This morningI had plans on hunting some new property I gained permission to. Wind wasn't perfect, so I decided to hunt my 30 behind the house. After daylight, I see a lone deer slowly, and I mean slowly making its way towards my stand. I could tell right away it was a fawn, but something else caught my attention. I was staggering all over the place, almost like it was drunk. It walked into saplings, and appeared to be hit. I thought my neighbor had shot it, so I get out my binos and check it over. Nope, no wounds, but it had drool hanging about 8 inches from its mouth, and its eyes were closed [&:]. It would stop every few seconds and cough/ wheeze.I could see its ribs when it approached my stand. No joke, if this deer weighed 30 lbs on the hoof I would be surprised. After watching it struggle to mystand, I decided to take it. I called the DNR and asked them about the symptoms of blue tongue...he said that was what it sounded like to him. This was the first kill of the year for me, and totally heartbreaking to watch.
He told me to leave it lay where it dropped, and I did have to tag it. Burning a tag wasn't an issue, but watching it suffer was like nothing I had ever seen before.
He told me to leave it lay where it dropped, and I did have to tag it. Burning a tag wasn't an issue, but watching it suffer was like nothing I had ever seen before.
Yeah I understand. You did the right thing. Good job on that!
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Give 'em the shaft, walk the red path, and grab life by the antlers - Me
This was in IL, the reason I called was to see if they wanted to see/take the deer in. He said the number of calls they had received about sick or dead deer this fall was mind blowing. Hopefully we will get a killing freeze soon.
put one out of it's misery this morning
