOT safe to do so for one reason or another, said officer should find someone or someway to safely do the job, not just leave it there.

Its very possible in this case that the officers had no knowledge of the deer so you cant blame them for not doing anything....but whomever painted it and said/did nothing is a moron.

[Norm Sauceman]

That is another reason why I always have a firearm with me.

[stevebeilgard]

in wyoming, it's illegal to dispatch any wounded animal. i keep a gun in my truck anyway. i sometimes have to respect an animal more than i do our stupid law makers.

[dartonman]

Well I guess I would of found a way to dispatch the animal., its sad the animal had to suffer as it did. I carry a large axe, yes, a large axe with a blunt end, I had ended many a suffering with that thing. al

[Swamphunter]

And Im not buying the whole 'cops bullet may hit a person etc". If a cop cant hit a deer in the head with his/her gun from 2 feet away....they sure as heck shouldnt be a cop as far as Im concerned.

And to heck with personal safety and common sense.... spoken from someone who would probably call for an officers head, should a ricochet off the ground hit something it was not intended for or injure someone. Remember this part of the original post "busy 2 lane highway"? Please don't question my ability to head shoot an animal at 2 ft with a large caliber handgun, the question is how can I do it SAFELY!

If the officer injured himself by a bullet fired into the animal/ground at close range he'd be an idiot, if the officer injured someone else he should be fired. Another can't win for law enforcement officers huh, camoman? Walk in our shoes before you pass judgement on an officer letting loose a round from a large caliber handgun on the side of a busy highway with cars and houses nearby!

Do I hate to see animals suffer unnecessarily? Yes.

Do I put personal safety and the safety of the public at risk to do so?? Absolutely not!

So call for my head, call for my job and say what you will because I don't care. After 20 years of serving the public and making the right decisions along the way you HAVE NOT walked in my shoes and as an LEO. I am not here to coddle the public when their opinions of us are unfavorable. I follow my departments rules and regulations, my state and local laws and have practiced a little common sense along the way. No matter what YOU or the public may think of me.

Edited October 25, 2009 by Swamphunter

[Randy]

Swampy's right camo. In this day and age with as liberal as this country is getting law enforcement would have a hard time justifing why they shot an armed man pointing their weapon at them. The liberals (and that's who will be sitting on the jury) will ask why they didn't try less lethal methods of stopping the activity. It's crazy, we just had a discussion about this at work the other day. If the bullet did go off a stone or something and hit someone, that officer could very well go to prison, and will without a doubt, lose his/her job.

[Ravin R10 man]

I think the deer was probably knocked out when hit and didnt come to until after it was painted...and it being in a grass ditch has no bearing on a richochet, it was not on the highway. Ive finished off many deer with a .22 and called the warden, and salvaged the animal and never had a problem.

[Airman312]

Have a knife next time and make it happen...