This is all too weird. I've been away the past ten days enjoying time off with the family and getting a few days to hunt.

I seen this thread and find that I just lived out a similar scenario on the afternoon of the 28th. I had only one archery tag left before "tagging out" on state property and was waiting on an adult doe.

6-8" of snow on the ground and I had hunted the 26th, so I checked along the river for fresh tracks. I found fresh tracks, blood and along the tracks was a semi-circle drag mark. Every 50-75 yards, a spot where the deer had laid down. No one on the north side of the river following the trail. I was the only hunter on the south side of the river in the area. When I got close to it, she stands up and begins walking right between two of my stand locations. Her left leg dangling half way down the shank.

Anyway, after 1.5 miles and over two hours later I got close enough to put a crossbow bolt through her chest. She had been shot during the past 24-48 hours with an arrow as evident by the three bladed enterance and exit wounds and the same pattern through the shank bone. I had again "tagged-out", but this time it didn't end the way I had hoped. But from the moment I saw her, I knew something had to be done. Not for the harvest, but for the deer itself.

I know all too well about the coyote population in that area, witnessed a large male take down a yearling when another larger male came in to finish the job. This 2.5 year old doe would have been even easier prey.

Was it ethical, legal, humane or moral? Yesbut that's my opinion.

I know what I would do in your situation.





Shoot often - Hunt always