ORIGINAL: twildasin
Did you ever come across a wounded deer where you had to put it down knowing it was the correct thing to do? I had an instant 2 years ago at my one property i hunt that borders dog training area. This doe walked by me at about 9 in the morning (it was the 1st day of small game also) I could tell there was something wrong with her. As she closed into my area I noticed she was walking into trees like she could not see,and she was weezing like it was hard to breath? Well when she got close to me I could tell she was shot with a shotgun in the face so it appeared to me. Now Im not real sure what to do, im pissed off, im sad, im overwhelmed. Let me state this also I did not have a doe tag left !! Well to this day I still believe I did the correct thing I shot her and ended her pain. Did I break the law yes. Did I do what was correct in my mind yes! There was NO WAY I was gonna watch this deer strugglewalking into trees and not being able to see. To this day I still have some guilt of breaking the law. Should I? Would I of had more guilt letting the deer suffer? I believe so!
I would have done the same thing. My belief is that the doe in your case would have suffered an incredible death instead of the quick end you provided. Everyone in this forum has broken one law or another be it speeding, driving while tipsy, stealing, etc. Don't focus on breaking the law in this case because you humanely took care of this animals suffering with the posibility of doing harm to yourself. A lot of people would have been more worried about getting in trouble than doing what is right.